Scholarships360’s Office Hours podcast explores the trends shaping higher education while breaking down what they mean for students and families today. Host Will Geiger sits down with leaders across the field, including VPs of Enrollment, EdTech founders, and Directors of College Counseling, to unpack the ideas, challenges, and innovations driving the future of higher ed and turn them into actionable advice for students and parents navigating the process of admissions and financial aid.
Office Hours
Claim This Podcastby Scholarships360
5.0(3 reviews)
38 episodes
Updated Daily
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Podcast Overview
Scholarships360’s Office Hours podcast explores the trends shaping higher education while breaking down what they mean for students and families today. Host Will Geiger sits down with leaders across the field, including VPs of Enrollment, EdTech founders, and Directors of College Counseling, to unpack the ideas, challenges, and innovations driving the future of higher ed and turn them into actionable advice for students and parents navigating the process of admissions and financial aid.
Language
🇺🇲
Publishing Since
9/23/2025
1 verified contact email on file for Office Hours
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Recent Episodes
June 23, 2026
Don't Overthink It: A 529 Plan Guide with Martha Kortiak Mert
<h2>About the episode</h2><p>In this episode, Martha Kortiak Mert, Chief Operating Officer at Saving for College, breaks down everything families need to know about 529 plans, starting with why getting started early matters more than finding the "perfect" plan. Martha tackles common misconceptions head-on, including the myth that families must use their own state's plan, the confusion around prepaid tuition plans, and the financial aid impact of 529 savings on the FAFSA. She also explains why families get stuck in analysis paralysis, both before opening an account and when choosing investments, and why age-based portfolios are often the simplest, most stress-free option for parents who don't want to actively manage their child's account.</p><p></p><p>Martha then walks through what to actually look for when choosing a 529 plan, from state tax deductions to performance history and convenience, while reinforcing that no single decision is permanent since funds can be rolled over or beneficiaries changed at any time. She highlights just how flexible 529 funds have become, covering K-12 expenses, vocational and apprenticeship programs, graduate school, student loan repayment, and even rollovers into a Roth IRA.</p>
June 16, 2026
AI and the Admissions Process at Bucknell with Kevin Mathes
<p>In this episode, Kevin Mathes, Vice President of Enrollment Management at Bucknell University, dives deep into one of the hottest topics in higher education: the role of AI in the college admissions process. Kevin shares how Bucknell became one of the first schools to publish an official AI admissions statement, and walks through the collaborative campus process it took to get there. He explains how his team has trained readers to spot AI-generated essays, and why he still believes admissions must remain a fundamentally human process, where students tell their own stories in their own voices.</p><p>Kevin also opens up about where he sees AI genuinely helping students, from brainstorming essay topics to condensing activity descriptions, while issuing an important reminder that AI policies vary widely from school to school.</p>
June 2, 2026
Rethinking College, Careers, and the Trades with Jacob Imam
<p>In this episode, Dr. Jacob Imam, President and founder of the College of St. Joseph the Worker, shares the story behind one of higher education's most unconventional institutions, a rigorous honors-level liberal arts college that also trains students in the skilled trades. Jacob explains his philosophy around the "great divorce between the head and the hands," making the case that intellectual and manual work are not opposites but deeply complementary, and that reconnecting the two produces better thinkers and more capable people. He also breaks down how the college's apprenticeship model allows students to earn while they train, fully offsetting tuition costs so graduates leave with both a bachelor's degree and zero debt.</p><p><br /></p><p>Jacob then walks through the practical questions students and families should be asking as they weigh their options in higher education, including whether college is even the right path, and how to honestly assess return on investment. He shares why the skilled trades are consistently underestimated as an intellectual and financial opportunity, how AI tailwinds are making both hands-on skills and deep thinking more valuable than ever, and what advice he has for students already in college who want to start reconnecting with practical, real-world skills. </p>
38 total episodes available
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Frequently asked questions
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- What is Office Hours?
- How often does this podcast release new episodes?
This podcast updates daily.
- Where can I listen to this podcast?
This podcast is available on 4 platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and more. You can also use the RSS feed directly.
- Does this podcast accept guests?
Yes, this podcast regularly features guests.
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