College Matters. Alma Matters. - podcast cover

College Matters. Alma Matters.

Venkat Ramanwww.almamatters.io
Podcast for High Schoolers about College. We chronicle personal experiences on College Life, College Preparation with College Alumni, Faculty, Admissions and Counselors. The goal of these stories is to Inform & Inspire students all over the world to pursue their college dreams.
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Episodes

9 College App Summer Tasks for Rising Seniors in College News Fit to Digest. May 15, 2023.

Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters . Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode : Int’l Student Enrollment Back to Pre-Pandemic Levels [] 9 College App Tasks for Rising Seniors During the Summer [] Our Guest : Shveta Bagade , College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode : Curated News at Alma Matters [0:11] Erudera [] USNews [] Calls-to-action : Subscribe to our...

May 18, 202316 minSeason 1Ep. 312

Elisa Krapcha of Regis Jesuit High School on College Counseling: Taking an Individual Approach.

Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In college, Elisa was a student ambassador who gave campus tours and was an orientation guide. After college, she joined college admissions at her alma mater, the University of Kansas, and worked there for more than a decade! For the last 4 years, Elisa has been the Director of Counseling at Regis Jesuit High School. On our podcast, Elisa talks about her background, about Regis Jesuit High School, her Counseling approach and challenges, managing expe...

May 16, 202334 minSeason 1Ep. 311

Isaac Smitherman of U of Cincinnati: Environmental Engineering, President Student Body, and The Train Ride.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In High School, Isaac loved Chemistry and the Environment. He was heavily into performing arts and music. He did Opera with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. He was the President of his senior year class in the Student Government. Isaac joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at the University of Cincinnati, his UG Research & Co-op experiences, Being Student Body President, Majoring in Environmental Engineering, and Advice...

May 12, 202353 minSeason 1Ep. 310

About College Success With Dean Graeme Harper of Oakland University Honors College.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Colleges are expensive. So students going to college should have a clear idea of What College Success is and How to achieve it. We are fortunate to have Dean Graeme Harper of Oakland University Honors College to guide us through this conversation. In this Podcast, Dean Harper tells us How Students Should Think of Success, Your College Ingredients, Taking Advantage of College Resources, and finally Measuring Your Progress towards Success. In particu...

May 10, 202331 minSeason 1Ep. 309

Adam Elzarka of U of Cincinnati: Medical Sciences & Liberal Arts, Truman Scholar and Refugee Mentoring.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Adam was really interested in STEM while in high school. He loved tutoring and mentoring other students. At that time, he was really into dentistry. He entered college as Pre-Dental. But soon, the breadth and diversity of medicine captivated him. Adam joins our podcast to share his undergraduate college journey at the University of Cincinnati, about double majoring in medical sciences and liberal arts, Mentoring Refugees, Co-op, winning the Truman ...

Apr 29, 20231 hr 2 minSeason 1Ep. 307

Dir. Stacey Sinclair of SDSU Weber Honors College: Honors Minor and Interdisciplinarity.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Dr. Stacey Sinclair loved the idea of working with bright motivated students. So when an opportunity came up to work with the Honors Program in 2005, Dr Sinclair jumped in with both feet. In 2014, the Honors Program transitioned to Honors College and Dr. Sinclair became the Director of the Weber Honors College. On this Podcast, Director Sinclair introduces the Weber Honors College, Honors as a “Minor”, the Interdisciplinary Programs, UG Research &a...

Apr 20, 202352 minSeason 1Ep. 308

What is a Gap Year? With Kate Asgari, Director of College Counseling at Overlake School, Redmond, Washington.

Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Kate took a Gap Year after High School and took part in an International Study Program. When she joined college after her gap year, she felt she was very clear about her goals in college, compared to her peers who had come straight after high school. The one year gap had energized her! In this Podcast, Kate first tells us what a Gap Year is, Why Students Take a Gap Year, Benefits & Downsides, and Transition to College after. Topics discussed in t...

