"Prep Talk" with CollegePrepExpress

Parents! Is your high schooler going to college? Is this the first time since your own college days that you've dealt with the admissions process? Do you have so many questions you don't know where to start? Do you you really want to help your kid but you're just not sure how?  Join Dr. Yo, J.D. Rothman (aka, the Neurotic Parent), and a panel of three "first time" parents as they help you make sense of the four-year labyrinth of unnerving demands placed on your teen(s) known as the college admissions process.  Topics include: what mom and dad need to know to best help their kid(s)organizing their child's college admissions calendarthe most important admissions criteriawhich tests to take and whenputting together a reasonable list of collegesapplications and recommendationscollege visitsthe convoluted early decision optionsstories that will make you laugh and cry at the same time As always, we invite listeners to phone in with their questions and concerns, join the chat room, tweet to #preptalk, or post them here in advance. For more parent and teen tips, tricks, and strategies for playing the college admissions game, join Dr. Yo on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, 7:00-8:30PM ET, at William Hall High School in West Hartford: “College Admissions Secrets for Parents and Teens,” Tickets

Parents! Is your high schooler going to college? Is this the first time since your own college days that you've dealt with the admissions process? Do you have so many questions you don't know where to start? Do you you really want to help your kid but you're just not sure how?  Join Dr. Yo, J.D. Rothman (aka, the Neurotic Parent), and a panel of three "first time" parents as they help you make sense of the four-year labyrinth of unnerving demands placed on your teen(s) known as the college admissions process.  Topics include: what mom and dad need to know to best help their kid(s) organizing their child's college admissions calendar the most important admissions criteria which tests to take and when putting together a reasonable list of colleges applications and recommendations college visits the convoluted early decision options stories that will make you laugh and cry at the same time As always, we invite listeners to phone in with their questions and concerns, join the chat room, tweet to #preptalk, or post them here in advance. For more parent and teen tips, tricks, and strategies for playing the college admissions game, join Dr. Yo on Wednesday, March 12, 2014, 7:00-8:30PM ET, at William Hall High School in West Hartford: “College Admissions Secrets for Parents and Teens,” Tickets

How frustrated have yo been trying to exercise patience while working with the NEW CommonApp? Are you ready to scream? Throw your computer out the window? Relax, Dr. Yo and his team of teen experts from Kingswood Oxford School and Conard High School and an experienced mom, Kate Cryan, will pass along tips and tricks to taming this beast and to answering as many questions as they can in 30 minutes on the air. Ok, and we might just bellyache a bit. Topics include: Horror stories from trenches Overview of how best to complete your CommonApp Where the glitches and snafus have been popping up How to copy and paste your writing into the text boxes in 57 easy steps (kidding) Resources to help you finish as quickly and sanely as possible Tune in live to join the conversation and/or ask questions. Or email your horror stories, success stories, best tips, and/or questions in advance toPrepTalk@CollegePrepExpress.com. We'll share as many as we can live on the air.

How frustrated have yo been trying to exercise patience while working with the NEW CommonApp? Are you ready to scream? Throw your computer out the window? Relax, Dr. Yo and his team of teen experts from Kingswood Oxford School and Conard High School and an experienced mom, Kate Cryan, will pass along tips and tricks to taming this beast and to answering as many questions as they can in 30 minutes on the air. Ok, and we might just bellyache a bit. Topics include: Horror stories from trenches Overview of how best to complete your CommonApp Where the glitches and snafus have been popping up How to copy and paste your writing into the text boxes in 57 easy steps (kidding) Resources to help you finish as quickly and sanely as possible Tune in live to join the conversation and/or ask questions. Or email your horror stories, success stories, best tips, and/or questions in advance toPrepTalk@CollegePrepExpress.com. We'll share as many as we can live on the air.

The first two years of high school are both exciting and more important in the college admissions game than most people think. Join Dr. Yo and his panel of teen experts, including Zach Mendelovici (KO '15), Amanda Youmans (Hall '16), and Sophie Gibson (Hall '16), as they share their experience and wisodm of living through 9th and 10th grades. Topics include: Grades, courses, and academic positioning for college in early high school Getting involved in school: Sports and Extracurriculars Getting involved out of school: Community Service Standardizing testing in early high school (yup, and it's not as bad as you think) What to expect as the years unfold As always we invite YOU to join tthe conversation with questions and comments via phone, Twitter (#PrepTalk), and the BlogTalk Radio chatroom. Tune in live with your friends or listen on iTunes immediate following (http://bit.ly/S5gKCo)  

The first two years of high school are both exciting and more important in the college admissions game than most people think. Join Dr. Yo and his panel of teen experts, including Zach Mendelovici (KO '15), Amanda Youmans (Hall '16), and Sophie Gibson (Hall '16), as they share their experience and wisodm of living through 9th and 10th grades. Topics include: Grades, courses, and academic positioning for college in early high school Getting involved in school: Sports and Extracurriculars Getting involved out of school: Community Service Standardizing testing in early high school (yup, and it's not as bad as you think) What to expect as the years unfold As always we invite YOU to join tthe conversation with questions and comments via phone, Twitter (#PrepTalk), and the BlogTalk Radio chatroom. Tune in live with your friends or listen on iTunes immediate following (http://bit.ly/S5gKCo)  

