Best Jeff Selingo And Michael Horn Podcasts (2025)

1
Making Sense of the First 100 Days 51:57

5d ago51:57

51:57

In this special episode, recorded live at the ASU+GSV Summit, hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn dive into the rapidly evolving higher ed landscape in President Trump’s second term. They discuss massive cuts at the U.S. Department of Education, mounting challenges around international student enrollment, and looming threats to federal research fun…

1
The Truth About The College Search - Sam Bernstein and Eric Menna 45:01

11d ago45:01

45:01

Brennan and Rick are joined by Sam Bernstein and Eric Menna, the cofounders of Loper, to talk through how their college admission journeys influenced the creation of Loper, how the app provides assistance during the college search process, and what data from users has shown in giving a more complete picture of needs and wants for students figuring …

1
Reporter’s Roundtable: A Quarter Century of Higher Ed Controversies 55:05

14d ago55:05

55:05

In a special crossover episode, Michael and Jeff are joined by Chronicle of Higher Education reporter Jack Stripling to discuss a recent piece by the Chronicle: a March Madness-style bracket of the most memorable higher ed controversies of the last 25 years. The trio relives infamous scandals—from Jetgate and Varsity Blues to faculty feuds, preside…

1
Building an Apprenticeship System in Indiana: How the Hoosier State is Adapting the Swiss Model 34:58

27d ago34:58

34:58

In part two of their series on apprenticeships, Jeff talks with Claire Fiddian-Green, president and CEO of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, about Indiana’s ambitious efforts to adapt lessons from Switzerland’s gold-standard model. They explore how Indiana is transforming high school graduation requirements, building industry-led talent associat…

1
The Truth About the National Landscape - Angel Perez 32:34

25d ago32:34

32:34

Brennan and Rick are joined by Angel Perez, the CEO of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), to talk about the current landscape in Washington, D.C. amidst uncertainty with the Department of Education, who NACAC is working with to improve college admissions, what could be innovated in the future in the profession, and t…

1
Reclassifying Higher Ed: Will the New Carnegie Groupings Change the Race for Prestige? 50:21

1M ago50:21

50:21

Jeff and Michael are joined by Mushtaq Gunja, Executive Director of the Carnegie Classification Systems and Senior Vice President at ACE, to unpack the sweeping changes to the Carnegie Classifications. They explore how the new system aims to better group institutions, highlight student access and earnings, and shift incentives across funding, accou…

1
The Truth About Scholarships, Loans, and Financial Aid Packages - Mark Salisbury 54:56

1M ago54:56

54:56

Brennan and Rick are joined by Mark Salisbury, founder and CEO of TuitionFit, to detail for families why college sticker prices are so high, what to look for in a financial aid award, what kinds of financial aid tools are out there, and what they mean in simple terms. LINKS Newsletter: https://www.truthaboutcollegeadmission.com/contact Tuitionfit.o…

1
Higher Ed 101: College Budgets Explained 51:01

1M ago51:01

51:01

As colleges navigate increasing financial pressure, many struggle to balance mission with sustainability. In this episode, Jeff and Michael welcome Rick Staisloff, founder of rpk GROUP, for a crash course in how college budgets really work. From centralized vs. decentralized models to the challenges of tuition discounting, Rick breaks down the majo…

1
The Truth About Math, Equity, & Admission - Melodie Baker & Akil Bello 57:04

2M ago57:04

57:04

Brennan and Rick have an epic pod this week joined by Melodie Baker (Founder & Executive Director of ImpactSTATS Inc.) and Akil Bello (Senior Director of Advocacy and Advancement at FairTest) for a massive deep dive into Melodie's research into what the current role of calculus in college admissions is, how it's used as a date point at selective co…

1
Learning from the Swiss Apprenticeship Model 47:10

2M ago47:10

47:10

The U.S. has a lot to learn when it comes to systematizing apprenticeship. Thankfully, there are successful international models, like Switzerland’s, that we can study. Katie Caves, the Director at Switzerland’s Center on the Economics and Management of Education and Training Systems, joins the podcast to discuss the Swiss model and what can be gle…

1
Building an AI-Ready College 36:58

2M ago36:58

36:58

AI is evolving at a rapid rate, and its implications for higher ed are changing in lock step. So, Michael and Jeff dove back into the topic at the Google Public Sector GenAI Live & Labs Conference with a panel of experts: Ann Krischner of CUNY and ASU, Pace University’s Marvin Krislov, and Google’s Chris Hein. They discussed the necessity of an ins…

1
A Midwest Merger: How Two Ohio Colleges Are Coming Together 42:41

2M ago42:41

42:41

Mergers aren’t easy. They demand careful analysis, difficult decisions, and tricky stakeholder management. But they are becoming increasingly necessary as dropping enrollments make going it alone less viable for more and more institutions. So, Michael and Jeff sat down with the presidents of two colleges in Ohio that are in the process of merging a…