Apr 19, 202327 minSeason 1Ep. 307

Dean John Emert of Ball State Honors College: A Personal, Nimble Approach to Learning.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Prof. Emert is a first generation college graduate. His undergraduate degree was in music performance. His Doctoral work was in Mathematics. He has had a successful career as a Mathematician & Academic. Since 2017, Prof. Emert has been the Dean of BSU Honors College. In this podcast, Dean Emert introduces the BSU Honors College, The Programs, UG Research, Study Abroad, Scholarships, How to Apply, and Career Opportunities. In particular, we disc...

Apr 13, 202343 minSeason 1Ep. 306

Are AP Classes That Helpful in College News Fit to Digest. April 3, 2023.

Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: UPenn Quietly Redefining Legacy Admissions [] U of Wisconsin Raises Tuition [] Are AP Classes That Helpful [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade , College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode: Curated News at Alma Matters [0:11] Daily Pennsylvannian []...

Apr 11, 202312 minSeason 1Ep. 305

Kate Asgari of The Overlake School on College Counseling: A Plan That’s the Right Fit for Each Student.

Sign Up to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Kate fell into College Counseling due to what she calls “a happy accident”. Kate just followed her first year roommate into an interview to be a campus tour guide. She wasn’t interested in doing the interview. But an aggressive future Dean persuaded her to do the interview. Many happy accidents later, Kate is the Director of Counseling at The Overlake School. On our podcast, Kate talks about her background, The Overlake School, counseling approach an...

Apr 09, 20231 hr 13 minSeason 1Ep. 304

Grace Fox of Columbia University: Psychology & Indigenous Studies, Rhodes Finalist and Matriculate Alum.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter In High School, Grace was, by her own admission, a nerd and an activist. She took lots of AP classes. She played the viola, cello, and violin. She also played varsity tennis. As an activist she fought for Educational Equity and Indigenous causes. When time came to think about college, she felt scared and unprepared. That’s when a good friend introduced her to Matriculate. Grace joins us on our podcast to share her Undergraduate Experience at Columb...

Apr 05, 20231 hr 16 minSeason 1Ep. 303

Emmi Harward on ACCIS: Community Helping College Counselors Be Successful.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter When Emmi Harward attended her public high school, she did not know anyone in her school, whose job was just college counseling. After college, Emmi went into College Admissions. She started by supervising college tour guides and loved interacting with students. That led Emmi to College Counseling roles in High Schools. Today, Emmi is the Executive Director for ACCIS - working with College Counselors in Independent Schools across the country. On ou...

Apr 04, 202342 minSeason 1Ep. 302

College Enrollment Drops Sharply in College News Fit to Digest. March 20, 2023.

Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: Columbia Goes Test Optional Permanently [] Bard College Drops Out of College Rankings [] College Enrollment Drops Further [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade , College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode: Curated News at Alma Matters [0:11] WCNC [] ...

Mar 30, 202320 minSeason 1Ep. 301

Episode #300: What Alumni Would Do Differently, If They Could Redo Their College Years!

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter One alum would take more classes, difficult ones, another would attend all the daily talks (followed by dinner) on campus by renowned experts, and yet another would befriend professors as future collaborators. There’s more. This episode organizes alumni thoughts on this topic from past episodes, into 6 different buckets , while providing a flavor of their thinking in the form of snippets. Topics discussed in this episode: Introducing Episode #300 [...

Mar 29, 202331 minSeason 1Ep. 300

Dir. Jenny Hyest of U of Cincinnati: Advising for Nationally Competitive Awards.

When Jenny was in college, she did not apply for any of the nationally competitive awards. In fact she didn’t even know of their existence. It so happened that Jenny discovered Fellowship Advising, after she graduated with her PhD. She really liked working with college students, helping them with their writing, and helping develop their goals. In this podcast, Jenny Hyest shares her background, her role as Director, the various Awards, The Importance of Awards, How they help students apply, and ...

