Inside Admissions with Former Admissions Officer Brandon Mack
About this episode
Brandon Mack, a former admissions officer, shares insights on the college application process and what truly matters in admissions today.
In this episode of the College Admissions Podcast with Mark and Anna, we’re joined by Brandon Mack, former Associate Director of Admission at Rice University and current independent educational consultant. Brandon pulls back the curtain on how applications are actually read today—debunking common myths about grades, test scores, and competitions, and explaining why essays, short answers, and authentic fit matter more than ever. We discuss how to build a balanced college list, what really makes a strong “Why School” response (including at Rice), how admissions officers evaluate summers, research, and activities, and why depth, humility, and self-awareness consistently stand out in competitive pools. A must-listen for students and families navigating today’s rapidly evolving admissions landscape.
People in this episode
Hosts: Mark Hofer, Anna Ren
Guest: Brandon Mack
Topics covered
- college admissions
- application process
- educational consulting
- myths about admissions
- college list building
- evaluating applications
- authentic fit
Keywords
- college admissions
- Brandon Mack
- Rice University
- application evaluation
- college list
- admissions myths
- essays
- self-awareness
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Rice University
More episodes of College Admissions with Mark and Anna
- Top 3 College Admissions Tips
- Choosing Majors in the Age of AI with Dr. Jennifer Stephan
- How College Admissions Officers Review Activities and Resumes
- How to Get Strong Recommendations for College
- Tackling Changes for Collegebound Families with Molly Carroll
- Preparing to Thrive in College with Carol Ben-Davies!
Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the College Admissions with Mark and Anna podcast page.