Welcome to The College Admissions Process Podcast Website!

The College Admissions Process Podcast

The College Admissions Process Podcast

Welcome to "The College Admissions Process Podcast," your ultimate resource for navigating the journey to higher education while receiving application tips and other college advice. I am your host, John Durante, and I am here to introduce you to college admissions representatives, and other professionals in the field of college admissions.

Our purpose is to serve you the students and parents, so that you may gain insight straight from the people who ultimately make the decisions. Regardless of whether you will apply to a particular school being highlighted in a given podcast episode, you should listen to all of them, as each guest will give you tremendous insight and advice on every aspect of the college admissions process.

Lastly, if you have any questions or you wish to discuss the possibility of me speaking to your group, please email me at: john@collegeadmissionstalk.com

Thank you and best wishes,
John Durante

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Recent Episodes

381. Emory University Admissions: How to Stand Out with Tim Fields
June 28, 2026

381. Emory University Admissions: How to Stand Out with Tim Fields

In this episode, I welcome back Tim Fields, Senior Associate Dean of Admission at Emory University. We discuss Emoryโ€™s unique two-campus model, the realities of applying to highly selective colleges, and what students can do to stand out in an applicant pool of more than 40,000 students. Tim also shares valuable insights on essays, testing, rankings, and maintaining perspective throughout the admissions process. Key Topics Discussed Emory's Two-Campus Experience Learn the differences between Emo
380. Inside Clemson Admissions with Rick Barth, Director of Undergraduate Admissions
June 21, 2026

380. Inside Clemson Admissions with Rick Barth, Director of Undergraduate Admissions

In this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast , Dr. John Durante welcomes back Rick Barth, Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Clemson University, for an in-depth conversation about Clemsonโ€™s increasingly competitive admissions landscape. With more than 65,000 applications submitted this past cycle, Clemson continues to experience record growth while carefully managing enrollment to maintain quality and student experience. Rick shares how the admissions team evaluates application
379. Michigan State - Larry Alterman - Assistant Director and Manager of East Coast Recruitment
June 14, 2026

379. Michigan State - Larry Alterman - Assistant Director and Manager of East Coast Recruitment

๐ŸŽ™ Episode: Inside Michigan State Admissions with Larry Alterman In this episode, host Dr. John Durante welcomes back Larry Alterman, Assistant Director and Manager of East Coast Recruitment at Michigan State University (MSU). Larry gives an insiderโ€™s look at whatโ€™s new on campus and shares how students can shine in MSUโ€™s holistic review process. ๐ŸŒŸ Key Highlights & Takeaways: ๐Ÿซ Whatโ€™s New at MSU: Explore major campus developments including a massive STEM teaching & research building, a new Multic
378. How the University of Chicago Evaluates โ€œFitโ€ โ€” From the Core Curriculum to Creative Essays
June 7, 2026

378. How the University of Chicago Evaluates โ€œFitโ€ โ€” From the Core Curriculum to Creative Essays

In this episode, I sat down with Deputy Dean Veronica Hauad of the University of Chicago to explore what the university calls the โ€œlife of the mindโ€ โ€” and what that truly means for applicants. If youโ€™ve ever wondered how one of the most intellectually rigorous universities in the country evaluates students, this conversation pulls back the curtain. From the Core Curriculum to the famously creative essay prompts, Deputy Dean Hauad shares exactly what UChicago looks for โ€” and why intellectual curi
377. United States Coast Guard Acedemy - CAPT Drew Behnke, Director of Admissions, and Katherine Fainer, Deputy Director of Admissions
May 31, 2026

377. United States Coast Guard Acedemy - CAPT Drew Behnke, Director of Admissions, and Katherine Fainer, Deputy Director of Admissions

Navigating Admissions at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy: Purpose, Service, and the 200-Week Journey What does it really take to earn a place at the United States Coast Guard Academy โ€” and succeed once you arrive? In this episode, I sit down with CAPT Drew Behnke, Director of Admissions, and Katherine Fainer, Deputy Director of Admissions, to explore one of the most mission-driven college pathways in the nation. With a humanitarian focus on saving lives, no congressional nomination requirement, and
376. What Admissions Officers Really Look For | Inside Nazareth University Admissions
May 24, 2026

376. What Admissions Officers Really Look For | Inside Nazareth University Admissions

In this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast , I am joined by Amanda Brady, Dean of Admissions at Nazareth University, for an honest and insightful conversation about the realities of todayโ€™s college admissions processโ€”and what students often misunderstand when applying to college. Amanda shares how applications are truly reviewed at Nazareth University, why context matters more than perfection, and what separates memorable essays from forgettable ones. She also discusses the growin

Recent Blog Posts

๐ŸŒŸ Transform Your College Search: Explore the 44 Hidden Gems of "The Colleges That Change Lives" (CTCL) ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ
Feb. 18, 2024

๐ŸŒŸ Transform Your College Search: Explore the 44 Hidden Gems of "The Colleges That Change Lives" (CTCL) ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ

I recently engaged in a thought-provoking conversation with Ann Marano, the Executive Director of "The Colleges That Change Lives" (CTCL).  I am genuinely excited to share this unique approach to college exploration with you.  PLEASE CLICKโ€ฆ
Unlocking NYU: Insider Insights with Arianna Yarritu Rabinowitz, Associate Director of Admissions ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ | The College Admissions Process Podcast ๐Ÿ“š
Dec. 17, 2023

Unlocking NYU: Insider Insights with Arianna Yarritu Rabinowitz, Associate Director of Admissions ๐ŸŽ™๏ธ | The College Admissions Process Podcast ๐Ÿ“š

๐ŸŽ“ In this episode of "The College Admissions Process Podcast," we dive into the unique offerings of New York University (NYU) with Arianna Yarritu Rabinowitz, Associate Director of Admissions, who joined me recently for a follow-up conversation, froโ€ฆ
๐ŸŽ™๏ธUnlocking LSU: Insider Insights and Admissions Strategies Revealed ๐Ÿฏ
Dec. 10, 2023

๐ŸŽ™๏ธUnlocking LSU: Insider Insights and Admissions Strategies Revealed ๐Ÿฏ

๐ŸŽ“ In this episode of "The College Admissions Process Podcast," we had the pleasure of sitting down with Julian Radney, the Associate Director in Enrollment Management and Student Success at Louisiana State University (LSU).  Together, we explorโ€ฆ

Reviews

So helpful!

"As a parent, Iโ€™m finding this podcast to be my favorite in helping my family to research colleges."

BeeMother | Oct. 16, 2022

Wonderful Host and Format!!!!

"Thank you for doing this!"

8CHAMPY3 | Sept. 12, 2022

Very insightful

"I love that this podcasts interviews admissions counselors and provides great information"

kiwimacadoodle12 | April 21, 2022

Helpful insight

"The podcasts provide insight from a broad range of undergraduate schools. Each episode gives great advise about the college application process. Thank you!"

MKMarlow | March 15, 2022

Helpful insights and tips

"Great podcast with important information for parents and students. The college admission process is very confusing and these podcasts provide helpful insights and tips."

SyossetisTopps | Feb. 9, 2022

Invaluable resource

"I am a high school counselor and find this podcast an excellent resource to share with my students - and for me to learn too!Thanks, Dr. Durante!Btw...I'm a University of Wisconsin-Madison alโ€ฆ"

Beth Fleischer | Dec. 23, 2022

Great insights!

"Love the breadth of school interviews. Sam, Financial Samurai (William & Mary Alum)"

Financial Samurai | April 5, 2023