Mar 21, 202350 minSeason 1Ep. 299

Maya Nelson of CU Boulder: Biochemistry, UG Research Replicating Pathways, and the Hiking Club.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter The Sciences were Maya’s favorite courses in High School - Chemistry, Biology and Ecology. Especially Chemistry. It seemed aligned with the way her mind worked. Outside of class, she ran cross country, track. Maya joins us on our podcast to share her UG Experience at CU Boulder, UG Research, Hiking Expeditions, and Advice for high schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with her: Overall Experience at CU Boulder UG Research Hiking Club M...

Mar 18, 202336 minSeason 1Ep. 298

Tom Stepkoski of Westhill High School on College Counseling: Thrive. Not Just Survive.

Subscribe to Receive Venkat’s Weekly Newsletter Tom admired his coaches in high school. In fact after graduating from High School, he went back to his high school to be a coach under his varsity soccer coach. During that time, he noticed that a number of coaches were also guidance counselors. He liked that enough to get a Master’s degree in School Counseling. But it would be another 20 years before he actually jumped into counseling full time at Westhill High School. On our podcast, Tom talks ab...

Mar 14, 202343 minSeason 1Ep. 297

Prof. Haseeb Kazi of Trine University on UG Research: Students Create Their Own Learning Experiences.

Prof. Haseeb Kazi is a fourth generation academic. For the past 2 decades - He has been living his dream - teaching and doing research. Prof. Kazi has been at the forefront of undergraduate research in Mathematics inspiring, promoting, guiding and facilitating student projects. Prof. Kazi joins us on our podcast to talk about UG Research at Trine University, CUR’s Role, Impact of Research, Success Stories, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with him: Prof. Has...

Mar 10, 20231 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 296

College Process Tips for Juniors in College News Fit to Digest. March 6, 2023.

Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: Stanford Tuition and Financial Aid Up [] Bill in Senate to Clarify College Costs [] Tips for Juniors Before Starting The College Process [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade , College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode: Curated News at Alma Matters ...

Mar 08, 202319 minSeason 1Ep. 295

Lynn Pickering of the University of Cincinnati: Aerospace Engineering, Fuzzy Logic, and Fulbright Research Scholar.

Lynn was a busy high schooler. She liked a lot of subjects, took a lot of AP classes, and was a good student. She was also into soccer & crochet. In her senior year she took an engineering class, enjoyed it, and decided to pursue it in college. Lynn joins us on our podcast to share her Undergraduate experience at U of Cincinnati, Research in Fuzzy Logic, Fulbright Research Scholarship, Co-op programs, and Advice for high schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with her: Overall Ex...

Mar 04, 202341 minSeason 1Ep. 294

Sean Kennedy of Ravenscroft School on College Counseling: Pathway to Developing Student’s Potential.

Sean Kennedy’s counseling journey had its origins in High School. Inspired by the impact his High School College Counselor had on him, he jumped at a counseling role early in his career. Sean Kennedy is the Co-Director of College Counseling at Ravenscroft School, as well as an active member of ACCIS, SACAC and other professional organizations. On our podcast, Sean talks about his background, Ravenscroft School, Counseling approach & philosophy, the challenges, managing expectations, and his ...

Mar 02, 202349 minSeason 1Ep. 293

Kayla Smith of Central State University: Goldwater Scholar, Environmental Engineering, and HBCU Outreach.

Kayla loved the Sciences in High School, especially Physics, Mathematics & Astronomy. In her junior year, Kayla actually wanted to join the military, but she failed the physical due to bad eyesight. Kayla joins our podcast to share her undergraduate college journey at Central State University, winning the Goldwater Scholarship, UG Space Research experiences as CalTech WAVE Fellow, and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the following with her: Overall Undergraduate Experienc...

Mar 01, 202349 minSeason 1Ep. 292

Shanita Nichols on Bottom Line: College Access, College Success, and Educational Equity.

When Shanita Nichols was a senior in High School, Bottom Line guided her to an affordable college for her undergraduate study. Founded in 1997, Bottom Line addressed the low college graduation rates of first generation students. What started supporting 25 students back then, Bottom Line today, has robust programs for College Access and Success that supports over 7000 students. Today, Shanita Nichols is the Managing Director of Development at Bottom Line. Shanita joins us on our podcast to tell u...

