Application to Admission

Do you have 45 minutes for fun, intelligent dialogue about all things education and parenting? Welcome to the Application to Admission Podcast! College admission experts Timothy Fields and Shereem Herndon-Brown pull from their 50 years of college admission experience and feature guests who help students and families to navigate the college admissions process. This is a must-listen-to for parents and advocates who want college admission success for their children and students!

Application to Admission is a education podcast hosted by Understanding the Choices, with 75 episodes on record and a Required Pod Score of 80.

Understanding the Choices hosts Application to Admission, a education show with 75 episodes published.

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  Episode #74

  Episode 74: Back-to-School College Admissions Priorities for Students and Families

  Sep 9, 202634 minS3

  ️ 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 matter How families can build a manageable college application timeline The importance of building a relationship with your school counselor Why parents and students need to align on college preferences and finances How to avoid “portal hell” by staying organized When seniors should finalize college lists, essays, recommendations, and testing plans Why the college cost conversation must happen before admission decisions arrive How juniors and underclassmen can begin preparing early—without panic The 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!

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  Application to Admission

  Episode 73: HBCUs, PWIs, and the Real Cost of College with Dr. Erin Lynch

  Aug 3, 202642 min

  What's really going on at Howard University and what does it mean for HBCUs, for PWIs, and for every family navigating this process right now? We brought in the person with the receipts. This week we sat down with Dr. Erin Lynch, an internationally recognized higher education leader with degrees from James Madison, Vanderbilt, Tennessee State, and a PhD in Industrial-Organizational Psychology and President of QEM Network, a research nonprofit that has served 893 colleges and universities since 1989. And let us tell you, Dr. Lynch does not come to play. She broke down, in plain numbers, exactly why Howard couldn't extend a line of credit to unpaid students before they even stepped on campus Howard spends $1.245 billion a year, brings in about $1.12 billion, and tuition is only 20% of that revenue. Do that math on 500+ students with unpaid balances and you'll understand the pressure colleges are under nationwide. She got real about the myths people carry into HBCU vs. PWI conversations, why underfunding (not effort or talent) is the actual gap, and what she calls the framework every family needs before building a college list: cost, location, major, career in that order. Her closing word to parents? Your job doesn't stop once the acceptance letter comes. If you were on your kid about homework in third grade, you'd better be on them about their housing deposit at eighteen. Her voice is direct, sharp, and exactly what this moment calls for. You will want to hear this one.

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  Episode #71

  Episode 71 - Getting In Is Just the Beginning - Harlan Cohen on What Really Matters

  Jun 15, 20261h 1mS3

  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.

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  Episode #70

  Episode 70 - A Conversation with Dr. William R. Brody President emeritus of Johns Hopkins University about ⁠Uncommon Sense

  May 11, 202642 minS3

  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.

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  Episode #69

  Episode 69 - Financial Fit: Beyond Sticker Price

  Apr 6, 202649 minS3

  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 comparisons Hidden costs, outside scholarships, and multi‑year aid expectations Loan guidance: federal student loan limits, Parent PLUS basics, private lenders, and why to avoid income‑share agreements FAFSA vs. CSS Profile: when each matters and how to complete them Practical advice for single‑parent households, business owners, and students on waitlists Miranda 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.

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