YCBK 69: What You Need to Know about College Interviews - a podcast by Mark Stucker

In this episode you will hear: (4:20) In this week’s news, a Hechinger Report article “Non-degree badges are booming, are they useful?”, by Matt Krupnick. While there is a general consensus on what a college degree represents, there is confusion over new online credentials and if they are useful to employers and job seekers. Thousands of credential classes have been born to improve specific skill sets, and colleges have responded by adding non-degree programs of their own. We discuss the differences between badges and certifications. Mark and Anika discuss microcredentials and macrocredentials; what is the difference and are they worth pursuing? (16:35) We are in Chapter 69 of 171 Answers and it’s what you need to know about college admissions interviews. What are the different type of interviews? How can you know which type of interview is being conducted? Where are these interviews conducted? How should you dress for these interviews Who will be doing these interviews? Are you responsible for setting them up or will you be contacted? Why do some schools not have interviews and others do? All of these things will be discussed in this segment of our podcast? (31:35) This week’s question is from a mom who wants to know if she can be refunded for SAT or ACT, if her child no longer needs to take the test. We discuss the policies for the SAT and the ACT in these instances and we also discuss some of the many other fees that people do not know about. Mark does not hold back his thoughts about how the College Board and the ACT handle such instances. (41:13) Mark interviews Mr. Yancie Davis, Admissions Officer at Macalester College in Part II of Using Non-Cognitive variables to help with admission decisions. Yancie continues explaining to us what these 8 non-cognitive variables are. (47:51) Mark’s recommended resource of the week is the website campusreel.org. Campus reel prides itself on being the youtube for college admissions. Students give their perspective of what they like and what they don’t like about their college experience. They also discuss any unique aspects of their college. I commend any attempt to get a more natural understanding of what campus life is like, to cut through the marketing. Campus reel still needs to add more colleges and they could use some upgrades on their website. They could also use some more quality control on the volume of some of their settings for their videos but I like where this website is going and In the next two years they can be at a whole different place from where they are now. They are adding more colleges and more videos every month. I still recommend you check them out now but YouTube will still be a primary source as they have more videos, but it is nice to have something that is exclusively for college that takes you beyond college marketing and statistical info.   Don’t forget to send your questions related to any and every facet of the college process to   Every episode of Your College-Bound Kid will align with a chapter from the book 171 Answers to the Most-Asked College Admission Questions. To get a copy visit  and if you want to see what future episodes will cover just click the red button “See exactly what 171 Answers covers.  

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