Not sure why he would care because that political battle occurs far above “parents helping their kids get into college.”

Seems like you are fishing for a conspiracy. I’m not sure this has much impact on applicants. Ryan wasn’t reviewing applications. No supplementals likely means more applications and a lower acceptance rate. Doesn’t really change anything.

OP, here. Thanks for the perspective check. It is a dumpster fire out there, and I’m glad no one thinks there’s anything purposeful going on. I do credit the podcast with helping to keep our heads and hearts in the right place. I rarely miss an episode. I do know the world of colleges is larger than UVA/Charlottesville and appreciate the reminder. Promise I’m not a UVA (or any other school) booster. Just a parent trying to navigate this process the best way we can; sometimes I’m not my best self and don’t take my own advice of “assuming positive intent.” I failed at that with YCBK in this instance.

Perhaps I will drop a note or comment in the listener survey. Thanks all!

He tends to take a while to get to interviews since he spreads them out over several episodes. He will note they are coming up I think sometimes because he just did one recently or is doing one soon, but it will be several months before it actually airs. I have heard him make passing comments on stuff happening in the news but it doesn’t always make a dedicated segment. He may yet get to this, but there so much happening all over that he may not. You could always reach out and ask him to discuss it. I have heard him say on occasion that when gets forwarded news from several folks he will talk about it because he thinks there are likely others interested.

Don’t understand the trust or lack thereof reference. He occasionally editorializes but notes when he is doing so and careful say it is his opinion. He has direct interviews and discussions with people so you hear what they have to say directly.

The UVA news likely hits close to home because you live in the area, maybe? I’m in the Midwest and UVA isn’t on radars in my neck of the woods the way I presume it is on the east coast. Thus, I don’t see it as avoidance vs it’s just another of many higher ed news stories going right now. It may be just a matter of perspective as to its significance to cover vs other topics when one has to pick and choose? Or again, he may yet get to it. You should reach out.

Send him a text or a comment on the listener survey

I don’t think there is any deliberate effort to avoid the UVA news. I think it’s more likely that the UVA situation is just one of several crazy higher Ed stories going on right now and they just haven’t prioritized it. The podcast has barely acknowledged the existence of the pending lawsuit against several highly selective schools challenging the practice of early decision. That’s certainly a topic of interest among the podcast’s listeners. There’s just a lot going on, man! The sun does not rise and set in Charlottesville.

Here’s one of many:

https://www.chronicle.com/article/jim-ryans-resignation-is-a-warning

What article would you want him to share?

Any other Your College Bound Kid listeners who are a bit skeptical that there’s been radio silence about all the UVA news re: Ryan being forced out and the dropping of the supplemental essays?

It seems an ideal topic for “Hot Topics in the News.” And I also remember Mark mentioning a while back that he had an upcoming interview with Dean J but I’ve heard nothing since. Is there some weird behind the scenes connection between YCBK and UVA that means he’s ignoring UVA news? Did I miss a discussion of this on an episode (entirely possible)?

I do listen with a healthy degree of skepticism because he does have choice to filter the schools and content he highlights. But this seems particularly glaring and makes me trust them even less.

Any thoughts?