How to Apply to College Like A Pro

Occam Education

Hosted by two experienced college counselors, this podcast serves as a series of guides to navigating the college application process, from taking standardized tests all the way through writing your application essays.

Episodes

  1. 11/02/2022

    Revolution: the Whole Application Cycle, from Beginning to End

    In this episode, Dan and David take a step back to look at the entire college application process, from start to finish. The hosts offer advice on all things applying to college: choosing which schools you should apply to, when you should submit applications, and everything that happens after you click "Submit." To read more articles about applying to college, building your résumé, and everything in between, check out Occam's blog on our website. For test prep, essay guides, and other features that help you prepare for college, download Occam's app, Wend (formerly named VitaeMe), which is free on the App Store. An important note: these episodes were recorded in 2020, a year when several colleges opted to change their admissions policies. Always be sure to check your school's admissions website for the most up-to-date information regarding application deadlines and requirements.

    22 min

  2. 11/02/2022

    Tests and Courses, Oh My!

    When college counselors talk about your "academic résumé," they're referring to much more than your standardized test scores.  In this episode, Dan and David discuss the academic traits that colleges are looking for in their applicants, including the activities that counselors commonly call "hooks" or "spikes." For test prep, essay guides, and other features that help you prepare for college, download Occam's app, Wend (formerly named VitaeMe), which is free on the App Store. To read more articles about applying to college, building your résumé, and everything in between, check out Occam's blog on our website. An important note: these episodes were recorded in 2020, a year when several colleges opted to change their admissions policies, including whether to go test-optional or not. Always be sure to check your school's admissions website for the most up-to-date information regarding application requirements.

    19 min

  3. 11/02/2022

    Tell Me About Yourself

    Dan and David cover the extracurricular activities or "résumé" section of a college application.  The duo suggests ways to get involved both on and off campus, advises which activities to include and which shouldn't make the cut, and perhaps most importantly, tells you how to structure your résumé. For a résumé builder, essay guides, and other features that help you prepare for college, download Occam's app, Wend (formerly named VitaeMe), which is free on the App Store. To read more articles about applying to college, searching for schools, building your résumé, and everything in between, check out Occam's blog on our website. An important note: these episodes were recorded in 2020, a year when several colleges opted to change their admissions policies. Always be sure to check your school's admissions website for the most up-to-date information regarding application requirements.

    20 min

  4. 11/02/2022

    Let's Get Personal

    Referencing Olivia Newton John's hit single "Let's Get Physical," Dan and David discuss all things college essay-related, including how to draft your essays, choosing a topic to write about, and taking the extra time to answer those "optional" prompts. An important note: these episodes were recorded in 2020, a year when several colleges opted to change their admissions policies. Always be sure to check your school's admissions website for the most up-to-date information regarding writing requirements and application deadlines. For essay guides, deadline trackers, and other features that help you prepare for college, download Occam's app, Wend (formerly named VitaeMe), which is free on the App Store. To read more articles about applying to college, building your résumé, and writing application essays (including some essay samples!) check out Occam's blog on our website.

    18 min

  5. 11/02/2022

    Fifty Shades of Deadlines

    Between Early Action, Early Decision, Early Decision 2, Rolling, Merit Scholarship, and "Regular" admissions deadlines, it can be tough to know when you're actually supposed to apply to a school. In this episode, Dan and David define the different types of admissions deadlines and offer guidance on how to decide which submission window is best for you. An important note: these episodes were recorded in 2020, a year when several colleges changed their admissions policies. Always be sure to check your school's admissions website for the most up-to-date information regarding application deadlines. To read more articles about applying to college, searching for schools, building your résumé, and everything in between, check out Occam's blog on our website. For test prep, essay guides, and other features that help you prepare for college, download Occam's app, Wend (formerly named VitaeMe), which is free on the App Store.

    21 min
  6. What's in the App?

    11/02/2022

    What's in the App?

    Applying to college can be complicated. Between the different types of application forms, various deadlines, and "optional" essays, it can be tough to know when, how, and where to submit applications. In this episode, Dan and David break down a college application into three major components: forms your high school submits, forms you submit via the application portal, and scores that testing agencies submit directly to each institution. The duo also reviews two common application types: the Common App and the Coalition App. An important note: these episodes were recorded in 2020, when several colleges were only just beginning to switch to test-optional admissions policies. Always be sure to check your school's admissions website for the most up-to-date information regarding application requirements. For test prep, essay guides, and other features that help you prepare for college, download Occam's app, Wend (formerly named VitaeMe), which is free on the App Store. To read more articles about searching for schools, building your résumé, applying to college, and everything in between, check out Occam's blog on our website.

    19 min
  • 6 Episodes

About

Hosted by two experienced college counselors, this podcast serves as a series of guides to navigating the college application process, from taking standardized tests all the way through writing your application essays.

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