In this episode you will hear:   (16:05) Dave and Mark discuss an article in Higher Ed Drive by Jeremy Bauer entitled, “7 higher-educational trends to watch in 2023.   (44:28) Lisa and Mark discuss a question Laura from Maryland sent in via Speakpipe: Why does the Common Data Set only report the English and the Math sections for the ACT; does this mean colleges don’t value the Reading and Science sections?   (01:06:48) We start a new 3-part interview with Dr. Kelly Holloway, the Director of Admissions at Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. Topic: Understanding Mercer University   Kelly Holloway shares her background and the various roles she has had Kelly gives a description of all of the colleges and schools Mercer has including a description of the seven campus locations Kelly explains the Mission of Mercer Kelly explains how Service Learning is at the core of what Mercer does and Kelly shares a number of recognitions they have received Kelly explains what “Mercer on a mission” is Kelly explains why students turn down other schools to come to Mercer     (01:17:00) The recommended resource is a website by Decision Academy entitled, Making Your Final College Choice. It blends heart and head factors to help students with making a college decision. Lisa shares the recommended resource this week.   (01:31:54) Mark and Lynda Doepker discuss Claremont Mckenna College for the College Spotlight     We now have set up audio recordings in your own voice for any question you send in for our “question from a listener” segment. In order to send us an audio message, just go to speakpipe.com/YCBK. You can also use this for many other purposes: 1) Send us constructive criticism about how we can improve our podcast 2) Share an encouraging word about something you like about an episode or the podcast in general 3) Share a topic or an article you would like us to address 4) Share a speaker you want us to interview 5) Leave positive feedback for one of our interviewees. We will send your verbal feedback directly to them and I can almost assure you, your positive feedback will make their day. Speakpipe.com/YCBK is our preferred method for you to ask a question but if you are not comfortable with this, we will also receive your questions either on Twitter at @YCBKpodcast using the Messages tab or via email at If you have a question for one of our upcoming interviews with admissions professionals, here is a list of admissions professionals who we will interview in 2023 or 2024 Confirmed interviews not yet completed Bard-Mackie Siebens Rice University-Tamara Siler American University-Andrea Felder Pitzer College-Yvonne Berumen Chapman University-Marcela Meija-Martinez Connecticut College-Andy Strickler* Trinity College-Anthony Berry* College of the Atlantic-Heather Albert* Spelman College-Chelsea Holley* Scripps College-Victoria Romero* Saint Louis University-Daniel Wood-(Interview is about transfer admissions, Daniel is a transfer counselor) Colby College-Randi Arsenault* University of Georgia-David Graves* University of Minnesota-Keri Risic Cornell University-Jonathon Burdick Oberlin College-Manuel Carballo Carleton College-Art Rodriguez Swarthmore-Jim Bok Joy St. Johns-Harvard Duke-Christoph Guttentag Florida State-John Barnhill Southern Methodist University-Elena Hicks Johns Hopkins-Calvin Wise Cornell University-Shawn Felton Haverford College-Jess Lord UAspire-Brendan Williams Yale University-Moira Poe MEFA Akil Bello of Akilbello.com Bard College Baylor University Butler University California Institute of Technology-Ashley Pallie Colorado School of Mines Creighton University   To sign up to receive Your College-Bound Kid PLUS, our new monthly admissions newsletter, delivered directly to your email once a month, just go to yourcollegeboundkid.com, and you will see the sign-up popup.   Check out our new blog. We write timely and insightful articles on college admissions: https://yourcollegeboundkid.com/category/blog/ Follow M