  Junior year is a notoriously dreaded year of high school. But forewarned is forearmed! Join Dr. Yo and his panel of TEEN EXPERTS, all successful rising seniors with fresh firsthand experience of the dreaded junior year, including Lauren Belizzi (Northwest Catholic ’14), Justin Kilian (Hall ’14), Jake Leshem (KO ’14), and Simon Bellemare (Choate ’14). We'll be having a conversation about what rising juniors should be thinking about as they gear up for their penultimate year in HS. Topics include: ·      Classes & grades ·      Extracurrics & Community Service ·      Sports  ·      Standardized testing - Blech ·      SATs, ACTs, and Subject Tests: Which and When? ·      Leadership ·      Visiting colleges ·      What to expect as the year unfolds And, of course, we'll be taking LIVE CALLS and TWEETS and manning the CHAT ROOM for YOUR questions and comments!

  Junior year is a notoriously dreaded year of high school. But forewarned is forearmed! Join Dr. Yo and his panel of TEEN EXPERTS, all successful rising seniors with fresh firsthand experience of the dreaded junior year, including Lauren Belizzi (Northwest Catholic ’14), Justin Kilian (Hall ’14), Jake Leshem (KO ’14), and Simon Bellemare (Choate ’14). We'll be having a conversation about what rising juniors should be thinking about as they gear up for their penultimate year in HS. Topics include: ·      Classes & grades ·      Extracurrics & Community Service ·      Sports  ·      Standardized testing - Blech ·      SATs, ACTs, and Subject Tests: Which and When? ·      Leadership ·      Visiting colleges ·      What to expect as the year unfolds And, of course, we'll be taking LIVE CALLS and TWEETS and manning the CHAT ROOM for YOUR questions and comments!

  Rising seniors have a lot on their minds in August! Join Dr. Yo and his panel of TEEN EXPERTS who’ve just finished their senior year, including Andreea Dinicu (GHS ’13), Charlie Fisher (Conard ’13), Brooke Hayes (KO ’13), and Russell Weeks (GHAMAS ’13). We'll be having a conversation about what rising seniors should be thinking about as they gear up for their last year in HS.   Topics include: ClassesExtracurrics & Community ServiceSportsLeadershipVisiting collegesApplicationsInterviewsBeing a senior on campusSENIOR SLIDE!   And, of course, we'll be taking LIVE CALLS and TWEETS and manning the CHAT ROOM for YOUR questions and comm

  Rising seniors have a lot on their minds in August! Join Dr. Yo and his panel of TEEN EXPERTS who’ve just finished their senior year, including Andreea Dinicu (GHS ’13), Charlie Fisher (Conard ’13), Brooke Hayes (KO ’13), and Russell Weeks (GHAMAS ’13). We'll be having a conversation about what rising seniors should be thinking about as they gear up for their last year in HS.   Topics include: Classes Extracurrics & Community Service Sports Leadership Visiting colleges Applications Interviews Being a senior on campus SENIOR SLIDE!   And, of course, we'll be taking LIVE CALLS and TWEETS and manning the CHAT ROOM for YOUR questions and comm

  Application packaging, one of CollegePrepExpress’s THREE specialty areas, is arguably THE single most important criterion for college admissions. Join Dr. and special guest Jean Hanff Korelitz, author of Admission, the fabulous novel on which the recent Tina Fey and Paul Rudd movie is based.  Their discussion about her book, the movie, and her experience as an application reader for Princeton University will help you present yourself in the best possible light in your applications.  Topics include: •   Given the primacy of grades and tests scores, how important are the applications themselves? •   What are the main components of the CommonApp and how do they work together? •   Tips for writings compelling personal essays •   How important are the supplement applications and what tips/tricks are there for those? •   Nightmares in applications adjudication •   How best to make application readers “fall in love” with you 

Do you have kids in college or kids who will be in college in the next four years? Are you stressing out about how to pay for college without going completely broke? Do you feel you have to choose between paying for college and saving for retirement? Then this show is for YOU! Join Dr. Yo and special guest, Jeff Noll, college funding strategist and financial aid expert. In just 30 minutes, you will learn both what NOT to do and what you CAN do to protect your financial well being in the face of constantly sky-rocketing college expenses.  Topics include: College inflation How do families currently pay for college?  Student loan nightmares The financial aid process: FAFSA and CSS/Profile Expected Family Contribution  What’s due when? 529s and CHETs Scholarship availability Resources   And, of course, we'll be taking LIVE CALLS and TWEETS and manning the CHAT ROOM for YOUR questions and comments!

