Don't Force It: How to Get into College without Losing Yourself in the Process
Hosted by Sheila Akbar · Sheila Akbar, PhD
5.0from 17 ratings
- 104
- Episodes
- 11
- Transcribed
- 17
- Ratings
- Bi-weekly
- Cadence
- 2023
- First episode
- 20K
- YouTube views
About Don't Force It: How to Get into College without Losing Yourself in the Process
For all the stressed-out parents trying to help their teenagers navigate the complicated world of college admissions. Each episode offers insightful and in-depth conversations with admissions experts and professional educators with practical advice for getting through the process without losing sight of yourself, your kid, or your sanity. From building a strong academic and extracurricular profile, developing the college list, managing standardized tests, to crafting the perfect essay, we've got you covered. Whether you're a seasoned high school parent or a first-timer, join us for candid conversations and expert guidance on making it to, through, and beyond college.
- Publisher
- Sheila Akbar, PhD
- Category
- education
- Language
- en
- Explicit
- No
- First episode
- 24 Mar 2023
- Latest episode
- 15 Oct 2026
Latest episodes
11 of 104 episodes have a transcript.
15 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
How do you know when a college essay is finished?
8 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
How do I set up a study schedule that actually prevents procrastination?
1 Oct 2026TRANSCRIPT
My grades are slipping. Should I hire a tutor?
Inside a recent episode
How do you know when a college essay is finished?
Published 15 Oct 2026 · Transcript excerpt
[…] Let me give you the highlights of my resume that are relevant to this position. It's great for a cover letter. It's not the purpose of a college essay. So different. Yeah. And so it's not a this is why you should admit me. Let me give you the highlights of my academic career. Not at all. Right. And it's written in a totally different tone. Right. It's not business writing that is usually concise and not very emotional. Right. It's a personal essay for U.S. colleges definitely should be more emotional, a personal story, a little bit vulnerable. It doesn't have to be about trauma necessarily, but like even when it's about triumph, we should understand your feelings. […]
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See plansWho has been a guest on Don't Force It: How to Get into College without Losing Yourself in the Process
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
- Akil Bello
- Elizabeth Hamblet
- Aliaa
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
- YouTube views
- 19,500
- Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
- Apple Podcasts (US)
- 5.0 / 5
- 9 ratings
- Spotify
- 5.0 / 5
- 8 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 52 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
- Quality
- 44
- Social presence
- 0
- YouTube
- 76
- Engagement
- 71
Contact Don't Force It: How to Get into College without Losing Yourself in the Process
- Guest appearances
- Does not typically book guests
Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.
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Questions about Don't Force It: How to Get into College without Losing Yourself in the Process
Who hosts Don't Force It: How to Get into College without Losing Yourself in the Process?
Sheila Akbar host the show. Published by Sheila Akbar, PhD.
How often do new episodes come out?
The show publishes bi-weekly, based on its RSS feed.
Does Don't Force It: How to Get into College without Losing Yourself in the Process take guests?
The show does not typically feature guests, based on episode analyses.
Where can I read transcripts?
11 of 104 episodes have a transcript on Pod Engine. Full transcripts are available with a Pod Engine plan.
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