{"podcast":{"title":"Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel","slug":"admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707","podcast_index_feed_id":6069707,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/461571/rss","website_url":"https://sites.libsyn.com/461571","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/7/0/7/9/70790ea0084cb796a04421dee9605cbd/AP_cover_art.png","author":"Thomas Caleel","episode_count":136,"summary":"Does thinking about applying to college, grad school, or prep school make your head spin? The Admittedly Podcast is for both parents and students preparing for or navigating school admissions. We aim to demystify the admissions process and share with you what you really need to know to succeed. Our host, Thomas Caleel, former director of MBA admissions and financial aid for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, is here to help. He is a lifelong entrepreneur and CEO of a global admissions consulting agency where he works with families worldwide to help them achieve their educational goals. New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday. Learn from our guest speakers, live coaching sessions, and weekly solo episodes. Have admissions questions you'd like answered on the show? Apply to be coached by Thomas himself on one of our upcoming recordings. In this podcast, we don't promise easy answers or quick fixes. But with decades of experience under his belt, Thomas will address the practical aspects of applying to school and how to think like an admissions officer to improve your college or prep school application.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707"},"episode":{"title":"S5E10: ADHD, Executive Functioning, & College Readiness: What Parents Need to Know Before Senior Year","slug":"s5e10-adhd-executive-functioning-college-readiness-what-parents-need-to-know-before-senior-year","published_at":"2026-04-03T13:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/s5e10-adhd-executive-functioning-college-readiness-what-parents-need-to-know-before-senior-year","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707","url":"https://0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12.libsyn.com/s5e10-adhd-executive-functioning-college-readiness-what-parents-need-to-know-before-senior-year","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12/ADHD_AUDIO_PODCAST.mp3?dest-id=3894051","summary":"To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel speaks with Mike McLeod, founder of GrowNOW ADHD, about the real factor that determines whether students thrive in college: executive functioning skills. Strong grades and test scores can help students gain admission, but independence, motivation, and resilience determine what happens next. Thomas and Mike break down how ADHD affects executive functioning, why many students struggle with the transition to college, and what families can do now to build the internal skills students need to succeed without constant supervision. From screen dependence to time management to real-world responsibility, this conversation offers a practical framework for helping students develop the habits and mindset that selective colleges — and future employers — expect. Key Takeaways • ADHD is primarily a challenge of executive functioning, not intelligence or effort. • Executive functioning skills include self-regulation, task initiation, motivation, and follow-through. • Many students arrive at college academically prepared but struggle with independence. • Screen overuse can interfere with the development of focus, resilience, and delayed gratification. • Real-world experiences like jobs, activities, and responsibilities build executive functioning skills. • Accommodations can support students, but independence must still be developed. • Parents should prioritize long-term readiness, not just short-term academic performance. College success requires more than academic ability. Students who develop independence, resilience, and ownership over their time are far better positioned to thrive once they arrive on cam…","meta_description":"To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admitted…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2444,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/episodes/s5e10-adhd-executive-functioning-college-readiness-what-parents-need-to-know-before-senior-year/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/s5e10-adhd-executive-functioning-college-readiness-what-parents-need-to-know-before-senior-year.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}