Hello, PrepWellers. Welcome to the first-ever episode of the PrepWell Podcast. I hope you enjoy the show and stick around for all the exciting things to come. I wanted to start off by giving you some background about me and why I started this podcast.
I created the podcast to help me communicate with you in a more meaningful way. Sure, I routinely send emails and post to social media – but these outputs often feel rushed and superficial.
As a busy parent with four kids myself (three going through the college admissions process as we speak), I wanted to create an option for parents who would prefer to listen to my in-depth commentary and advice at their own pace. The longer format allows me to convey details and emotions that can’t be transmitted in a bullet-pointed email or filtered Instagram post.
Since the subsequent shows are packed with my personal opinions and advice on how to help your child (and you) navigate the college admissions process, I thought I’d share some of my background, experience, and education. The goal of this “trailer” is for you to get to know me better and understand my approach to life.
This "trailer" episode outlines my journey from recruited athlete in high school, to Yale University, to Goldman Sachs, to the Navy SEALs, to Harvard Business School, to 9/11, to Firefighter, to Shark Tank, and to College Admission Counselor.
And, more importantly, it reveals the lessons I learned along the way that will help your child achieve similarly ambitious goals. (Feel free to skip this episode and come back later if you like).
I realize that this podcast isn’t for everyone. Its message is directed, intentionally, to parents of 8th, 9th, and 10th graders whose children have big ambitions - children who aspire to attend highly-selective and competitive colleges programs. Namely: (1) Ivy League and near-Ivy League schools, (2) military service academies (e.g. West Point, Naval Academy, Air Force Academy, etc.), (3) and those seeking athletic scholarships to college.
I also appreciate that this podcast does not serve a big demographic of parents who have children in 11th and 12th grade – the sweet spot for most college admissions counselors. I based this decision on my strong conviction that early engagement of students (in 9th and 10th grade) is the most important factor in their success in the college admissions process – particularly at the more selective programs. Beginning the process in 11th and 12th grade is, in my experience, too late.
If you want to support the show, here are three immediate steps to take.
Here is what I discuss in this episode:
0:02:11 - Growing up on Long Island, NY
0:02:26 - Athletic, smart, wealthy, connected? No, no, no, and no
0:03:08 - My Superpower
0:03:23 - How I came up with the name “PrepWell”
0:04:28 - Getting recruited by Yale University
0:05:08 - Getting hired by Goldman Sachs
0:05:25 - The “decision” to become a Navy SEAL
0:06:18 - Training to become a Navy SEAL
0:07:16 - Applying to Harvard Business School
0:07:42 - Twin Towers collapse as we find out we are pregnant with twins
0:08:18 - Leaving Goldman Sachs – Part II
0:09:19 - No job, no family, nowhere to live
0:10:00 - Fighting fire
0:10:55 - How I came up with the idea for “FitDeck”
0:11:54 - Shark Tank – Part I
0:12:37 - Parents freaking out
0:14:02 - Cracking the Code
0:14:45 - Best practices
0:15:00 - The A-ha moment
0:15:37 - Becoming a College Admissions Counselor
0:16:20 - How PrepWell Academy was born
0:17:04 - What is this podcast about?
0:17:51 - Why 11th and 12th grade is too late
0:18:25 - Who does this podcast serve?
0:19:14 - What can you do to help?
0:19:45 - How do I enroll my child?
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Podcast Host: PrepWell Academy's Founder, Phil Black, has spent a lifetime cracking the code on the world's most competitive programs: Yale University, Harvard Business School, Navy SEALs, Goldman Sachs, Entrepreneurship, Shark Tank, etc.
Inside PrepWell Academy, Black teaches students everything they need to know about the college admissions process in a series of expertly-timed, 3-5-minute, weekly training videos starting in 9th grade and continuing through 12th grade [Note: this program can only be joined in 9th or 10th grade]. My specialties include military service academies, ROTC scholarships, Ivy League, and student-athletes.
