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
Wednesday Nov 08, 2023
Wednesday Nov 08, 2023
TikTok has a lot of college admissions essay advice lately, but how much of it is actually good advice? Robert Franklin is a writer and admissions consultant at Admissionado, a full service college admissions firm that guides students through the whole process. In this episode, Robert breaks down the different TikTok college essay trends that are going viral on the platform, including which ideas are good and which ideas are bad for your application.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.
Wednesday Nov 01, 2023
Wednesday Nov 01, 2023
Your time spent preparing for the SAT and ACT can be a lot more effective if you follow good study practices. Travis Minor is the founder of Open Door Education, which has been helping students prepare for the SAT and ACT for over 10 years. In this episode, Travis shares his five core principles for SAT and ACT prep, with actionable implementation strategies for each one.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.
Wednesday Oct 25, 2023
Wednesday Oct 25, 2023
Going to college is exciting, but there's no tip sheet - that's why we made this episode. Louis Newman is former Dean of Academic Advising at Stanford University and now the author of the new book "Thinking Critically in College: The Essential Handbook for Student Success." In this episode, Louis shares advice that all high school students should hear before going to college, with a focus on the skills and strategies they need to handle the toughest challenges of their academic career.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
Applying to CS or STEM undergraduate programs? Or just looking to maximize your application in general? Stephen Friedfeld is the cofounder of AcceptU, an admissions consulting firm since 2010 that only employs former admissions officers. In this episode, Stephen shares his tips on how to make the most of every part of your college application, with specific tips for computer science (CS) and STEM applicants.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
Wednesday Oct 11, 2023
How will the SCOTUS ruling on affirmative action change college admissions? Robert Franklin is a writer and admissions consultant at Admissionado, a full service college admissions firm that guides students through the whole process. In this episode, Robert shares his thoughts on the recent US Supreme Court (SCOTUS) ruling that struck down most of affirmative action, including what affirmative action was, why the court made the ruling, how the ruling affects applicants from all backgrounds, and what students from underrepresented backgrounds can do now.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
Getting ready for the college admissions process? This is a great place to start! Hamada Zahawi is the CEO and founder of Write Track Admissions, a global admissions consultancy with a 93% success rate. In this episode, Hamada walks us through the process of creating your college list, including what and how to research, key culture fit things to look for, and how to structure your final list.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.
Wednesday Sep 27, 2023
Wednesday Sep 27, 2023
The new digital SAT is coming soon. Now that we've gotten more information from the College Board, we can answer some of your frequently asked questions. Travis Minor is the founder of Open Door Education, which has been helping students prepare for the SAT and ACT for over 10 years. In this episode, Travis walks you through the new digital SAT's format, content, adaptive nature, and more.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.
Wednesday Sep 20, 2023
Wednesday Sep 20, 2023
People think about and apply to colleges primarily based on name brand, location, and legacy - but there's a lot more data out there that can help you make the right choice. Louis Newman is former Dean of Academic Advising at Stanford University and now the author of the new book "Thinking Critically in College: The Essential Handbook for Student Success." In this episode, Louis shares his concerns with the common rankings and data sources, what other sources you should look for to determine culture fit and academic rigor, and how to use all this data make your best college decision.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.
Wednesday Sep 13, 2023
Wednesday Sep 13, 2023
With grade inflation, everyone taking a million extracurriculars, and more, how can students stand out from the crowd when applying to top STEM programs? Wes Carroll is the founder of Wes Carroll Tutoring, a top AMC tutoring firm in the US, and the author of Achievable's AMC 8 and AMC 10/12 courses. In this episode, Wes explains the landscape of admissions to today's top 10 STEM colleges (Stanford, MIT, etc), what the AMC and AIME (short for American Math Olympiad) are, and how proficiency with the AMC demonstrates the skills that these top colleges are looking for.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT, AMC 8, and AMC 10/12 exams - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
Thursday Sep 07, 2023
The college admissions landscape has changed dramatically in the past few years. Stephen Friedfeld is the cofounder of AcceptU, an admissions consulting firm since 2010 that only employes former admissions officers. In this mega-episode, Stephen talks us through many of the major changes in the college admissions landscape, specifically the spread of the Common App and test-optional policies, and how those two things combine to make a massive change in the admissions landscape.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our 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.