1
The Truth About Deferrals - Heath Einstein 28:44

2M ago28:44

28:44

Rick and Brennan are joined by Heath Einstein, the Vice Provost of Enrollment Management at Texas Christian University, to go over what a deferral means in the admissions process, what students should do in response to the decision and while they wait for the next decision to come, and the mentality to take on when your top school sends a deferral …

1
Accepted without Applying: The Growth of Direct Admissions 40:58

3M ago40:58

40:58

This year, thousands of students will be accepted to colleges without ever submitting a formal application. That’s because more and more schools are automatically accepting students who meet preset performance thresholds through direct admissions programs. To learn more about this growing trend, Michael and Jeff welcome Luke Skurman who is CEO of N…

1
The Truth About the College Search - Sacha Thieme 31:52

3M ago31:52

31:52

Brennan and Rick are joined by Sacha Thieme, Assistant Vice Provost and Executive Director of Admissions at Indiana University, to talk about best practices for visiting colleges, the preparation that is useful before going for a campus visit, and what college visits can do as for high schoolers evolving their thinking in the college search process…

1
The Lost Boys of Higher Ed 50:42

3M ago50:42

50:42

Women have outnumbered men on college campuses for decades, but the divergence in postsecondary success has widened in recent years, and it is both a cause and symptom of the struggles of the modern man. Richard Reeves, author of Of Boys and Men joins the podcast to discuss the drivers of these challenges, promising interventions, and whether we sh…

1
A New Era for Higher Ed? 36:54

3M ago36:54

36:54

At the turn of the new year, Jeff and Michael dive into the predictions and trends set to shape the landscape of higher education in 2025. They discuss how this may be a year of reckoning for colleges and where changes will be required to make long-needed improvements. They dig in on infrastructure adjustments, reimagined degree programs, and what …

1
The Truth about Navigating the Application Process - Dr. Ramon Blakley 34:30

3M ago34:30

34:30

Rick is joined by the interim Director of Admissions at UT Austin, Dr. Ramon Blakley, to talk about UT Austin's Percentage Plan and how that impacts how they recruit + admit applicants. Then, a conversation about how juniors can best navigate the various schools that have a range of test optional to test mandatory policies, plus advice for parents …

1
Making "Job Moves" 41:06

4M ago41:06

41:06

On this episode, Jeff sits down with one of the authors of Job Moves: 9 Steps To Making Progress in Your Career, Future U.’s very own Michael B. Horn. The two discuss the lessons that the book, which offers research-based guidance to individuals searching for new work, holds for students and the colleges that serve them. They then dive into discuss…

1
2025 Preview Show 30:46

4M ago30:46

30:46

Rick and Brennan are back from holidays and are here with their hopes for 2025 in college admissions, what they're looking out for in the industry, and their timely tips for the January portion of the admissions calendar. Links: Admission Leaders Share Resolutions For College Applicants - Forbes Immunity to Change - Kegan and Lahey College Uncovere…

1
The Resiliency of Remedial Education 37:22

4M ago37:22

37:22

More than a decade ago, a wave of research pointing to the inefficacy of remedial education was followed by a massive investment in rethinking how we prepare students who need extra support to access college. So why, after all that, does remedial ed still play such a big role on college campuses today? To help us tackle that question, we’re joined …

1
The Truth About 2024: TACA's Year in Review 28:43

5M ago28:43

28:43

Rick and Brennan close out the 2024 calendar year to discuss their favorite guests and what they drew from those conversations. Then, a review of the big issues in college admission that stuck out to them in 2024 with a look ahead to what they're hopeful to see in 2025. Hopefully no more holiday deadlines for applications! Links: Fewer race-based s…

1
The Truth About Leading a College - Dan Lugo 45:59

5M ago45:59

45:59

In one of our favorite episodes yet, Dan Lugo, current President of Queens University of Charlotte and future President at Trinity College in Hartford, CT, joins Brennan and Rick to talk about his unique admissions journey, how a college president can impact a campus positively, and how parents can best approach helping their child seek the transfo…

1
Chips and Higher Ed: What the Federal Investment Means for Colleges 20:56

5M ago20:56

20:56

What does a community college in Idaho have to do with mounting economic tensions between the U.S. and China? A lot, actually. On this episode of Future U., Michael and Jeff dive into what the CHIPS and Science Act—the federal spending package designed to reduce the United States’ reliance on foreign manufacturers for microchips and other advanced …

1
The Truth About Admission at the Holidays - Dianne Campbell 26:16

5M ago26:16

26:16

Rick and Brennan are joined by Dianne Campbell, the Director of College Counseling at Liberty Common High School, where they talk about how to manage the conversations that are bound to come up for kids going through the college admissions process over the next month, how to frame the conversation in a healthy way for kids, and if necessary, ways t…

