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.

Listen on:

  • Apple Podcasts
  • Podbean App
  • Spotify
  • Amazon Music
  • TuneIn + Alexa
  • iHeartRadio

Episodes

Monday Jul 03, 2023

How do you stand out when applying to top schools? How do you show your passion for a field or area of study? Business internships and summer programs can do both, as well as get you valuable learning experience in the field you're considering. In this episode, Barbara Leventhal of ScoreAtTheTop and Annaline Dinkelmann of TeachMeWallStreet share their advice for how to secure a business summer program or internship and why it will help you on your college application.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Friday Jun 30, 2023

Students now are asked to juggle more than ever: extracurriculars, sports, AP classes, clubs, passion projects, and summer internships. Oh, right, and school and their SAT or ACT prep! How can you make sure to stick with your study schedule for the ACT and SAT, even when life is busier than ever? Randee Schneeberg, founder of JettPrep, has been advising students on standardized test prep for 24 years, and has never seen test anxiety as prominent as it is now. In this episode, Randee shares her advice on how to make a study schedule you can keep, and then how to keep it.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Wednesday Jun 28, 2023

Test-optional took the country by storm when COVID made it impossible to sit for the SAT or ACT in 2020. But now it's hard to know whether you should submit your scores or not. David Blobaum is one of the co-owners of Summit Prep and a nationally recognized expert on the SAT, ACT, and college admissions. In this episode, David explains how test-optional policies can benefit schools even when they prefer to receive test scores, and how that should influence your decision on whether or not to submit your scores to a particular school.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Monday Jun 26, 2023

Online colleges have come a long way and are a more viable option than ever before. Jaime Smith, founder of Jaime Smith IEC and an educator since 1997, has helped hundreds of students apply to colleges of all kinds. In this episode, she walks you through online college landscape, the advantages and disadvantages of an online college, and how to pick the right college for you.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Friday Jun 23, 2023

Last episode, we talked about how important resumes are in the college application process. Now, let's do a deep dive on how to build a great one that will help you get into a top school. Sam Hassell is one of the owners at Westchester Prep, and directs their college advising team. In this mega-episode, Sam shares his thoughtful advice for building a resume from as early as 7th grade all the way through the admissions process.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Wednesday Jun 21, 2023

Resumes aren't just for work any more. Many don't think of a resume as a key piece of your college application, but it is - and it can be a valuable tool for understanding your application's strengths and weaknesses. Claudine Vainrub is the founder of EduPlan, and she has been helping students apply to colleges for over 20 years. In this episode, Claudine shares her resume building tips for high school students, how your resume can help inform your application, and how your resume can provide a roadmap for what you want to do in life.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Monday Jun 19, 2023

It's not easy being an international student applying to US colleges - the competition is fierce and you have to learn a lot about the process on your own. Erik Kolb is an independent college advisor that has worked with hundreds of international US college applications around the world. In this episode, Erik shares his top tips for international students applying to US colleges, including how to structure your application, how to expand your resume beyond great grades and test scores, and more.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Friday Jun 16, 2023

Most students approach the SAT and ACT the wrong way. If they want to improve their chances of success, they need to treat these exams like a skill, not a single point in time. Valerie Erde is the founder of Veridian Prep, and loves to use data to inform the test prep process. In this episode, Valerie shares her philosophy, including how to think about the prep process and how to maximize your performance on 'game day'.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Wednesday Jun 14, 2023

So much of college applications these days is clubs, extracurriculars, and your essay. But rather than forcing a love of robotics because you think it's what colleges want, you'll actually be happier and have a better application if you focus on what you're truly passionate about. Of course, finding this passion can be hard. That's where this episode's guest Marina Lee can help. Marina is the founder of Cogita Education and has been in the admissions world for more than 25 years. In this episode, she shares her tips for supporting students in not just building a great college application, but in finding their passion and recognizing their own strengths.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Monday Jun 12, 2023

Preparing for the ACT or SAT is hard enough on its own - and it can be even more difficult for students with learning challenges. Alexis Avila is the founder and CEO of Prepped and Polished, a tutoring and test prep company with a focus on executive function coaching. In this episode, Alexis shares his tips for neurodivergent students when doing ACT or SAT prep, including how to get testing accommodations, how to overcome test anxiety, and how to improve your concentration and focus while preparing for the exam.
Achievable is a modern test prep platform for the ACT exam - visit https://achievable.me to try our course for free.

Image

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