Feb 20, 202338 minSeason 1Ep. 291

Billion$ in Unclaimed Pell Grants in College News Fit to Digest. February 13, 2023.

Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: College Rankings Likely to Stay [] Paying for Study Abroad [] $3.75B in Unclaimed Pell Grants! [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade , College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode: Curated News at Alma Matters [0:11] VOA News [] CNBC [] NCAN [] Episode...

Feb 15, 202313 minSeason 1Ep. 290

Dr. Anil Menon of U of Cincinnati College of Medicine: What is the UG Medical Sciences Program?

Dr. Menon and his colleagues came up with an undergraduate program at the University of Cincinnati College of Medicine for undergrads to go through a mini-medical program, and decide if medicine is for them. Dr. Anil Menon is the Associate Dean of the UG Program in Medical Sciences. In this Podcast, Dr. Menon shares what the medical sciences undergraduate program is, Program Highlights, How to Apply, Scholarships, Career Options and Advice for High Schoolers. In particular, we discuss the follow...

Feb 13, 202342 minSeason 1Ep. 289

Heather Hamade of Oakland University Honors College: Studio Art, Honors Thesis, and Collaborative Peers.

Heather was very focused on academics in High School. She took a lot of advanced courses. Lots of English classes because she initially thought she wanted to be a writer. But Art was where her passion lay, something she had been engaged in, since she was 11. Heather joins our podcast to share her undergraduate honors college journey at Oakland University, about being an artist, her UG Thesis experiences, and Advice for high school students. In particular, we discuss the following with her: Oakla...

Feb 08, 202328 minSeason 1Ep. 288

Luc White of Radford University Honors College: Biology and Studio Art, President Honors Student Council, and Lots of UG Research.

Luc grew up and went to a big high school in rural Virginia. With the help of engaged teachers, Luc developed a passion for science and art & photography. As a high achieving student, they chose to attend Radford University Honors College as a First Gen student. Luc joins our podcast to share their undergraduate honors college journey at Radford University, UG Research experiences, Study Abroad, Honors Student Council, and Advice for college-bound students. In particular, we discuss the foll...

Feb 03, 202354 minSeason 1Ep. 287

The ChatGPT Challenge in College News Fit to Digest. January 30, 2023.

Making sense of the College News of the week, curated by Alma Matters . Coronavirus continues to drive the news. Shveta Bagade, College Counselor gives us her take on the news. Topics discussed in this episode: Early Admissions Still Garners Lot of Interest [] The ChatGPT Challenge [] Awaiting the Affirmative Action Decision [] Our Guest: Shveta Bagade , College Counselor based in Silicon Valley California. Resources referred to in this episode: Curated News at Alma Matters [0:11] Higher Ed Dive...

Feb 01, 202313 minSeason 1Ep. 286

Dean Steve Engel of Georgia Southern Honors College: Making Excellence a Habit.

As a first generation college student, Prof. Steve Engel was lucky to have been mentored by some great professors. That shaped his undergraduate experience and motivated him to go into academia. In 2005, he became the Director of, what was then, the Honors Program at Georgia Southern, and the Dean in 2020, when the Honors Program transitioned to Honors College. In this podcast, Dean Engel introduces the Georgia Southern Honors College, shares the Highlights of Programs, How to Apply, UG Research...

Jan 28, 202341 minSeason 1Ep. 285

Kimber Cheek of Radford University Honors College: Anthropological Sciences, UG Research and Evolution - The Board Game.

By her own admission, Kimber was a book nerd in high school. She also watched True Crime TV Shows. Those shows Inspired her to study some form of forensics by the time she was a senior. So when time came for college, she only looked at colleges with a strong Forensic Anthropology program. Kimber joins our podcast to share her undergraduate honors college journey at Radford University, UG Research experiences, Interest in Forensic Science, FBI Internship, and Advice for High School Students. In p...

Jan 27, 202338 minSeason 1Ep. 284
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