Best new podcasts?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Whatever happened to “The Game: The Guide to Elite College Admissions” ? He hasn’t had an episode since Nov. On two occasions, he spent 4 hours breaking down a student’s application in minute detail and I wonder if he got in trouble for it. I can imagine a parent would be upset. Those episodes were removed. He also did an entire episode analyzing Harvard Westlake’s matriculation data .

I was just listening to one of those and found myself involuntarily thinking, "Everybody hates this guy, right?" I mean he is just SO full of himself, crapping on kids I ways that are just unnecessary. You can see his machinations to uncoordinated students so they'll commit money to him (the guru). Yuck.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find this guy annoying. I think it's a case of making things sound complicated so you need an "expert".

But I do think it's interesting that he said school can't see how many times you've taken the SAT, which is what I've always thought. But I was in an admissions sessions one time when I asked the AO there if they could see, and he said they could. Which I thought was ..not possible. And then I heard somewhere .. maybe YBK .. that some colleges will give a side eye to an applicant with a high SAT score if they've taken it more than 3 times.

On this one point, I'd be interested. My first kid took it twice, was fine with it. My second kid doesn't understand why you wouldn't take it a half dozen times if you can afford it. He's like, I'm def not studying for it more but I'm also not doing anything else productive on a Saturday morning and some of this is luck - either I hit a problem I dont know or I hit 5 problems I dont know.

You hit the nail on the head with this comment. This underscores almost the entire college counseling industry.

They make you think you NEED their expertise to help you navigate the process. They purposely make it seem harder than it is.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:While these podcasts give you some info, most of it is marketing for their services. More than that they create stress and FOMO.

Use only podcasts by current AO's, not former AO's who now do counseling. I looked into many of them, spoke with them, and found them to be less than useful, especially when considering highly competitive colleges. This is where they shine - making the process look more complex and littered with pitfalls. Only they can help you navigate this.

+1

[Anonymous]

Even DCUM’s favorite podcast YCBK trashes independent counselors.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:my kids are at a private school in nyc w no APs and it hurts kids 0%. we have unhooked kids who go to top 5 schools. we have dozens who go to T10 schools.

he belongs to this group of consultants who thinks everyone should apply early but not to a SCEA school (HYP) unless hooked. I know this type. they really push their clients to lock up a UChicago or Northwestern. It''s good advice - but in a "dont dream too big" way.

I agree with the advice to not apply early HYPS unless you are hooked. But that does not mean I would encourage a kid to ED somewhere. you’re right — a lot of consultants do that. We called Solomon etc for DD whose dream school was MIT. They said to aim lower. We lays thanks but no thanks — she was admitted to MIT. And FTR, she applied to Stanford REA unhooked and was rejected — so that’s why I agree with the advice to not REA/SCEA unless hooked.

[Anonymous]

My unhooked kid got into HYP SCEA this year.

Hard to look at individual outcomes.

I think top independent counselors push locking down spots at a *slightly* lower ranked school. But they care a LOT about rankings. My kid’s list leaned a lot more on fit and major. If they didn’t get into SCEA, felt really good about the applications that were ready to go to a whole range of schools.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Even DCUM’s favorite podcast YCBK trashes independent counselors.

Aren't the people running ycbk ind counselors too?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my kids are at a private school in nyc w no APs and it hurts kids 0%. we have unhooked kids who go to top 5 schools. we have dozens who go to T10 schools.

he belongs to this group of consultants who thinks everyone should apply early but not to a SCEA school (HYP) unless hooked. I know this type. they really push their clients to lock up a UChicago or Northwestern. It''s good advice - but in a "dont dream too big" way.

I agree with the advice to not apply early HYPS unless you are hooked. But that does not mean I would encourage a kid to ED somewhere. you’re right — a lot of consultants do that. We called Solomon etc for DD whose dream school was MIT. They said to aim lower. We lays thanks but no thanks — she was admitted to MIT. And FTR, she applied to Stanford REA unhooked and was rejected — so that’s why I agree with the advice to not REA/SCEA unless hooked.

Interesting. My kid had similar “surprising” T20 admits in the last two years and a big name private college counselor we consulted was very negative about chances (didn’t hire) as was App Nation - which we’d joined (they suggested T50-75 reaches and only 1 T25 reach). Two years ago, my wasian kid was admitted to 4 T20/25 (applied to 10+ reaches in RD) and several top SLACs. Currently at a T10.

Not using any “paid help” for rising senior now, though truthfully, I’ve learned a lot about the process from being on here, Reddit and on application nation/ANalumni as well as other FB groups.

You can learn everything you need to online. Or in podcasts. You just need the time.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Whatever happened to “The Game: The Guide to Elite College Admissions” ? He hasn’t had an episode since Nov. On two occasions, he spent 4 hours breaking down a student’s application in minute detail and I wonder if he got in trouble for it. I can imagine a parent would be upset. Those episodes were removed. He also did an entire episode analyzing Harvard Westlake’s matriculation data .

I was just listening to one of those and found myself involuntarily thinking, "Everybody hates this guy, right?" I mean he is just SO full of himself, crapping on kids I ways that are just unnecessary. You can see his machinations to uncoordinated students so they'll commit money to him (the guru). Yuck.

My best friend inquired about his services and learned that if you want your child to work with him, you will have to pay $4,000 per month for unlimited services, even for sophomore or junior year.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even DCUM’s favorite podcast YCBK trashes independent counselors.

Aren't the people running ycbk ind counselors too?

Yes, but last Thursday’s episode he and Julia trashed working with independent counselors. Seems dumb on his part but maybe DCUM keeps him in business.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even DCUM’s favorite podcast YCBK trashes independent counselors.

