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College Admissions
Dartmouth College
Financial Aid
FAFSA
Higher Education
College Search Process
Storytelling
Standardized Testing
College Applications
Admissions Process
International Students
College Affordability
College Counseling
College Search
Liberal Arts Education
College Admission Process
College Admissions Process
Parenting
Emotional Well-Being
College Interviews

On the Admissions Beat, veteran dean of admissions Lee Coffin from Dartmouth College and a range of guests provide high school students and parents, as well as their counselors and other mentors, with "news you can use" at each step on the pathway to college. With a welcoming, reassuring perspective and an approach intended to build confidence in prospective applicants, Dean Coffin offers credible... more

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Artwork for Admissions Beat

Latest Episodes

Holistic? Full demonstrated need? Optional? Admissions and financial aid officers sometimes speak a particular kind of language...but everyone navigating a college search is not always as fluent in "ed-speak." A dean, a guidance counselor, and a fina... more

"Information" floods a college search from many spigots, not all of which are reliable or helpful. Each September, social media feeds erupt with advice and comment from various "expert" sources while parental social gatherings and pick-up lines at sc... more

In the Season 10 premiere, Common App CEO Jenny Rickard returns to AB for a back-to-school primer on the application used by over 1,100 colleges around the world. Fifty years since it debuted, the Common App has become "the passport for entry" into m... more

In a "listener mailbag" bonus episode, Jen Simons from Bright Horizons College Coach joins AB host Lee Coffin to answer an array of listener questions. The mailbag queries spark riffs on a wide range of admissions topics from applying to college as a... more

Key Facts

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Contact Information
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Number of Listeners
Find out how many people listen to this podcast per episode and each month.

Recent Guests

Vanessa Montorci
Director of counseling at Fairfield-Ludlow High School
Fairfield-Ludlow High School
Episode: Misinformation on the Suburban Social Circuit
Marcia Hunt
Longtime director of college counseling at Pinecrest School
Pinecrest School
Episode: Misinformation on the Suburban Social Circuit
Jenny Rickard
CEO of Common App; former Dean of Admissions at Bryn Mawr College and University of Puget Sound
Common App
Episode: One App, Many Options
Jen Simons
Director at Bright Horizons College Coach
Bright Horizons College Coach
Episode: Odds and Ends
Janice McCabe
Associate Professor of Sociology, Dartmouth College
Dartmouth College
Episode: The Initial Friendship Market
Kelly Richards
Director of College Counseling and Rogers Chair in the Humanities at St. George's School
St. George's School, Newport, Rhode Island
Episode: The Transition from Home to College
Carolyn Livingston
Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at Carleton College
Carleton College
Episode: The Transition from Home to College
Stephen Antonoff
Co-author of The College Finder; student of colleges and universities
The College Finder (co-author)
Episode: Guiding the Voyage of Discovery: The College Finder
Jay McCann
Co-author of The College Finder; experienced college counselor
The College Finder (co-author)
Episode: Guiding the Voyage of Discovery: The College Finder

Host

Lee Coffin
Vice President and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid (and host of the show), Dartmouth College; veteran admissions leader with three decades of experience.

Reviews

4.7 out of 5 stars from 193 ratings
  • Thank you

    A really positive and informative show- it’s inform for students and parents, not Tiger moms.

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    StefMMandC
    United States7 months ago
  • Interesting but not inspiring

    Interesting to hear about trends but the students they bring on don't present well and sound uncertain and tentative. They don't inspire confidence and frankly I wonder how they got into Dartmouth sounding like that.

    Apple Podcasts
    3
    podcastkom22
    United Statesa year ago
  • Good general college advice. Doesn’t reflect Dartmouth admissions.

    I listened for a season and found the discussions pleasant and reassuring. The host and guests focus on discussing students who are well rounded and empathetic. They make the valid point that there are many great colleges and universities available. However, what I saw in my area is that students admitted to Dartmouth were very “pointy” and really focused on one activity, sport, or skill. Perhaps this podcast is what the Dean wishes he was doing.

