Most kids have no idea what a liberal arts education really is, or why it might be a great choice! Today on Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You, we discuss a liberal arts education, why it’s beneficial, and so much more! We delve into what makes a liberal arts college unique, how it differs from a traditional university, the benefits of this kind of education, and what a liberal arts degree can be used for. We go on to discuss Meredith’s experience of being a liberal arts major and how it gave her an exploratory mindset before sharing our take on how kids can create relatively ordinary careers after studying abstract liberal arts degrees. We even tell you about 3+2/4+1 programs and how they work. Lastly, we remind you of the benefits of choosing a liberal arts program for your studies and encourage you not to ignore that as an option. Thanks for tuning in!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:01:50] Today’s topic of discussion: defending liberal arts majors.
• [0:02:54] We explain what a liberal arts education actually is.
• [0:07:52] Some examples of liberal arts colleges in the USA.
• [0:09:57] What a liberal arts degree can be used for career-wise.
• [0:13:19] The benefits of having a liberal arts education (according to Meredith).
• [0:22:56] How to make a ‘normal’ career from an abstract liberal arts degree.
• [0:31:01] A breakdown of what the 3+2/4+1 programs are and how they work.
• [0:33:14] We encourage you not to discount liberal arts programs as options for studies.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You

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Have you equipped your teen to make informed choices about substance use? During this episode, Bella, a Senior at a Boarding School back East, joins us to share the inside scoop of what’s really going on at teen parties. Since the start of her high school career, she has been involved in advocating for teens with substance abuse issues. Join us for a look behind the scenes at what motivates kids to use substances at a young age including social pressure and the problem of mental health. We discuss the age-old belief that it’s safer to allow your kids to drink at home, and Bella offers her perspective on how easy it is for adults to tell if a young person is abusing substances. You’ll also hear about the level of access that suburban teens have to illegal substances, and Bella’s opinion on what it might look like to nurture an open and honest relationship with your child from a young age. This conversation also emphasizes the importance of educating your kids rather than punishing them. Thanks for tuning in.

Letters of recommendation are so important in college applications, especially in the more selective colleges, and today, we are delving into why they need to be prioritized, the mistakes we see kids make, who to ask for letters, and more. Tuning in, you’ll hear all about the role of letters of recommendation in college applications, the dangers of focusing on the number of letters you have over the quality of them, how it can become the determining factor for whether or not you get into a college, and so much more! We delve into the intricacies of the questionnaire the recommender will have to ask you before discussing the kinds of people teenagers should ask for letters of recommendation from. We even talk about why building relationships with teachers is imperative in building communication skills and how that will help future letters of recommendation and even make learning more fun. Finally, we pinpoint which kids get the best letters of recommendation and explain why they’re always the hardest workers. Thanks for listening!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:02:30] Today’s topic of discussion: letters of recommendation.
• [0:03:23] The role of letters of recommendation in college applications.
• [0:03:58] Why letters of recommendation are so important in applications.
• [0:09:48] Where things go off the rails when it comes to these letters.
• [0:13:53] All about the questionnaires that you have to fill out with the letter.
• [0:15:32] The logistics surrounding asking for letters of recommendation.
• [0:17:25] The importance of developing relationships with your teachers.
• [0:22:15] Why the kids who work hard get the best letters.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You

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