Aren't the people running ycbk ind counselors too?

Yes, but last Thursday’s episode he and Julia trashed working with independent counselors. Seems dumb on his part but maybe DCUM keeps him in business.

A friend had a horrible time with him this past cycle.
Beware.
Ask to speak to recent (last cycle) references.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my kids are at a private school in nyc w no APs and it hurts kids 0%. we have unhooked kids who go to top 5 schools. we have dozens who go to T10 schools.

he belongs to this group of consultants who thinks everyone should apply early but not to a SCEA school (HYP) unless hooked. I know this type. they really push their clients to lock up a UChicago or Northwestern. It''s good advice - but in a "dont dream too big" way.

I agree with the advice to not apply early HYPS unless you are hooked. But that does not mean I would encourage a kid to ED somewhere. you’re right — a lot of consultants do that. We called Solomon etc for DD whose dream school was MIT. They said to aim lower. We lays thanks but no thanks — she was admitted to MIT. And FTR, she applied to Stanford REA unhooked and was rejected — so that’s why I agree with the advice to not REA/SCEA unless hooked.

Interesting. My kid had similar “surprising” T20 admits in the last two years and a big name private college counselor we consulted was very negative about chances (didn’t hire) as was App Nation - which we’d joined (they suggested T50-75 reaches and only 1 T25 reach). Two years ago, my wasian kid was admitted to 4 T20/25 (applied to 10+ reaches in RD) and several top SLACs. Currently at a T10.

Not using any “paid help” for rising senior now, though truthfully, I’ve learned a lot about the process from being on here, Reddit and on application nation/ANalumni as well as other FB groups.

You can learn everything you need to online. Or in podcasts. You just need the time.

AN seems to have outdated advice. What do you think made the difference for your kid?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Even DCUM’s favorite podcast YCBK trashes independent counselors.

Aren't the people running ycbk ind counselors too?

Yes, but last Thursday’s episode he and Julia trashed working with independent counselors. Seems dumb on his part but maybe DCUM keeps him in business.

A friend had a horrible time with him this past cycle.
Beware.
Ask to speak to recent (last cycle) references.

+1 avoid

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:my kids are at a private school in nyc w no APs and it hurts kids 0%. we have unhooked kids who go to top 5 schools. we have dozens who go to T10 schools.

he belongs to this group of consultants who thinks everyone should apply early but not to a SCEA school (HYP) unless hooked. I know this type. they really push their clients to lock up a UChicago or Northwestern. It''s good advice - but in a "dont dream too big" way.

I agree with the advice to not apply early HYPS unless you are hooked. But that does not mean I would encourage a kid to ED somewhere. you’re right — a lot of consultants do that. We called Solomon etc for DD whose dream school was MIT. They said to aim lower. We lays thanks but no thanks — she was admitted to MIT. And FTR, she applied to Stanford REA unhooked and was rejected — so that’s why I agree with the advice to not REA/SCEA unless hooked.

Interesting. My kid had similar “surprising” T20 admits in the last two years and a big name private college counselor we consulted was very negative about chances (didn’t hire) as was App Nation - which we’d joined (they suggested T50-75 reaches and only 1 T25 reach). Two years ago, my wasian kid was admitted to 4 T20/25 (applied to 10+ reaches in RD) and several top SLACs. Currently at a T10.

Not using any “paid help” for rising senior now, though truthfully, I’ve learned a lot about the process from being on here, Reddit and on application nation/ANalumni as well as other FB groups.

You can learn everything you need to online. Or in podcasts. You just need the time.

AN seems to have outdated advice. What do you think made the difference for your kid?

+2 AN advises not submitting 4 AP scores on applications if you don’t have a lot of 5s to go along with it. Every other college counselor I have talked to or seen on social media says to report all your 4s and 5s without exception. I think Sara is outdated on this advice, but who knows?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I kinda adore YCBK. It comes out enough and is so bonkers long that I can skip a ton of it (I completely skip some cohosts) and still get a lot out of it.

He did an episode last year with Vince that was a post mortem on the admissions cycle that I enjoyed so much I had my kid listen to it. It really helped to show him that, beyond what he could do for his own application, there were forces outside his control. You gotta do your best and then, let the chips just fall. It's not personal. It's a complicate and evolving landscape. I think they're doing that again.

PS I worry Mark has given up on his weight loss, which is too bad. It was another thing I skipped over, but I like Mark and wish him well. Take the GLP1s, Mark!

I want Mark to take GLP1s as well. Dedicated listener that has a lot of affection for Mark.

I haven't been listening as regularly as I have in the past, but I was wondering how his weight loss was going, too. I hope he takes the GLP1s, too. He seems like such a good guy. I don't think the primary reason he does the podcast is to market his business. He spends an incredible amount of time on these podcasts. It's obvious that it is his passion, and he is happy to help people. I don't know how he hasn't burnt out.

Former client here and be aware he's a podcaster not an effective counselor. He was unprofessional, didn't remember what was covered in the last meeting, and my kid had to schedule meetings because Mark is too busy to keep up with clients. When he says he's not tech savvy on the podcast you should believe him. More than once someone else would show up in the Zoom because he doesn't know how to use a waiting room. It's not amusing when you pay for his time. Love the podcast but the man is a disappointment.

+1

I had similar experiences as a client. I would avoid.

Are you both referring to Mark from YCBK or the guy from The Game?

Omg - the dude from The Game with the vocal fry - dropped a new episode….its been 6 months.

Has anyone listened to it?

New episode tearing apart Yale and Stanford apps dropped.

I can’t find a transcript yet? Anyone have a link