1
Developing a Tech Mindset at the Leadership Table 44:24

5M ago44:24

44:24

Technology is an increasingly important element of everything that colleges do, yet it remains a distinct and separate function at too many schools. Jeff visited the Educause Conference, focused on tech in higher ed, to chat with college leaders about how they are leveraging IT on their campuses. They discuss best practices in bridging the tech-aca…

1
How One Regional University Is Growing 53:26

6M ago53:26

53:26

Regional public universities have been hit harder than most colleges by recent enrollment decreases. On this episode, Michael and Jeff sit down with President Jonathan Koppell of Montclair State University, a regional that has bucked this trend, to learn more about their success. They dig in on lessons Koppell learned as a dean at ASU, the college’…

1
The Truth About Early Decision - Adam Miller 29:25

6M ago29:25

29:25

Rick is joined by Adam Miller from the beautiful Whitman College to give a rundown of the kinds of responses students may get for their early action/decision applications and what do to in each situation, whether it be admitted, deferred, or denied, or even alternative scenarios that may arise. Links: The Truth about College Admission Newsletter Ho…

1
The New Student-Ready College 36:23

6M ago36:23

36:23

While college-going rates have increased over recent decades, completion rates have hardly budged. On this episode, Michael and Jeff sit down with one entrepreneur working to change that. Mike Larsson is the co-founder and CEO of Duet, an organization collaborating with an online university to provide on-the-ground coaching and physical space for s…

1
The Truth About Application Review - Liz Cheron 33:04

6M ago33:04

33:04

Brennan and Rick are joined by Liz Chreron, CEO of the Coalition for College Access and proud Boston College graduate, to go over what application review looks like, why it's done the way it's done, how it's done, and how to best approach this time of the admissions cycle for parents and students. Links: Coalition for College website The Truth Abou…

1
Visiting Western Governors University: Growing and Evolving Pathways for Educating Teachers 53:29

6M ago53:29

53:29

On this episode of the Future U. Campus Tour, Michael and Jeff sit down with leaders from Western Governors University to learn about innovations around the university, with special attention paid to those at WGU’s fast-growing School of Education. They discuss the expansion of work-based learning with President Pulsipher and Provost Hills McBeth, …

1
Cutting College Costs, Board Tensions, & Consultant-mania 39:33

7M ago39:33

39:33

On this episode, Michael and Jeff riff through a range of topics. Among them: how no constituency is actually in favor of cost cutting on college campuses; whether consultants can play any productive role in higher ed; and how Disney’s succession drama holds many lessons for boards of trustees at colleges and universities. This episode is made with…

1
The Truth About Value - Dan Porterfield 43:21

7M ago43:21

43:21

Dan Porterfield, author and President + CEO of the Aspen Institute, joins Rick and Brennan to dive into the value of college from different perspectives (family, individual, societal, financial), some stories from Dan's time as a college president, and advice as to how to approach being at college and how to support people currently in college. Lin…

1
The Seismic Impact of College Athletics 58:22

7M ago58:22

58:22

The impact of college athletics is felt throughout institutions, but too often sports are considered separate from the rest of higher ed. On this episode, Michael and Jeff connect the dots between recent changes to college athletics and the campus-wide ripple effects they could have. They are joined by Matt Brown, author of the college sports newsl…

1
The Truth About Financial Aid - Jackie Copeland 32:50

7M ago32:50

32:50

Brennan and Rick are joined by the Associate Provost and Director of the Office of Scholarships and Student Aid at UNC, Jackie Copeland, to talk through a primer of the FAFSA (both what it is and why to fill it out), the cost of college (and why it is so high), and the crucial roles that parents can fill for their kids navigating college for the fi…

1
AI Goes to College: In the Classroom and Beyond 1:02:01

7M ago1:02:01

1:02:01

Much of the buzz around artificial intelligence centers on its potential to transform the college of tomorrow, but there are many schools making meaningful change with this technology today. On this episode, we go deep on the applications of AI from recruitment to instruction to supporting post-grad success. We sit down Lev Gonick, Chief Informatio…

1
The Truth about Mission and AI - Juan Espinoza 27:20

8M ago27:20

27:20

For the first interview of season 3, Rick and Brennan are joined by Juan Espinoza, the Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at Virginia Tech to discuss his admission journey from applying to schools to becoming Vice Provost, how the mission of Virginia Tech drives his work, and what he is excited about how AI can positively influence the admissio…

1
Searching for Fit: The Impacts of AI in Higher Ed 56:25

8M ago56:25

56:25

On this episode, Jeff and Michael tackle the question everyone is asking: how will AI transform higher ed? For help in finding the answer, they turn to bestselling author and professor of computer science at Georgetown University, Cal Newport. They discuss AI’s academic and operational implications, its ethical and practical considerations, and the…

