Curated links to helpful resources

Good Reads & Podcasts

Colleges that Change Lives, by Loren Pope – Colleges That Change Lives is a college educational guide, originally by longtime student advocate and former New York Times education editor Loren Pope

Outliers, by Malcolm Gladwell – Read about little fish in big ponds vs big fish in little ponds

ACT or SAT? Choosing the Right Exam for You, Princeton Review

Raised Healthy, Wealthy & Wise: “Lessons from successful and grounded inheritors and how they got that way”

The Test: “Why our schools are obsessed with standardized testing, but you don’t have to be”

K&W Guide to Colleges for Students with Learning Disabilities or ADHA, Princeton Review

Radiolab
This award winning podcast is a favorite amongst teens and adults alike. Hosts Jad Abumrad and Robert Krulwhich combine high quality sound design with intriguing story telling and a sense of humor to review big picture questions about science, philosophy, and the human experience. Recent episodes include Post No Evil, which explores Facebook’s posting rules and what they reveal about free speech, and Ghosts of Football Past, which dissects the history of the game.

The Moth
Think of this well-known podcast as your source of inspiration for college essay writing. The Moth is dedicated to the art of story telling and selects a range of speakers to share their own personal tales that focus on the diversity and commonality of the human experience. Get ready to laugh, cry, and bond with each story teller, all in one episode’s time.

Sporkful
Whether you’re a bonafide foodie or just someone who lives to eat, Sporkful is guaranteed to pique your interest. The podcast prides itself on thoughtful discussions about race, culture, and body image as well as funny and absurd conversations with comics about how they like to eat certain dishes.

Stuff You Missed in History Class
Students who live for history facts should start listening to this informational podcast immediately. Hosts Tracy V Wilson and Holly Frey engage in intriguing conversations about a variety of historical topics ranging from ancient civilizations to a profile on Mary Winston Jackson, the first black woman to become an engineer at NASA.

How I Built This
Guy Raz dives into the stories behind some of the world’s best known companies. How I Built This weaves a narrative journey about innovators, entrepreneurs and idealists—and the movements they built. From FOBU to Rent the Runway, you’ll love learning how people start with an idea and turn it into a phenomenon.