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College Planning Simplified: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Stephanie D'Souza
College planning is stressful! We bring you the latest news on choosing a good fit college, presenting yourself effectively in college applications, writing effective college essays, building a successful high school resume, and navigating the college admission process successfully.
Latest Episodes
The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 2 weeks ago36 min
Your Teen’s Best-Fit College Might Not Be on Your Radar: The Liberal Arts Advantage
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Stephanie talks with Anne Morano from Colleges That Change Lives about what a liberal arts and sciences education really is and why it still makes sense for careers, grad school, and a fast-changing economy. She shares a student-centered way to build a college list by focusing on fit, mentorship, and outcomes rather than rankings and name recognition. • What CTCL is and why the organization highlights overlooked colleges • What “liberal arts and s...
- Sep 20, 202641 min
Co-ops, Internships, and What Comes After College
Send us Fan Mail We encourage families to add one crucial filter when building a college list: how a student prepares for life after graduation through hands-on experience. In this episode, Stephanie chats with Drexel University’s Ian Sladen, who breaks down experiential learning, what separates co-op from internships, and how to spot programs that deliver career outcomes. They discuss: • Defining experiential learning beyond marketing language • Comparing study abroad, undergraduate research...
- Aug 21, 202638 min
How to Nail Your Supplemental Essays
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Stephanie and Lindsey break down the supplemental essays that impact admissions outcomes, from Why Us to Why Major to the short quirky questions students are unsure how to answer. We share how we help students sound authentic, show real fit, and stop writing what they think colleges want to hear. We also cover: • The difference between the personal statement and school specific supplemental essays • The biggest signs a Why Us essay is generic and how to...
- Jul 23, 202636 min
The Common App Activities List: What Admissions Officers Really Notice
Send us Fan Mail We talk with Brooke Willette, Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Vermont, about why the Common App activities list is one of the most underestimated parts of a college application. We share how admissions readers scan it, what makes descriptions stand out, and how authenticity and context can matter more than a long list of titles. • The real purpose of the activities section as a window into excitement, belonging, and campus fit • How quickly r...
- Jun 15, 202640 min
Why Smart Teens Procrastinate on College Applications (And What Parents Can Do)
Send us Fan Mail We talk with productivity coach Gigi Miller about why college admissions can trigger overwhelm, procrastination, and shutdown even for high-achieving teens. We share practical ways parents can support executive functioning and ADHD challenges while still keeping ownership with the student. • Executive functioning as the brain’s management system for planning, organization, time management, focus, decisions, and follow-through • Common signs of executive functionin...
- May 14, 202642 min
How To Choose The Right Common App Personal Statement Prompt
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Jamie Pack, Director of Content at Advantage College Planning helps break down what the Common App personal statement is really for, then she walks prompt by prompt through how students can write an essay that reveals character instead of chasing the “most impressive” story. We focus on voice, tone, and reflection so admissions readers finish your essay feeling like they’ve met a real person they want to know. We also cover: • Why colleges use the essay to un...
- Apr 8, 202641 min
Test Smarter, Not Harder: How to Choose and Maximize SAT or ACT Scores
Send us Fan Mail In this episode, Stephanie sits down with test prep expert Jenny Cochran from ArborBridge to break down what the SAT and ACT really measure and why “easy” depends on the student. We debunk four testing myths and share practical ways to choose a test, plan retakes, and use scores strategically for admissions and merit scholarships. The topics include: • How SAT and ACT differ in timing, structure, and skills • Why Algebra 2 is a key readiness marker for both tests...
- Mar 12, 202628 min
Why Valedictorians Get Denied
Send us Fan Mail A big welcome to our new host, Stephanie D’Souza! In this episode, Stephanie shares what she learned reading applications inside multiple admissions offices, including Duke University. She explains why highly selective decisions hinge on mission fit, real impact, and character, not just perfect grades and “checking the boxes.” • Stephanie’s admissions background across research universities, junior college, and a highly selective office • What admitted students sh...
About College Planning Simplified
College planning is stressful! We bring you the latest news on choosing a good fit college, presenting yourself effectively in college applications, writing effective college essays, building a successful high school resume, and navigating the college admission process successfully.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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It's a free AI-powered email that summarizes new episodes of College Planning Simplified as soon as they're published. You get the key takeaways, notable quotes, and links & mentions — all in a quick read.
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When a new episode drops, our AI transcribes and analyzes it, then generates a personalized summary tailored to your interests and profession. It's delivered to your inbox every morning.
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College Planning Simplified publishes monthly. Our AI generates a summary within hours of each new episode.
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College Planning Simplified covers topics including Education, How To, Kids & Family, Family. Our AI identifies the specific themes in each episode and highlights what matters most to you.
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