We have exciting news!

Our CEO, Nick Standlea, recently sat down for a conversation with a legend in the world of college admissions.

Deren Finks is the former Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Harvey Mudd College (one of the five Claremont Colleges).

In the interview Nick picks Deren's brain on a variety of topics, including:

How to craft a personal statement that will catch the attention of selective colleges
The role of standardized test scores in the new landscape of test-optional colleges
How families can maximize their financial aid in scholarships and grants

We hope you enjoy the interview!

Topics Covered:

0:00 Introduction of Deren Finks, former Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Harvey Mudd College (one of the five Claremont Colleges)

2:02 What excites you about being a college counselor?

4:25 Tell me about a student that surprised you...

10:42 The #1 mistake kids make applying to college

15:53 How does college admissions work?

26:48 How do the personal statement, letters of rec, grades, scores, activities, etc., come together to create a narrative about a student?

32:05 How to ask for letters of recommendation?

40:26 How is the admissions process different at a large public university such as UCLA?

41:40 How are ACT and SAT scores used in college admissions today?

47:47 How has college admissions changed in the past 10 or 20 years?

54:04 Financial Aid and the cost of college today