Hold Me Back Podcast: A Look Inside the College Admissions Process

Just when Aidan and Ash thought they had shared everything there is to know about the college admissions process, they found out they had an opportunity to interview one of the brightest minds in the field. In this episode, they welcome on Jeff Selingo, a New York Times bestselling author of three books who has written about higher education for more than two decades. All in this week’s episode of Hold Me Back. Listen to the episode on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, and your other favorite podcast platforms.

• Episode Summary & Player
• Show Notes
• Hold Me Back Summary

A Look Inside the College Admissions Process

Just when Aidan and Ash thought they had shared everything there is to know about the college admissions process, they found out they had an opportunity to interview one of the brightest minds in the field. In this episode, they welcome on Jeff Selingo, a New York Times bestselling author of three books who has written about higher education for more than two decades. His latest book, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, was named among the 100 Notable Books of the year by the New York Times in 2020. Hear why it’s so hard to get into college these days, what to focus on when you apply, how schools differ in their admissions process, when it makes sense to apply early, and whether you need to know what you’re going to study. This episode covers everything from applying to college to a look behind the scenes. Here’s a small sample of what you will hear in this episode:

• What inspired Jeff to write the book?
• Why are parents so involved in the college application process?
• What should you focus on when applying to college?
• How does college admissions work from the college’s standpoint?
• Should you do Early Decision?
• Are college counselors helpful?
• What would Jeff change about college admissions?
• Do you need to know what you want to study when you apply to college?

Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote at the bottom of this post.

Enjoy the show! Check out the show notes below for much more detail.

Show Notes

• A Look Inside the College Admissions Process
• [0:00] This podcast has been named a Common Sense Selection by Common Sense Media, recognized for its outstanding content for kids and families.
• [0:11] This episode of Hold Me Back is brought to you by Motto. Get started with Motto at Aspen Dental or MottoAligners.com
• [0:41] This episode of Hold Me Back is brought to you by Shutterfly. Go to Shutterfly.com and use the promo code: holdmeback for 40% off your order
• [2:05] Welcome to Hold Me Back
• [2:13] Meet Aidan (Gen Z) & Ash (Gen X)
• [2:43] Jeff Selingo, Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions
• Interview with Jeff Selingo
• [4:49] What inspired Jeff to write the book?
• [6:23] There Is Life After College by Jeff Selingo
• [7:18] Why are parents so involved in the college application process?
• [10:24] Emory University
• [12:12] What does Jeff think about the Pile Theory?
• [16:12] What should you focus on when applying to college?
• [18:29] How does acceptance change from school to school?
• [20:32] How does college admissions work from the college’s standpoint?
• [22:31] University of Washington
• [23:28] Should you do Early Decision?
• [26:54] How does SCEA (Single Choice Early Action) compare to ED (Early Decision)?
• [33:26] Are college counselors helpful?
• [35:19] Common App
• [35:22] What would Jeff change about college admissions?
• [38:10] What role do finances play in whether a student gets accepted?
• [39:24] Financial Aid
• [43:12] Do you need to know what you want to study when you apply to college?
• Outro
• [45:02] Who Gets In & Why: A Year Inside College Admissions, JeffSelingo.com, Future U Podcast
• [45:42] Thank you for listening! Follow Hold Me Back on HoldMeBack.com and on Instagram & Facebook
• [45:49] Leave us a 5-star written review on Apple Podcasts
• [45:53] Who was more convincing: Aidan or Ash? Vote below