Episode 24: Zachary Wielgus, Assistant Director of Admissions at Boston College

Nestled in charming Chestnut Hill near America's quintessential college town, Boston College offers its students a stellar academic program within the context of a Jesuit community. Men and women for others, cura personalis, Ad maiorem Dei gloriam...these Jesuit traditions infuse the life of the mind and spirit at BC. The admissions office seeks students who are not just academically motivated, but students who want to be challenged to live for something bigger than just a paycheck. Unlike other admissions offices that seek more and more applications each year, BC has bucked the trend and made its application more purposeful, thus ensuring that its applicants are genuinely interested in what it has to offer.

Episode 23: Christopher Teare, Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Drew University

What makes Drew special? According to Christopher Teare, the Senior Associate Director of Admissions at Drew University, it's location and academics bring together the best of both worlds. Just a 45 minute train ride from New York City and all of its internship and professional opportunities, this small liberal arts school in Madison, New Jersey, offers the tight-knit community that students need to excel academically. In addition, Drew is a liberal arts school with strong programs in the sciences and performing arts. Christopher also offers insight into what he calls the "coherence and congruence" of a college application. Finally, his advice to parents to work with the college counselor is not only informed by decades of experience as a college counselor at independent schools but from his perspective as a parent of a graduate, current college student, and eleventh grader.

Episode 22: Haley Burrowes, Assistant Director of Admissions at Colby College

One of the nation's most venerable liberal arts colleges attributes its success to the close-knit relationships that it fosters among its students and faculty. Haley Burrowes, the Assistant Director of Admissions at Colby, explains how these relationships are not only foundational to the Colby experience but for life after Colby as well. She discusses the holistic college admissions reading process, and how this process informs their desire to "build a class" of engaged students.

Episode 21: Virginia Oberle, Admissions Counselor at Elon University

What makes Elon University stand out? To Ginny Oberle, an admissions counselor there, the answer is simple: student engagement. At Elon administrative decisions are made with the students in mind and with the goal of enhancing the student experience. It should come as no surprise that Elon seeks applicants who are actively engaged in their courses, extracurriculars, and athletics. Elon also looks for purposeful applicants who truly want to be on its campus, and for that reason, Elon has developed its own application system.