All Episodes
Episodes
Ep. 18 | How can West Point Cadets be happier than Stanford Business School students?
Legendary speaker, thinker, and leadership guru, Jim Collins, was once invited to spend two years at West Point as a visiting professor. By the time his tenure ended, he made a startling observation. He claimed that...
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Ep. 17 | What’s the difference between a nomination and appointment?
The terms “nomination” and “appointment” can be confusing — especially in light of how often they are used interchangeably. In this episode, I clear up the difference between the two terms in an effort to get everyone...
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Ep. 16 | Is the red tape worth it?
The military is not known for being particularly efficient or nimble when it comes to paperwork, administration, or logistics. The service academy and ROTC application process is no exception. The red tape and...
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Ep. 15 | Optimizing your child’s summers
Summers are a great time for your child to take their applications to the next level. They can pursue activities, experiences, and adventures that would be impossible to do during the school year. However, without a...
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Ep. 14 | How my sons handled the admissions process
My three sons took decidedly different paths on their way to a service academy (USNA) and ROTC (Navy, Yale University) program. In this episode, I explore the different inflection points that put them on different...
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Ep. 13 | How to create a compelling highlight video
Becoming a “recruited athlete” by one of the service academy coaches may represent the most direct and reliable way to earn an appointment to a service academy. However, attaining this status is easier said than done....
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Ep. 12 | The cost of college
What’s the difference in cost between: (1) service academies, (2) ROTC programs, and (3) traditional colleges? There can be a $100K swing — per year. Would you prefer your child to graduate with $0, $50K, or $150K (or...
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Ep. 11 | The importance of public speaking
The pursuit of a service academy appointment or ROTC scholarship is replete with interviews (e.g. congressional nomination panels, military liaison representatives, ROTC Officers, college alumni, etc.). For this...
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Ep. 10 | Which extracurricular activities matter?
Not all extracurricular activities (ECAs) are created equal. Which ECAs should your child pursue to get the most bang-for-their-buck when it comes to service academies and ROTC scholarships? Scouting, Boys/Girls...
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Ep. 9 | The difference in ROTC programs
In this episode, I discuss differences in ROTC programs across branches (e.g. Navy ROTC vs. Army ROTC) as well as within the same branch (e.g. Navy ROTC at Texas Tech vs. Navy ROTC at Brown). As your child gets closer...
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Ep. 8 | Service academies vs. ROTC programs
In this episode, I walk through the similarities and differences between the two related (but not the same) programs: service academies vs. ROTC programs. I cover aspects of academics, lifestyle, leadership...
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Ep. 7 | What to expect in sophomore year
What should your child expect in their sophomore year? Apart from increased expectations, accountability, and maturity, they should also be prepared to be ignored. Sophomore year is known as the “ghost year” because...
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