    Apple Podcasts
    2
    pantheist
    United States2 years ago
  • Everything that is wrong in admissions

    Lee Coffin epitomizes every single thing that is wrong in higher education. He lives in his ivory tower talking about “fit“, “mission” and “purpose,” but he and his ilk are the quintessential gatekeepers drumming up ways to deny students who actually do the work. This podcast is the way he feels better about himself because he surrounds himself with the yes men/ women who parrot his views. The worst are those episodes where he waxes poetic about “how he actually signs his name on every admission... more

    Apple Podcasts
    1
    PD12234
    United States2 years ago
  • “Admissions Beat” dials down the heat

    “Admissions Beat” is one of the few podcasts that actively dials down the heat on the otherwise highly combustible admissions process. Without hyperbole, this podcast completely changed my daughter’s view of admissions and allowed her to tap into her own value in the process. Before “Admissions Beat,” the admissions process was feeling like a gross listing of performative accomplishments to be judged and criticized by faceless administrators for personal gain. She now views the process as a way ... more

    Apple Podcasts
    5
    pleasesetupretail
    United States2 years ago

Listeners Say

Key themes from listener reviews, highlighting what works and what could be improved about the show.

Guests are typically experienced professionals who provide humane, context-driven insights into decisions.
Audience appreciates clear explanations of complex admissions concepts and emphasis on fit.
Some listeners feel episodes vary in energy or presentation style, but the content remains informative and reliable.
The host's calm, reassuring tone is frequently highlighted as a strength in helping families feel supported.
Thoughtful, practical guidance that helps families navigate the process without needless anxiety.

Chart Rankings

How this podcast ranks in the Apple Podcasts, Spotify and YouTube charts.

Talking Points

Recent interactions between the hosts and their guests.

Guiding the Voyage of Discovery: The College Finder
Q: How should families use this book early in the process rather than as a last-step decision aid?
The guests describe starting with self-knowledge (the 'existential selfie') and using the lists to explore a broad set of schools, then narrowing by fit factors such as programs, campus culture, and financial realities.
Guiding the Voyage of Discovery: The College Finder
Q: What motivated you to create a guidebook like The College Finder, and how did you decide on the approach of using many lists instead of a single editorial narrative?
Antonoff explains that he wanted to highlight the flavor and cultural differences among colleges, not just their academics, and McCann adds that combining four major methods—counselor surveys, broad research, credible publications, and specialist input—produces a richer map of options that helps students find places where they belong.
Once a High School Principal, Now an Admissions Officer
Q: Tell us about that transition from school leadership to being part of a college admissions team.
Robin explains that her rich background in teaching and school administration informs how she reads applications, evaluates curricula, and understands the context behind grades, ultimately focusing on fit and the student narrative rather than applying a rigid formula.
March Madness Part 2: "How Do You Decide?"
Q: What are two or three of your best pieces of advice as students and families try to make sense of the choices now in front of them?
Focus on the campuses that are truly a fit and use the time between March and May to engage with open houses, visits, and financial-aid comparisons; communicate clearly what you want and what you can contribute, and be prepared to make hard, early narrowing decisions.
Crunching Numbers
Q: What data points should families focus on when researching colleges?
Families should look at first-year retention rates and the context of each score or statistic provided about a college.

Audience Metrics

Listeners, social reach, demographics and more for this podcast.

Listeners per Episode
Gender Skew
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Frequently Asked Questions About Admissions Beat

What is Admissions Beat about and what kind of topics does it cover?

On the Admissions Beat, a veteran dean of admissions from a prestigious university hosts discussions with a range of guests, including college counselors, administrators, educators, and students. Each episode aims to demystify the college admissions journey with practical guidance, data-driven context, and human-centered storytelling—from early search through decision time and arrival on campus. The show is likely to stand out for its transparent look at the decision process, emphasis on holistic review and fit, and accessibility for families navigating complex timelines and choices. Listeners can expect actionable tips, realistic expectations, and voices that balance institutional perspective with family-centric guidance.

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How many episodes of Admissions Beat are there?

Admissions Beat launched 5 years ago and published 139 episodes to date. You can find more information about this podcast including rankings, audience demographics and engagement in our podcast database.

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What guests have appeared on Admissions Beat?

Recent guests on Admissions Beat include:

1. Vanessa Montorci
2. Marcia Hunt
3. Jenny Rickard
4. Jen Simons
5. Janice McCabe
6. Kelly Richards
7. Carolyn Livingston
8. Stephen Antonoff

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