How Aquinas College Is Rethinking the College Experience with Brian Matzke

Rethinking College, Careers, and the Trades with Jacob Imam

In this episode, Dr. Jacob Imam, President and founder of the College of St. Joseph the Worker, shares the story behind one of higher education's most unconventional institutions, a rigorous honors-level liberal arts college that also trains students in the skilled trades. Jacob explains his philosophy around the "great divorce between the head and the hands," making the case that intellectual and manual work are not opposites but deeply complementary, and that reconnecting the two produces better thinkers and more capable people. He also breaks down how the college's apprenticeship model allows students to earn while they train, fully offsetting tuition costs so graduates leave with both a bachelor's degree and zero debt. Jacob then walks through the practical questions students and families should be asking as they weigh their options in higher education, including whether college is even the right path, and how to honestly assess return on investment. He shares why the skilled trades are consistently underestimated as an intellectual and financial opportunity, how AI tailwinds are making both hands-on skills and deep thinking more valuable than ever, and what advice he has for students already in college who want to start reconnecting with practical, real-world skills.

Aid, Access, and Admissions at Tulane with Shawn Abbott

ABOUT THE EPISODE In this episode, VP for Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions at Tulane University Shawn Abbott pulls back the curtain on what makes Tulane a unique institution, from its university-wide admissions model that lets students choose their academic path after arriving, to the Louisiana Promise, a suite of programs designed to make Tulane accessible and affordable for students from the state of Louisiana. Shawn also discusses how Tulane has simplified its scholarship application process, eliminating a separate merit scholarship application so more students can be automatically considered for aid. Shawn then shares practical advice students shouldn't miss: why treating financial aid applications with the same urgency as admissions applications is critical, how demonstrated interest actually factors into Tulane's process, and why obsessing over admit rates is one of the biggest mistakes a student can make in the admissions process. MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE * The CSS Profile [https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/] * Noncustodial Parent CSS Profile Waiver Request Form [https://cssprofile.collegeboard.org/media/pdf/css-profile-waiver-request-non-custodial-parent.pdf]

How ReUp Education Is Helping Students Finish What They Started with Scott Lomas

In this episode, Chief Strategy Officer at ReUp Education Scott Lomas joins Will to shed light on one of higher education's most overlooked challenges: the more than 40 million Americans who have started college but never earned a degree. Scott breaks down the scope of the problem, the common barriers and friction points that prevent students from re-enrolling, and why the re-enrollment rate for this population sits at just around 2%. Scott explains what institutions that are succeeding in this space are doing differently, from removing administrative friction to understanding the unique motivations of adult learners returning to school. He also discusses the role of employers, state governments, and ReUp Education itself in helping students finish what they started.

Direct Admissions, True Cost, and the Future of College Search with Luke Skurman

In this episode, CEO and founder of Niche Luke Skurman shares the origin story of the platform, from its early days as College Prowler publishing physical college guidebooks to becoming one of the most widely used college research tools in the country. Luke explains how a frustrating college search experience of his own inspired him to build a resource centered on student life and user-generated content, not just academics. Luke then dives into two of Niche's most exciting recent innovations: direct admissions and True Cost. He breaks down how direct admissions is shifting the power dynamic in favor of students and families by pairing upfront admission offers with scholarship awards, and shares how the product has grown to over 170 partner colleges. He also discusses True Cost, Niche's new tool designed to give students and families a clear, apples-to-apples comparison of what college will actually cost them long before decision day.

The Story Behind Scholarships360 with Will Geiger and Brian Geiger

In this special episode, co-founders of Scholarships360 Will Geiger and Brian Geiger share the origins of the platform and offer practical advice for students navigating college admissions and scholarship applications. As first-generation college students themselves, both brothers found that clear, accessible resources were hard to come by, and built Scholarships360 to fill that gap. Will and Brian also bust some common college myths, including the misconception that students will pay the full sticker price for college, and encourage students to carefully review their financial aid award letters and advocate for themselves throughout the process. They also touch on the evolving role of AI in scholarship applications, stressing the importance of researching the AI policies of any scholarship you're interested in. They round things out with two key pieces of advice: start exploring scholarship opportunities early and don't overlook hyper-local scholarships as part of your overall strategy.