1
So Long, Summer: We're Back 43:40

8M ago43:40

43:40

To kick off Season 8, Michael and Jeff break down the summer’s higher ed headlines. They discuss this year’s FAFSA rollout, recent campus protest fallout, leadership changes, college closures, online program management providers, the presidential election, and high school grading. This episode is made possible with support from Ascendium Education …

1
The Truth about Season 3 19:40

8M ago19:40

19:40

We're back! Season three of The Truth about College Admission is here as we recap our summers and look ahead to what this season of the podcast will bring us. Subscribe to our newsletter! Books and essays mentioned in this episode: Brave New Words: How Ai Will Revolutionize Education (And Why That's A Good Thing) - Salman Khan Mindset Matters: The …

1
Rerun: The Wild West of Dual Enrollment: Its Growth, Benefits, and Drawbacks 43:33

9M ago43:33

43:33

In this episode, Jeff and Michael dive into the complex world of dual enrollment, examining its rapid growth, potential benefits, and emerging challenges. They speak with John Fink, a senior research associate at the Community College Research Center, to understand the various dual enrollment arrangements, the students they serve, and the outcomes …

1
What's Next for Skills-Based Hiring 44:40

9M ago44:40

44:40

In this special episode, Jeff engages in a lively conversation with Tina Gridiron of ACT and Kennon Harrison of ETS about the future of skills-based hiring. The discussion, recorded live during the Horizons Summit powered by Jobs for the Future (JFF), revolved around how employers can better assess the skills job candidates have, how candidates can…

1
Rerun: The Future of the Ph.D. 43:44

9M ago43:44

43:44

Hosts Jeff Selingo and Michael Horn are joined by Dr. Len Cassuto, an author and professor at Fordham University, and focus their conversation on the role of PhD students and what the challenges in that part of academia might mean for higher ed. They dive into the subjects that Len explores in his new book, The New PhD: How to Build a Better Gradua…

1
Rerun: How Small Schools Can Thrive As Higher Ed Changes 41:33

9M ago41:33

41:33

In this rerun from episode 150, Jeff Selingo welcomes Lynn Perry Wooten, President of Simmons University, for a conversation on the unique position of smaller universities in higher education. They discuss some vital concerns facing smaller universities like Simmons, such as combining less popular liberal arts majors, combatting dropping college en…

1
Rerun: The Role of Higher Ed in the American Dream 49:35

10M ago49:35

49:35

New York Times columnist and author David Leonhardt discusses his new book, “Ours Was The Shining Future: The Story of the American Dream." In his conversation with Michael and Jeff, they talk about the impact of the high-school movement on the U.S. economy last century, what a similar higher ed movement might look like in this century, and why the…

1
Rerun: Leveraging Apprenticeship to Bolster the Rural Talent Pipeline 31:11

10M ago31:11

31:11

In too many rural areas, workers lack access to affordable training pathways to high-quality jobs. Jeff and Michael sit down with Mallory Dwinal-Palisch, Chancellor of Reach University, to learn about how Reach is addressing this challenge with an apprenticeship approach to teacher education. In the first of this two-part conversation, they discuss…

1
Rerun: The Future of Online Ed 49:24

10M ago49:24

49:24

Jeff and Michael are joined by the CEOs of Academic Partnerships, Fernando Bleichmar, and Coursera, Jeff Maggioncalda, to talk about the future of online learning, including a new study on ROI, the role of degrees vs. credentials in the job market, and what AI will mean for online ed. This episode is sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation…

1
Season 7 Wrap Up 19:38

10M ago19:38

19:38

In this season 7 wrap-up episode of Future U., Jeff and Michael go to a rapid-fire format and break down six topics in higher education: recent enrollment trends, the state of online education and OPMs, the ongoing FAFSA issues, campus protests related to the Israel-Hamas conflict, the increasing focus on value in higher education, and recent devel…

1
The Competency-Based Approach to Validating Learning in Higher Ed 44:32

11M ago44:32

44:32

Learning is at the heart of higher ed’s purpose, but how many institutions have a strong sense of the skills and knowledge students are gaining? On this episode, Michael and Jeff welcome two innovators helping colleges to better validate student learning through competency-based education (CBE): Amber Garrison Duncan of the Competency Based Educati…

1
The Truth About College Admissions - Season 2 Finale 36:31

11M ago36:31

36:31

To close season 2, we have a role reversal with producer Jack Purdy interviewing Rick and Brennan to talk about learnings from this season's guests, their work outside the podcast, some thoughts on AI afterApple's big WWDC announcements, and what to expect for season 3. THE TRUTH ABOUT COLLEGE ADMISSION HOMEPAGE -- to learn more about our books, sp…

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Jeff Selingo And Michael Horn Podcasts

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