Send us a text Top-tier American universities like Bucknell (which welcomed its first international student in 1858) have been attracting talented international students for generations. But even as more international students choose to attend college in the United States, the process for exploring, applying to, and attending American universities has not gotten any easier. This episode of College Admissions Insider is all about the unique — and sometimes complicated — journey that international...
Mar 08, 2021•26 min•Ep. 11
Send us a text Most of the material you'll find about applying to college covers all the steps leading up to applying — and then it stops. But what happens if you end up at a school that's not the right fit? Or what if you attend a two-year school and want to transfer to a four-year university? That's where transferring comes in. How is the process of applying to transfer different from the first-year application journey? What are schools looking for in prospective transfer students? And what ar...
Feb 22, 2021•37 min•Ep. 10
Send us a text As you explore colleges, you’ll see these two words everywhere: “liberal arts.” But what does that phrase mean? What kinds of students might benefit most from a liberal arts education? And how might the day-to-day experience at a liberal arts school differ from life at a different kind of school? In this episode of College Admissions Insider , brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell take a closer look at the benefits of a liberal arts education. Our ...
Feb 08, 2021•25 min•Ep. 9
Send us a text After 8th grade, the warmup rounds are over, and suddenly everything starts to count. By 9th and 10th grade, every class, activity, and test has the potential to help students get into the college of their dreams. It’s no wonder that’s the same time parents, teachers and counselors start expecting students to think about their college plans. In this episode of College Admissions Insider , brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell take a closer look at ...
Jan 25, 2021•28 min•Ep. 8
Send us a text Behind many successful college students is a passionate parent who helped coach and guide them throughout the application process. They're there every step of the way as a coach, cheerleader, personal chauffeur and so much more. But now that it's time for their student to apply to college, these parents might not know what role to play. They don't want to overstep and become that aggressive snowplow parent or lawnmower parent all those parenting articles warn against. But they als...
Jan 11, 2021•35 min•Ep. 7
Send us a text Standardized tests are one way that colleges can learn more about an applicant — but they're no longer the make-or-break moments they once were. That's why some schools, including Bucknell, decided to make SAT and ACT scores optional when applying. It's called a "test-optional" admissions policy, and it shifts the power away from the companies that make these standardized tests and back to where it belongs: in the hands of students themselves. In this episode of College Admissions...
Dec 28, 2020•28 min•Ep. 6
Send us a text At schools like Bucknell that receive thousands of applications every year, there’s a good chance some applicants will have similar grades, academic rigor, and extracurricular involvement. But there's a place where applicants can stand out — something guaranteed to be found in their application and no other. We're talking about the college essay — an applicant's best opportunity to show colleges who they are. Writing a great college application essay doesn't have to be an intimida...
Dec 14, 2020•31 min•Ep. 5
Send us a text Students pore over every detail of the application, craft the perfect essay, and manage to score some top-notch recommendations. But then: silence. No feedback until that envelope or email arrives with the decision. Even that feedback is limited to just three varieties: Yes, you're in. No, you didn't get in. Or hang on, you've been put on the waitlist. The student doesn't know where they went right or what thinking went into the decision to admit them. In this episode of College A...
Nov 30, 2020•24 min•Ep. 4
Send us a text We know that not everybody has a major identified when apply season arrives. In fact, the most popular major for students applying to Bucknell is "undecided." Bucknell and other highly selective schools know that "undecided" doesn't mean "indecisive." It can actually show your willingness to explore and take advantage of the wide range of opportunities that await you. But does applying undecided hurt your chances of getting into schools like Bucknell? What does an application read...
Nov 16, 2020•23 min•Ep. 3
Send us a text It's officially apply season — aka deadline season. But with all these important dates approaching fast, how can students keep everything straight and budget their time effectively? In this episode of College Admissions Insider , brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell welcome Candace Leake, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Bucknell, to discuss how to manage your time when applying for college. When should students start this process? At wh...
Nov 02, 2020•31 min•Ep. 2
Send us a text In this episode of College Admissions Insider , brought to you by Bucknell University, Brooke Thames and Bryan Wendell welcome Becca Haupt, Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Bucknell, to discuss how a student can choose a college without ever visiting campus. Because of COVID-19, many schools have canceled or significantly reduced their visit opportunities. That’s tough on high school students looking to build their list of college finalists or start sending off applicati...
Oct 11, 2020•25 min•Ep. 1
