Myth of the "Perfect College" with Kasey Urquídez

In this episode, Senior Director of Higher Education at ACT Kasey Urquídez challenges the myth of the “perfect college” and stresses that students can succeed at a wide range of institutions, not just brand-name schools. She also explains why major selection, transferable skills, and micro-credentials are increasingly important as the workforce evolves, and highlights how initiatives like Workforce Pell are expanding affordable pathways through short-term and skills-based programs.

She also gives some pointers to families navigating the admissions process, suggesting that they start conversations early about values, goals, and finances and use tools like the College Scorecard to stay informed. She suggests exploring pathways like community colleges and transferring schools. She closes the episode with some predictions about the future of higher ed.