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

Oct 22, 2025
Oct 22, 2025
31 min
What is the purpose of high school and college? Durga Suresh-Menon is the Head of School at New England Innovation Academy (NEIA), a forward-thinking independent school located near Boston that’s redefining how students prepare for the real world. In this episode, Durga talks about why you should consider rethinking high school and college, including where to start the process with your child in 9th grade, breaking their plan into achievable chunks, and how to align schoolwork or school selection with a career goal.
Achievable has ACT 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.

Oct 8, 2025
Oct 8, 2025
42 min
Want to send your kid to a prestigious college but are terrified of how much it will cost? Shellee Howard is the founder of College Ready, where she has helped over 15,000 students get into their dream school and afford it, including getting her own son into Harvard on a full-ride scholarship. She is also the author of The College Admissions PLAN Simplified: A Busy Parent's P.L.A.N. to a Debt-Free Degree and the Amazon best seller "How to Send Your Student to College Without Losing Your Mind or Your Money". In this episode, Shellee shares advice for all families about saving money in the admissions process, including going abroad, building a college list that works for your family, and how to get the most financial aid possible in the admissions process.
Achievable has ACT 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.

Sep 24, 2025
Sep 24, 2025
47 min
Thinking about transferring to a different college or spending 2 years in a community college before transferring to a 4-year college? Jamie Smith is a Certified Educational Planner and the author of the book The Complete Guide to College Transfers. In this episode, Jamie covers all things transfers, including intentional vs. spontaneous transfers, finding a perfect transfer-fit college, maximizing transfer credits, and adjusting to life at your new school.
Achievable has ACT 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.

Sep 10, 2025
Sep 10, 2025
38 min
Hyuk Chang is an Admissions Officer at the Academy of Interactive Entertainment (AIE). In this episode, Hyuk shares an admissions officer's perspective on what they want to see in an application and interview. This episode is a unique perspective on the other side of the table, especially for creative schools like AIE.
Achievable has ACT 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 27, 2025
Aug 27, 2025
21 min
How can former military members make the most of going to college? Casey Vaughan is the Assistant Director of Military Outreach for Northeastern and has served in the Air Force. In this episode, Casey talks through veterans going to college, including how to get academic credit for your service work, how to juggle school with your other priorities, how to build a degree plan, and some success stories to show the way.
Achievable has ACT 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 14, 2025
Aug 14, 2025
39 min
Are you looking to go to college abroad from the US? Jim Pierson is the Senior Regional Manager for University College Dublin, a global university based in Dublin, Ireland. In this episode, Jim talks through going international for college as a US student, including why students want to go, what makes you a good fit, the advantages and disadvantages, and how it affects competitiveness and finances.
Achievable has ACT 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 30, 2025
Jul 30, 2025
33 min
How do you get the most out of college? Hamada Zahawi is the CEO and founder of Write Track Admissions, a global admissions consultancy with a 93% success rate. In this episode, Hamada shares his famous SLASH method to getting the most out of college: Social, Leadership, Academics, Study abroad, and Health.
Achievable has ACT 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.
You can find Hamada's SLASH method primer here: http://www.collegeadmissionsmasterycourse.com/

Jul 16, 2025
Jul 16, 2025
30 min
Is there a trades revival going on with Gen Z? Joy McClure is the Director of Admissions for X, a beauty school. In this episode, Joy talks about the trend of Gen Z going to trade schools versus traditional colleges, including the cost of college, why Gen Z is picking hands-on careers, and what each path holds for a high school graduate.
Achievable has ACT 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 2, 2025
Jul 2, 2025
34 min
With all of the uncertainty about foreign-born students attending US universities, what do they need to know now? Hamada Zahawi is the CEO and founder of Write Track Admissions, a global admissions consultancy with a 93% success rate. In this episode, Hamada covers everything international students need to consider when applying to US colleges, including financial aid, visa concerns, and the current political environment.
Achievable has ACT 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 18, 2025
Jun 18, 2025
21 min
Admissions counselors are often serving hundreds of students per year - how can you get them to truly help you? Teege Mettille is the Director of Enrollment Success at EnrollML and the author of the book The Admissions Counsellor's Malaise. In this episode, Teege shares his strategies for getting the most out of admissions counselors, including setting your child up for success from day 1 and aligning with their goals to get better results and motivate them to help you.
Achievable has ACT 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.

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.





