Episodes

QuestBridge Home Page QuestBridge National College Match QuestBridge Resource Library Feel free to reach out to Taylor with any questions at: taylor.admissions@nd.edu Notre Dame Admissions Home Page 🎙️QuestBridge National College Match with Taylor Erickson (Notre Dame Admissions) In this episode, Dr. John Dante speaks with Taylor Erickson, a QuestBridge Scholar alumna and admissions counselor at the University of Notre Dame, about navigating the QuestBridge National College Match. Taylor shar...

🎙In this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast, host John Durante is joined by Paola Franco, Assistant Dean of Admissions and Transfer Coordinator at Pomona College, to dive into what truly sets this elite liberal arts college apart — both academically and culturally. As a proud Pomona alumna, Paola offers a compelling inside view into the student experience, academic innovation, and collaborative environment that define Pomona. From 13-person average class sizes to a deeply resid...

🎓In this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast, host John Durante welcomes back Jarvis Dieujuste, Admissions Advisor at Hunter College, for an insightful and energizing conversation on how one of the flagship schools of the CUNY system supports students from all backgrounds — before, during, and after the admissions process. Jarvis shares valuable updates about new programs at Hunter, unpacks the college’s holistic review process, and dives deep into how Hunter fosters a strong se...

🎙️ The College Admissions Process Podcast (The CAPP) Episode: Salve Regina University: Mission, Holistic Review & the Value of a Private Education Guest: Jim Fowler, VP for Enrollment Management, Salve Regina University Host: Dr. John Dante www.salve.edu 🌊 About This Episode In this episode, John speaks with Jim Fowler from Salve Regina University in beautiful Newport, Rhode Island. Jim shares what makes Salve stand out — from its mission-driven education and holistic review process to how...

🎙️In this episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nick Galli, an Admissions Counselor at Florida Institute of Technology (Florida Tech), located in sunny Melbourne, Florida 🌴. Florida Tech is nationally recognized for its STEM-focused programs, commitment to hands-on learning, and required standardized testing admissions policy — a perspective not often heard today. Whether you’re aiming for engineering, aerospace, cybersecurity, or marine biology, this conversation is packed with informati...

🎙️ Episode: Wayne State University — Dr. Charles Cotton, Vice Provost for Strategic Enrollment Management In this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast, John Durante talks with Dr. Charles Cotton III about what makes Wayne State University unique: its urban location, research opportunities, student supports, career connections, and affordability. Wayne State is a top public research university and is classified as a Carnegie R1 (very high research activity). Wayne Today+1 3 key ta...

🎙️ Episode: Inside Admissions with Todd Rinehart, Vice Chancellor for Enrollment at the University of Denver Join me as I welcome back Todd Rinehart for an insightful conversation on major updates at the University of Denver (DU) and practical advice for students navigating the college application process. Todd reminds us that students control two-thirds of the admissions transaction — a powerful mindset shift for applicants everywhere. 💡 Highlights Include: 🏒 University Updates & the 4D Expe...

🎙️In this episode, host John Durante sits down with KirstyNicole Bocado, an Admissions Counselor at Fairleigh Dickinson University (FDU), to uncover what makes this New Jersey-based university a powerful choice for students seeking a global, personalized, and transformational education. With campuses in Florham and Metropolitan NJ, plus an international campus at Wroxton College in England, FDU is a university that blends academic rigor with individualized support, and a commitment to prepari...

🎙️ Episode: From Long Island to the Ivy League – A Student-Athlete’s Journey at Columbia University In this special episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast, I had the honor of speaking with Katelyn, a sophomore at Columbia University 🦁 and a member of the women’s lacrosse team 🥍. Katelyn takes us inside her journey as both a student and an athlete, sharing her path from Syosset, NY to the Ivy League, and the lessons she learned along the way. Here’s what you’ll learn in this epis...

🎙️In this insightful episode, Conner Stanfield, Assistant Director of Admission & Coordinator of Campus Visits at Grinnell College joins us to dive deep into the student experience at one of the most academically rigorous and intentionally student-centered liberal arts colleges in the country. 🏫 Whether you're just starting your college search or narrowing down highly selective schools, this conversation will benefit all students and families navigating the admissions process. ⭐️ Top 4 Takeaw...

🎙️ Real Talk with College Students – Reflecting on the College Search Journey Welcome to a special episode in our 🎓College Student Reflection Mini-Series on The College Admissions Process Podcast! In this episode, host John Durante sits down with a current college student who has completed at least one full year to reflect on their personal college admissions experience — from researching and applying to adapting to life on campus. Whether you're a high school student, a parent, or a college ...

🎙️In this episode, Kurtis Kalagher, Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions from Quinnipiac University joins us to pull back the curtain on what makes Quinnipiac a standout choice for students looking for a close-knit, opportunity-rich college experience. 🎓 From understanding how Quinnipiac reviews applications holistically to the range of academic and support services offered, this episode is packed with insights that will benefit all students and families navigating the college admis...

