Shift - College admissions in a changing world

The college admissions landscape is undergoing massive change. Our mission is to help you navigate these changes and get into your dream school. We give you tips and tactics for mastering the college admissions process, from application essays, to acing the ACT and SAT exams, to campus visits, mental health, and much more. Whether you’re just starting your college search or ready to submit your applications, we’ve got you covered. Achievable is a modern prep program for the ACT exam. Visit https://achievable.me to learn more.

Episodes

6 days ago

26 min

What if the financial decisions you make to pay for college are actually making college more expensive? Lance Morgan is the founder of Scholarship House, a best-selling author, and a Certified Financial Educator with more than 20 years of experience helping families navigate the rising cost of college. In this episode, Lance walks through how families should save for college, avoid expensive mistakes, and negotiate sticker-price tuition. 
 
https://scholarshiphouse.com/home-404164?am_id=youtube  https://collegefundingsecrets.com/  
 
Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use advanced adaptive learning to target weak areas and boost your score - visit https://achievable.me/?utm_source=podcast to try any course for free.

6 days ago

26 min

Aug 5, 2026

39 min

How important is your college admissions essay in the age of AI? Nat Crawford is a Stanford PhD, founder of Improve Your English, and college admissions counselor with years of experience helping students improve their writing. In this episode, Nat discusses the importance of writing standout admissions essays in the age of AI.
 
https://www.improveyourenglish.com/about/
 
Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use advanced adaptive learning to target weak areas and boost your score - visit https://achievable.me/?utm_source=podcast to try any course for free.

Aug 5, 2026

39 min

Jul 22, 2026

32 min

Why do some students struggle with test-taking when they excel in school? Kathy Hart is an educational consultant at Score At The Top Learning Center and School who has been helping students navigate the college admissions process since 2013. In this episode, Kathy walks through the reasons why some students do well in school but then struggle with high-stakes exams, how to build confidence in test-taking, and how parents can best support their students as they prepare for college admissions exams.
 
Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use advanced adaptive learning to target weak areas and boost your score - visit https://achievable.me/?utm_source=podcast to try any course for free.

Jul 22, 2026

32 min

Jul 1, 2026

35 min

Is your student truly prepared for college-level math? David Blobaum is the Co-Founder of Summit Prep and a nationally recognized expert on standardized testing and college admissions. In this episode, David explores the growing college math readiness gap, the impact of grade inflation, and the lasting effects of pandemic learning loss.
 
Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use advanced adaptive learning to target weak areas and boost your score - visit https://achievable.me/?utm_source=podcast to try any course for free.

Jul 1, 2026

35 min

Jun 17, 2026

33 min

What if the most important factors in college success have nothing to do with where you get accepted? Louis Newman is a scholar, educator, and college success coach with more than 40 years of experience in teaching, advising, and faculty development. He is the author of several books, including Thinking Critically in College: The Essential Handbook for Student Success. In this episode, we discuss what high school students can do right now to build the skills, habits, and mindset that will help them thrive in college. From study strategies and time management to independence and critical thinking, learn how to prepare for life after high school.
 
https://www.louisnewman.net/books
https://thinkingcritically.us/newmancollegecoaching/
https://www.youtube.com/@LouisNewman-g7p 
 
Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use advanced adaptive learning to target weak areas and boost your score - visit https://achievable.me/?utm_source=podcast to try any course for free.

Jun 17, 2026

33 min

Jun 3, 2026

37 min

What if the college admissions process didn't have to be so stressful? Jill Shulman is the author of College Admissions Cracked: Saving Your Kid (and Yourself) from the Madness, College Essay Confidence: Conquer Blocks, Free Your Voice, and Write a Knockout Application Essay, and she is the founder of In Other Words, a college essay coaching service. She has spent decades shepherding families through the college admissions process and has evaluated applications at elite colleges. In this episode, Jill talks about managing stress during the college application process and how parents can support their students to ease the load. 
 
Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use advanced adaptive learning to target weak areas and boost your score - visit https://achievable.me/?utm_source=podcast to try any course for free.

Jun 3, 2026

37 min

May 20, 2026

36 min

Do you require testing accommodations for college entrance exams? Wendy Raynor is the founder of WRH College Prep, a SAT and ACT prep program specializing in neurodiverse teens. She also sits on the Board of Directors for the International Dyslexia Association of Georgia. In this episode, Wendy walks us through how to secure testing accommodations for the SAT/ACT, what qualifies for accommodations, and how to handle contestation.
 
https://www.wrhcollegeprep.com/accommodations-simplified 
 
Achievable has ACT, SAT, and CLT prep courses that use advanced adaptive learning to target weak areas and boost your score - visit https://achievable.me/?utm_source=podcast to try any course for free.

May 20, 2026

36 min

May 6, 2026

29 min

Understanding financial aid can be tricky, but we're here to help. Howard Freedman, founder of Financial Aid Consulting, has been helping applicants get financial aid for over 20 years. In this episode, Howard shares how to understand financial aid packages, common mistakes to avoid, and what to include in applications.
 
Connect with Howard Freedman:
https://www.facebook.com/makingcollegehappen 
https://www.linkedin.com/in/howard-freedman-3b2581123/  
 
Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use advanced adaptive learning to target weak areas and boost your score - visit https://achievable.me/?utm_source=podcast to try any course for free.

May 6, 2026

29 min

Apr 22, 2026

37 min

Writing your college essay requires a lot of strategy and confidence plays the biggest role. Jill Shulman is the author of College Admissions Cracked: Saving Your Kid (and Yourself) from the Madness, College Essay Confidence: Conquer Blocks, Free Your Voice, and Write a Knockout Application Essay, and she is the founder of In Other Words, a college essay coaching service. She has spent decades shepherding families through the college admissions process and has evaluated applications at elite colleges. In this episode, Jill talks about how confidence is the true key to success and how to wield it to enhance your college essay. 
 
Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use advanced adaptive learning to target weak areas and boost your score - visit https://achievable.me/?utm_source=podcast to try any course for free.

Apr 22, 2026

37 min

Apr 8, 2026

42 min

Finding the best college for you will set you up for success in your life and career. Kevin Krebs founded HelloCollege and has spent the last 30 years helping students successfully navigate college admissions. In this episode, Kevin discusses how to vet colleges, test-optional policies, early decisions, and why deadlines are make-or-break. 
 
Achievable has ACT, SAT and CLT prep courses that use advanced adaptive learning to target weak areas and boost your score - visit https://achievable.me/?utm_source=podcast to try any course for free.

Apr 8, 2026

42 min

About Achievable

The Shift podcast is hosted by Achievable, a modern prep program for the ACT exam. Achievable offers modern, guided, and personalized test prep that delivers better results in half the time. Our platform guides you through a personalized learning experience, reinforcing what you’ve learned as you study, and giving you certainty that you’re ready to ace your exam. We guarantee you'll ace your ACT exam on your first try, or your money back. You can try our course for free at https://achievable.me.

Copyright 2022 All rights reserved.

Version: 20241125