What’s In The Podcast "College Matters. Alma Matters"?
Guide to Episode Categories & Index to help you Navigate to the Stories you want to Listen to
Hello Listener:
Welcome to College Matters. Alma Matters.
Over the course of the hundreds of podcast episodes, we have covered a number of different types of college stories.
As a new listener, it can be a little overwhelming - navigating and finding stories that you want to listen to.
While these stories are numerous and diverse, I have organized them in terms of Themes/Categories to help you Navigate to the kinds of stories you want to listen to.
Now, before we jump into the Categories, here are the Tips to Listen to the Podcast (See graphic below).
Ok, let’s get back to the Categories.
Broadly, there are 5 Categories of Episodes:
College Experiences - with Alumni
Primer on College Majors - with College Faculty
Admissions Talk - with AOs & Counselors
Undergraduate Research - with College Faculty and Student Researchers
High School Voices - with High Schoolers
1.College Experiences - with Alumni
This category features College Alumni recounting their college undergraduate journey and experience. The stories cover tens of US Colleges and Universities spanning a variety of majors and backgrounds, interests and passions, how they spent their summers, campus involvement etc.
High Schoolers can hopefully experience a college through alumni eyes and get a feel for what it is like to be in college in general and at that college/university.
Here are the College Experiences.
Who should listen to this: High School Students, Parents, College Counselors, Admissions Officers.
How to Listen: Select by College. Or Major. Read the Episode Preview and then Listen. Make Notes.
Haven’t got much time: Listen to the Hi5s.
2.Primer on College Majors - with College Faculty
The Primer episodes are great because you get to hear directly from a Professor about their area of passion and expertise. It is intended to provide a high schooler an overview of their discipline, what is needed to be in that field, and associated career opportunities.
Here is the Primer on College Majors.
Who should listen to this: High School Students, Parents, College Counselors
How to Listen: Pick 2-3 Majors to start with. Read the Episode Preview and then Listen. Make Notes.
Haven’t got much time: Listen to the Hi5s.
3.Admissions Talk - with AOs & Counselors
College Applications and Admissions is where the rubber meets the road. We bring episodes with Admissions Officers from various US colleges and universities who share what their institutions are looking for in their students, what they offer and their advice to students.
Along with AOs, we also bring episodes with seasoned College Counselors on “How to Prepare & Apply to College”, their learnings and takeaways based on their experiences.
It’s right here on Admissions Talk & Counselors Guidance.
Who should listen to this: High School Students, Parents, College Counselors, Admissions Officers.
How to Listen: Read the Episode Preview and then Listen. Make Notes.
Haven’t got much time: Listen to the Hi5s.
4.Undergraduate Research - with College Faculty and Student Researchers
UG Research is available to students from the time they set foot on campus. UG Research significantly alters the career trajectory of students. This category covers inspiring stories with Faculty, Student Researchers and Faculty Mentors on the opportunities, infrastructure and resources available on their campuses as well as stories of research and the difference it has made to you.
Check these stories out at Undergraduate Research.
Who should listen to this: High School Students, College Counselors, College Freshman, Faculty Research Mentors, Student Researchers.
How to Listen: Read the Episode Preview and then Listen. Make Notes. Reach out to guests.
Haven’t got much time: Listen to the Hi5s.
If this is interesting, Subscribe to my monthly UGR Newsletter.
5.High School Voices - with High Schoolers
These episodes give us a feel for the frame of mind of college-bound high schoolers - what are their hopes and aspirations, their priorities and how they feel about their future. The guests are Seniors and recently incoming College Freshmen.
Listen to the High School Voices.
Who should listen to this: High School Students, Parents, College Counselors, Admissions Officers.
How to Listen: Start with Just Graduated from High School or Senior. Read the Episode Preview and then Listen. Make Notes.
Haven’t got much time: Listen to the Hi5s.
Hope you enjoy listening to the Podcast. And please let me know what you think.
Thank You.
Best, Venkat