
The Importance of Wonder in Education
From College App 101 by Dr. Riley
December 15, 2025 · 10 min · Season 4 · Episode 5
About this episode
Dr. Riley explores the importance of wonder in transforming learners into scholars to enhance college admission chances.
Parents want their high school senior to win admission to dream colleges. Oftentimes, these institutions are elite (Ivy League, Public Ivies, and other top-tier colleges). When an applicant demonstrates that she is a scholar (as opposed to a student), her chances of admission increase. In this episode, using his typical anecdotes and illustrations, Dr. Riley (from collegeapp101.com) explores (1) how a learner becomes a scholar and (2) the role that wonder plays in that process.
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Riley
Topics covered
- education
- scholarship
- wonder
- college admission
- self-improvement
Keywords
- college admission
- Ivy League
- Public Ivies
- scholar
- wonder
- education
- self-improvement
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: collegeapp101.com
Places: Ivy League, Public Ivies
More episodes of College App 101
- Interviews with Class of 2026 National Merit Students Part 5 · June 10, 2026 · 18 min
- Interviews with Class of 2026 National Merit Students Part 4 (National Merit Finalist!) · May 20, 2026 · 22 min
- Interviews with Class of 2026 National Merit Students Part 3 · May 9, 2026 · 23 min
- Interviews with Class of 2026 National Merit Students Part 2 · April 20, 2026 · 24 min
- Interviews with Class of 2026 National Merit Students Part 1 · April 11, 2026 · 20 min
- Developing a Love for Learning Part 3 · March 15, 2026 · 23 min
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