Application to Admission

🎙️ Back-to-School, September Style: The Application to Admission Podcast Is Back!The school year is officially underway, and so is the college admission process.In this episode of The Application to Admission Podcast, Tim Fields and Shereem Herndon-Brown, founder of Strategic Admission Advice, return without a guestb, but with plenty of timely guidance for students, families, educators, school counselors, and community organizations.They discuss six essential back-to-school priorities, including:Why application, financial aid, testing, and scholarship deadlines matterHow families can build a manageable college application timelineThe importance of building a relationship with your school counselorWhy parents and students need to align on college preferences and financesHow to avoid “portal hell” by staying organizedWhen seniors should finalize college lists, essays, recommendations, and testing plansWhy the college cost conversation must happen before admission decisions arriveHow juniors and underclassmen can begin preparing early—without panicThe message is simple: college admission is a team effort. Families, students, counselors, and educators all have a role to play and communication, organization, and early planning can make the process far less overwhelming.We’re back with more episodes, resources, and a newsletter coming soon. Follow The Application to Admission Podcast and share this episode with a family who needs it!

In this episode, we sit down with New York Times bestselling author Harlan Cohen seven books, over a million copies in print, and a speaker who has visited more than 400 college campuses. You've seen him on The Today Show, The Washington Post, and all over TikTok. In our world, he's a rock star.And in this episode, he brings the framework that changes everything.Harlan breaks down his SEPFAP model the six major transitions every student must navigate to truly thrive in college: Social, Emotional, Physical, Financial, Academic, and Professional. Most families pour their energy into getting accepted. Harlan's life work is about what happens next.The biggest mistake? Focusing on school rankings and statistics instead of asking what do I actually want, and which of these six areas matters most to my family right now?Harlan's passion for students is undeniable. He's so deep in the trenches helping people that, as he laughs, he barely has time to come up for air. Whether he's on a college campus doing walk-and-talks with random students or writing his next book on the college-to-career transition, this man is relentlessly committed to making sure young people are set up to succeed not just to get in.We also dig into his updated 7th edition of The Naked Roommate and his powerful new initiative at bestfirstyear.com.And yes Shereem boldly predicted the Knicks championship before this episode dropped, and he is absolutely glowing. 🏀🗽🎧 Listen now. Link in comments.

In this powerful episode of Applicaiton to Admission,we sit down with Dr. William R. Brody physician-scientist, entrepreneur, president emeritus of Johns Hopkins University, and coauthor alongside Mike Field of Uncommon Sense: Rethinking Ordinary Problems in Extraordinary Ways.Drawing from decades of experience in medicine, leadership, business, and higher education, Dr. Brody explores the uncomfortable but important truth that academic success alone does not prepare students for the complexity of reallife.Born from his seminar for graduating Johns Hopkins seniors, Uncommon Sense examines what students and families truly need beyond grades and credentials: judgment, adaptability, curiosity, ethical clarity, and the ability to recognize opportunity. In this conversation, we discuss why intelligence is only one part of success, why career planning can sometimes be misleading, and why wise decision-making matters so much in a world without easy answers. Forfamilies navigating the college admission process, this episode is a timely reminder that getting in is not the same as being prepared, and that true success is bigger than prestige.Along the way, we also hear the story of a remarkable leader inspired by visionary leadership at organizations like Bose and Lockheed Martin, while highlighting the greatness of institutions that are too often overlooked, including PurdueUniversity, University of Rhode Island, Ball State University, City College of New York, Grinnell College, and many others. We hope you enjoy this thoughtful and inspiring conversation and leave reminded that leadership, growth, and success are often built in places and through experiences that the world does not always celebrate loudly enough.

What if the most important college decision isn’t the campus you pick, but whether the price you pay sets your student up for success?In this practical, must-listen episode of Application to Admission, Shereem Herndon-Brown and Timothy L. Fields sit down with Miranda McCall, Associate Vice Provost & Director Financial Support, Duke University and national financial aid expert. Miranda whose own college access story drives her work walks listeners through how to read aid offers, distinguish sticker price from true out‑of‑pocket cost, and spot the hidden expenses that derail even well-intentioned plans.Key topics:Build cost vs. net price: turn aid letters into real out‑of‑pocket comparisonsHidden costs, outside scholarships, and multi‑year aid expectationsLoan guidance: federal student loan limits, Parent PLUS basics, private lenders, and why to avoid income‑share agreementsFAFSA vs. CSS Profile: when each matters and how to complete themPractical advice for single‑parent households, business owners, and students on waitlistsMiranda reframes financial fit as a long‑term decision—one that affects academic choices, career flexibility, and family wellbeing. Essential listening for families, counselors, and students deciding where “yes” will truly lead.🎧 Tune in for clear, actionable steps to prioritize price over prestige and protect your family’s financial future.

Check out this special edition of the Application Admission podcast as we break down what to do next after your admissions decision. Whether you’ve been admitted, waitlisted, or denied, we’ll walk you through your nextsteps.Tune in to move forward with clarity and confidence.