With the ACT on April 13, this show is RIGHT ON TIME! Join Dr. Yo's TEEN EXPERTS—including Jake Leshem (KO ’14) and Catherine Eatherton (KO ’14, and yes, it’s just a coincidence her initials are...CPE ;-))— both of whom got nearly perfect scores on the ACT this year, as they offer advice, tips, and flat out tricks to beat this college entrance exam. Other TEEN GUESTS include Maggie Geisler (Conard ’14) and Jake Youmans (Hall ’14), both of whom are currently studying for the 4/13 exam. Tune in to hear them grill the experts on how best to reach for their highest scores! Topics include: What IS the ACT? Does is count as much as the SAT? How is it similar to and different from the SAT? What material should do I have to know? What are the best strategies for each of the five tests (English, Math, Reading, Science, and Math)? What's up with Science Test? Should I take it with our without Writing?And, of course, we'll be taking LIVE CALLS and TWEETS with YOUR questions and comments! If you're taking the ACTs in April or June, tune in or miss out! 

NOTE THE DATE HAS BEEN CHANGED FROM TUESDAY, 3/5 to THURSDAY, 3/7 to include a small live audience! Join Dr. Yo and a live audience of teen testers for an SAT review  session in preparation for the March 9 SAT. Have your Official CollegeBoard Study Guides handy and be prepared for a whirlwind tour of all the major strategies followed by a question-and-answer period. Dr. Yo will be happy to answer any questions about the exam, strategies, differences between the SAT and ACT, and any problems in the book you're unsure about. Tune in live, or listen to the archived show, now available on iTunes. ALL SHOWS ARE FREE :-) And do your friends a favor by telling them, too.  

Dr. Yo will be joined by Barb Levison from Tips on Trips and Camps to discuss a huge range of summer opportunities for students, including: domestic and international travel academic programs, including CPE’s Smart Summer Sessions camps language programs internships community service, and moreThese summer ideas are fun, educational, and play well in the college admissions game!And of course we invite YOU to join the conversation, too! Add your experience or ask a question to win a FREE SAT Prep Pack!

No one’s busier or on tighter budgets than college students, right? But you gotta eat, so you may as well eat well. Learn how to prepare tasty,  time-efficient and cost-effective recipes from cooking expert Andrea Lynn, author of The I Love Trader Joe's College Cookbook, and Jessica Harlan, author of Ramen to the Rescue: 120 Creative Recipes for Easy Meals Using Everyone's Favorite Pack of Noodles and Tortillas to the Rescue: Scrumptious Snacks, Mouth-Watering Meals and Delicious Desserts--All Made with the Amazing Tortilla. Topics include: What can I make for lunch? What can I make for dinner? What can I do with a microwave oven? What can I do in a suite with a kitchen? How can I eat great-tasting food without gaining the freshman 15? What can I make for my party? What can prepare fast and inexpensively? What’s good BRAIN food?And, of course, we'll be taking LIVE CALLS with YOUR questions and comments! If you’re in college or going to college next year, this will be a great fun show for YOU!

With the ACT on December 8, this show is RIGHT ON TIME! Join Dr. Yo's TEEN EXPERTS--including Teddy Monyak (Conard '13), Sarah Gianni (KO ’14), and Katherine Gianni (KO ’14)--as they offer advice, tips, and flat out tricks to beat this college entrance exam. Topics include: What IS the ACT? Does is count as much as the SAT? How is it similar to and different from the SAT? What material should do I have to know? What are the best strategies for each of the five tests (English, Math, Reading, Science, and Math)? What's up with Science Test? Should I take it with or without Writing? And, of course, we'll be taking LIVE CALLS with YOUR questions and comments! If you're taking the ACTs in  December or next February, tune in or miss out!  

What's one relatively easy way to separate you from the pack in the most competitive era in college admissions ever? With  scintillating application materials, of course! Join Dr. Yo and his panel of experts--Northwest Catholic's Director of Guidance, Joyce O'Rourke, and teens Samantha Udolf (Harvard '16) and John Dinucci (Conard '13)--who've been through or are going through the process as they share tips and tricks for writing winning essays, filling out the activities list and extracurricular blurbs, managing supplements, and more!

Tired of looking at lists of SAT words organized alphabetically? Does the idea of flipping through yet another set of flashcards make you want to throw up a little bit in your mouth? Then tune in to this episode of “Prep Talk,” when Dr. Yo will share the many secrets of increasing your vocabulary exponentially in the easiest, most enjoyable, and highly effective ways. He’ll also be joined by an expert from Vivid Vocab!, who will share expert tips and tools to help you raise your Critical Reading scores to levels you didn’t think possible! If you plan to take the SATs in June or next fall, do NOT miss this episode!

Prep Talk welcomes Z. Kelly Queijo, founder of SmartCollegeVisit.com, and a panel of teen experts—including Courtney Robinson, Hall High ’13 (joining us live by phone from her college visits in PA), and Teddy Monyak, Conard High ’13— who've been through the college admissions process, to discuss college visits! We'll talk about their experiences, what they learned, and how to make the most of the time you spend on campus. If you plan to visit schools this spring, summer, or next fall, don’t miss this episode!