🎙️ Real Talk with College Students – Reflecting on the College Search Journey Welcome to a special episode in our 🎓College Student Reflection Mini-Series on The College Admissions Process Podcast! In this episode, host John Durante sits down with a current college student who has completed at least one full year to reflect on their personal college admissions experience — from researching and applying to adapting to life on campus. Whether you're a high school student, a parent, or a college ...

🎓I had the privilege of speaking with two current students from Deep Springs College, an incredibly unique institution that blends rigorous academics with hands-on labor and self-governance. These students share their first-hand experiences of life at Deep Springs, providing invaluable insight into what makes this remote college in California so extraordinary. Here are the top highlights you don’t want to miss in this episode! 🌟 1. A Life-Changing Educational Model 🧑‍🎓💼 Deep Springs Col...

🎙️ Real Talk with College Students – Reflecting on the College Search Journey Welcome to a special episode in our 🎓College Student Reflection Mini-Series on The College Admissions Process Podcast! In this episode, host John Durante sits down with a current college student who has completed at least one full year to reflect on their personal college admissions experience — from researching and applying to adapting to life on campus. Whether you're a high school student, a parent, or a college ...

🎙️ In this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast (The CAPP), host John Durante welcomes Rebecca Simons, Director of Admission at Wellesley College, to unpack the application process and what makes a Wellesley education truly transformative. Whether you're wondering how test-optional policies are handled, what really matters in the essay, or how financial aid works at one of the nation’s top liberal arts colleges, this conversation is a must-listen for any student considering a wom...

🎙️ Real Talk with College Students – Reflecting on the College Search Journey Welcome to a special episode in our 🎓College Student Reflection Mini-Series on The College Admissions Process Podcast! In this episode, host John Durante sits down with a current college student who has completed at least one full year to reflect on their personal college admissions experience — from researching and applying to adapting to life on campus. Whether you're a high school student, a parent, or a college ...

🎙️ I had the great honor of welcoming back Jeff Selingo, New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and higher ed thought leader, for a follow-up conversation on the ever-changing world of college admissions. Jeff’s newest book, Dream School: Finding the College That’s Right for You, challenges families to think differently about what makes a college a “good fit.” Here’s what we covered in this insightful episode ⬇️ ✨ Key Topics Discussed 📈 Application Inflation: Same number of studen...

🎙️ Real Talk with College Students – Reflecting on the College Search Journey Welcome to a special episode in our 🎓College Student Reflection Mini-Series on The College Admissions Process Podcast! In this episode, host John Durante sits down with a current college student who has completed at least one full year to reflect on their personal college admissions experience — from researching and applying to adapting to life on campus. Whether you're a high school student, a parent, or a college ...

🎙️ In this episode of The College Admissions Process Podcast, I had the pleasure of interviewing Cara Franke, Executive Director of Strategic Recruitment at the University of Kentucky (UK). Cara offers invaluable insights into UK’s holistic admissions process, the student experience at a large public university, and how applicants — especially out-of-state students — can stand out. Whether you're considering UK or just want to better understand how flagship public institutions make admissions de...

🎙️ Real Talk with College Students – Reflecting on the College Search Journey Welcome to a special episode in our 🎓College Student Reflection Mini-Series on The College Admissions Process Podcast! In this episode, host John Durante sits down with a current college student who has completed at least one full year to reflect on their personal college admissions experience — from researching and applying to adapting to life on campus. Whether you're a high school student, a parent, or a college ...

🎙️ In this must-listen episode, I had the pleasure of speaking with Nilvio Perez, Director of Admissions at Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU). Whether you're a student, parent, or college counselor, this conversation offers valuable, honest, and strategic insight into the admissions process at a public university — while spotlighting what makes Southern a compelling choice for many. 📍Located in New Haven, Connecticut, SCSU is a mid-sized regional public university that blends acade...

🎙️ Real Talk with College Students – Reflecting on the College Search Journey Welcome to a special episode in our 🎓College Student Reflection Mini-Series on The College Admissions Process Podcast! In this episode, host John Durante sits down with a current college student who has completed at least one full year to reflect on their personal college admissions experience — from researching and applying to adapting to life on campus. Whether you're a high school student, a parent, or a colle...

Alphabetical List of All Episodes with Links 🎙️Join me in this episode with David duKor-Jackson who is the Director of Admissions at MIT. We’re diving into essential topics like how to find the right fit in your college search and what you can expect from MIT’s holistic review process. Let’s get into it! 🌟 Key Highlights: Cross-Disciplinary Spirit at MIT: David shares how the collaborative and interdisciplinary culture at MIT encourages students to merge different fields to innovate and so...