PS launches new College Conversations Podcast
February 22, 2021
Project Success’s College and Careers team continues to innovate ways to provide resources and support for students’ needs related to their post-secondary goals. At the start of the pandemic last spring, Kiah, our College and Career Tours Program Manager, quickly created an alternate option for students to learn about colleges via the Project Success College Admissions Chats video series. In each Admission Chat video, deans and admission counselors provided in-depth presentations about their respective colleges and universities, and Kiah asked questions for students about each college on their behalf.
The series was a hit! However, in usual Project Success fashion, Kiah was eager to provide more information and connection for students. Now, in addition to Project Success’s LIVE and recorded College Admissions Chats videos, and Live Student Panels where high schoolers can connect with current college students, there is the “College Conversations” podcast series. “College Conversations” differs from the Admissions Chat because it focuses on specific topics related to post-secondary goals rather than individual colleges themselves.
There are currently five “College Conversations” episodes that range in topics such as financial aid and self-advocacy. And each episode includes a current high schooler from a partner PS high school as a co-host, in addition toappearances by college admission counselors and officers, Project Success and college alumni, current college students, and various other Project Success partners to ensure varied perspectives on each topic. The podcasting team has remarked that they’re continually impressed by their student co-hosts and how eager they are to participate and engage with each episode’s theme.
Based on students’ interest and feedback, Kiah is keen on continuing the series this spring, with one new episodes airing per week from March through April. The college and career podcasting team are also exploring different ways to communicate each episode’s topics to their listeners. Kyle, Project Success facilitator and “College Conversations” host, said, “We’re always exploring different ways to tell stories. We’ve added games and reflection moments with these upcoming episodes. What makes Project Success is that social and emotional aspect. I want to continue to be playful.”
“What do students want to learn more of?” Episode topics are chosen based on students’ questions from previous years and new concerns related to post-secondary goals in the face of this pandemic. Because of how intentional and student-driven the conversations on the series are, students are tuning in! Podcasting has been a great alternate way to connect and assist students in obtaining the information they need. As a result, Kiah and the Project Success team foresee this series continuing post-pandemic and beyond.
We encourage you to share the series with high school students and teachers you know!