New Beginnings: Real Talk With Susan & Kristina

Welcome to this week's episode of Real Talk! In this installment, hosts Susan and Kristina delve into the high-stakes world of college admissions alongside guest Davida Amkraut. As the trio navigates the aftermath of a particularly competitive admissions season, they offer invaluable insights, tips, and tricks to help listeners make informed decisions. With the college acceptance landscape resembling a bloodbath this year, many students have found themselves admitted to schools that weren't necessarily their first choice. Parents, this episode is essential listening as the team breaks down what you need to know before sending your child off to college. And for upcoming seniors, they provide crucial advice on staying ahead of the curve and crafting a strategic plan for the college application process. Tune in for a candid discussion packed with insider knowledge and practical guidance!

About Davida Amkraut:

Davida is an Independent College Consultant who serves as the saving grace for students and families in crisis who are navigating the complex college application process. Whether a student finds themselves in trouble and is applying to college for the first time, or is transitioning from one university to another due to a Title IX or other university-related misconduct claim, Davida helps young adults shape their stories so that they gain acceptance into college.

TRANSCRIPT:

Susan Stone:

Welcome back to Real Talk with Susan Stone and Kristina Supler. We are full time moms and attorneys bringing our student defense legal practice to life with real candid conversations.

Susan Stone:

Last week was accepted students weekend for Tori. Can you believe it?

Kristina Supler:

what a big, big like- How do you feel now that you know where she's going?

Susan Stone:

Oh my gosh. First of all, for the listeners out there. My youngest just accepted college. She will be going to Ringling College in Sarasota, Florida, which is an art school.

Kristina Supler:

Fabulous.

Susan Stone:

To have it done for the final time was crazy. And our guest today, I also know has three kids, but I think all of them are out of college. Welcome back to Davida Amkraut .

Davida Amkraut:

Thank you. Thank you. I actually have one still in college. He's just finishing his sophomore year, so.

Kristina Supler:

Well, we're glad you're able to join us again.Our listeners probably remember you from some of your prior recordings with us and welcome back.

Davida Amkraut:

It's good to see you guys. Yeah.

Susan Stone:

Where is your youngest? Northeastern

Davida Amkraut:

am I that's my middle. He's graduating in May from Northeastern. He's graduating in two weeks, and my youngest is at George Washington University.

Susan Stone:

And how was his experience there?

Davida Amkraut:

Loves loves loves loves it.He's in the pre physical therapy program there. So he's having

wow that's back. That's back to your that's your basic simpler. Yeah. Therapy. Yeah.

Susan Stone:

may be great for everyone out here. Christina's family's in

Kristina Supler:

PT Bizz

Susan Stone:

So, DeVita, you've got a lot of career changes lately. Why don't you catch our listeners up with what you're doing?

Davida Amkraut:

Yeah, so I'm still doing.I still am running my own private practice where I assist. This past year, I had about 55 kids from all across the country, actually, who I worked with, on college admissions. But I also joined a high school team, in the Bronx, where I'm working at a Jewish high school in the Bronx, and I am on their college counseling team.

So it's really fascinating for me to see both sides of the table. Right. So I'm working with kids from my computer, but then I'm also working with kids in person, and I've had a lot of access to admission officers, which has been amazing. I've been on advocacy calls for my students. For the listeners who don't know what that means is, prior to decisions being released, if schools allow it, we we have a call with the admission officer for our our rep for our region, and we're sort of able to pitch our case, you know, and, you know, tell them a little bit,

Kristina Supler:

So you can literally lobby for a particular student to have a spot at assembly

Davida Amkraut:

Only at certain schools. A lot of schools have done away with these advocacy calls, calls because it prevents and prevents inequity, because not every counselor has the time to make 400 phone calls for their students. But because we're at a smaller school, our caseload is a little bit smaller. So we do have the ears and eyes of some counselors who are still very happy to talk to us.

So, for example, Cooper Union, which is an engineering and architecture ...