Episode 1: Who We Are & Why We Started Decision Drop
The college process can feel like a roller coaster. Overwhelming. Exhausting. And full of conflicting advice. In this first episode of Drop In: The College Admissions Podcast, Lisa and Josh introduce themselves, share why they started Decision Drop, and break down what to expect from the show.
You'll learn:
Lisa and Josh each bring over 25 years of expertise in college and high school admissions
What makes Decision Drop different from other independent consultants
Why fit matters more than prestige
What this podcast covers every week: essays, GPA, financial aid, resumé, college lists, and more
This week's Hot Takes:
The college with the biggest name is not always the best college for your kid.
Rest is part of the process.
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🎙️ Also available on: Apple Podcasts · iHeartRadio · Amazon Music 🔈
Josh: Every week we drop the noise and drop some knowledge.
Lisa: Drop the stress. Welcome to Drop In, the College Admissions podcast by Decision Drop. I'm Lisa — let's go!
Josh: I'm Josh. Lisa, college applications — two words that send parents reaching for wine and kids reaching for their phones.
Lisa: And we've been there. We've seen it all, and we really want to help you cut through the noise.
Josh: And this is where the real talk begins. Okay, Lisa — episode one. We are really doing this.
Lisa: I know, I'm so excited. I have waited for this for so long. Here's the thing — I think there's so much noise out there for families that it all just needs to sound like a real conversation. And that's what Josh and I do best.
Josh: Yes. So we're going to start this first episode with the most important question: what is Decision Drop, and more importantly, why did we decide to build it?
Lisa: I love this question. Decision Drop really came out of an idea that Josh and I had about a year ago. We were in Ireland — shoutout to Education in Ireland and their amazing staff — touring colleges in Ireland and Northern Ireland. And Josh and I started having this big conversation, because that's what happens when you put college counselors on a bus together. We were talking about how many myths exist in college counseling, and how much of what circulates on social media isn't real, isn't from experts, and just isn't the truth. So we thought — let's start a podcast. And then that turned into: maybe we should quit our jobs and start our own company.
This is actually the month that Josh and I stepped down as directors of college counseling at our schools in Texas and Florida. On a dream and an idea, we started this. And I think what drives us is that the college admissions world can feel like the Wild West — chaotic, ever-changing, with no two days the same. At Decision Drop, we believe every student deserves a counselor, a human, a guide who sees the whole kid — not just a GPA, a test score, or a college list.
Josh: And what makes us a little different is that we're coming from inside higher education. Lisa, you spent over a decade reading college applications at two major universities. I spent time working in admissions at Washington University in St. Louis. We're not guessing what colleges want — we've been on that side of the desk. And we've both spent years on the high school side working directly with students and families.
Lisa: And combined with that, over 25 years we've seen families go through this process from every angle — and we've tried to help them at every stage.
Josh: So this is a good time to properly introduce ourselves. Lisa, why don't you start?
Lisa: Sure! So I spent 11 years on the college side. I went to the University of Texas at Austin — Hook 'em Horns — and was a tour guide there, which probably won't surprise anyone who listens to a few episodes. After graduating, I started working in the UT admissions office, then jumped to Texas A&M, because I like to complicate my life. After 11 years in admissions at both schools, I decided I'd rather talk about many colleges than just the one employing me — so I moved to the high school side.
For roughly the past 14 years, I've been working in Oklahoma, Texas, and Florida, helping students find their fit. Along the way I've visited over 370 colleges — my husband Phil has joined me for more than half of those, since I've made it a feature of our family vacations. I've served as board chair of ACCIS and been involved in committees at both state and national affiliates. And I'll never turn down a good volunteer opportunity. Also — I'm currently on my 95th foster dog. House of Clays, House of Strays. I'd like to think that gives me the patience this work requires.
Josh: Well, I definitely don't have ninety-plus foster dogs. We have two, and I think that's about my limit. But in terms of my own journey — I went to Washington University in St. Louis and worked there in admissions, reviewing applications and helping students through the process from the college side. Then I crossed over to the high school side in 2004, and I've been there for 22-plus years now at various public and independent schools in Houston. I've visited well over 200 campuses — still trying to catch up with you, Lisa. I currently serve on two college advisory boards, helping institutions understand how their outreach lands on the high school side.
Our whole philosophy is about helping students find a college experience that goes beyond the "bumper sticker schools" — the name brands where you slap a decal on the back of your car and everyone nods approvingly. Those schools exist and have real value, but they're not the right fit for every student. We believe fit matters more than ranking or popularity, every single time.
Lisa: Every time. Hands down. Done. One hundred percent.
Josh: We'll have to put that on a bumper sticker.
Josh: Alright — let's talk about the show itself, so our listeners know exactly what they're signing up for.
Lisa: So here's our vision: every episode, we want to give you something you can actually use. It's Josh and I — who've known each other for 15 years — having real conversations with each other, with guests, and with you. You'll walk away with something concrete, not more confusion. We want to break down the real stuff: essays, college lists, deadlines, financial aid — the things you and your family are stressing about most right now.
Josh: We'll structure each episode into segments. Every episode will include a segment called The Real Talk, where we dig into one specific topic — how GPA is calculated differently by colleges, how to write supplemental essays that actually sound like you, practical and actionable stuff.
Lisa: And then we have a segment I'm calling Hot Takes or Hard Truths — where one or both of us drops some opinions that might ruffle a few feathers.
Josh: And we'll close every episode with Drop the Mic: one piece of advice, one mantra, one thing to carry with you into the week.
Lisa: That's the part I'm most excited about. And we'll bring in guests too — admissions officers, deans of admissions, former students, educators. But the heart of the show is really just Josh and I having honest conversations with you. Two people who genuinely care about students and want to keep it real.
Josh: We'll try to keep it real, keep it warm, and occasionally — hopefully — hilarious.
Lisa: Speak for yourself, Joshua.
Josh: Everyone knows you're funnier than I am, Lisa.
Lisa: I'll pay you for that later.
Josh: Alright. Let's talk about something important for families trying to figure out who to work with — because there are a lot of independent educational consultants out there. What makes us different?
Lisa: Honestly, there are some real problems in the college counseling world. Some consultants — and sometimes even well-meaning parents — end up over-curating a student's application. It stops sounding like the student. So when you're looking for someone to work with, you want someone who knows the process deeply but keeps your student at the front of it. Your student should never become a passenger in their own story.
Josh: And colleges notice. Admissions officers read thousands of applications. They've developed a feel for how a 17-year-old writes versus how a 40-something adult approaches an application.
Lisa: That's something we don't compromise on — keeping the student's voice front and center. We help students discover their story and tell it better, but it always has to come from them. Because it is their story.
Josh: Exactly. We're not ghostwriters — we're coaches. The student is the one on the field. We're helping them achieve their goal.
Lisa: The same philosophy applies to college lists. We're not here to push students toward name-brand schools or whatever everyone else is talking about. Here's what we remind students every day: there are amazing schools out there that you've never heard of — and you're an amazing person they've never heard of. It's a win-win waiting to happen. We want to help you find your fit — the place that matches your personality, your goals, your lifestyle, who you're becoming.
Josh: I've worked with students — and Lisa, you have too — who came in fixated on a handful of schools because of parent expectations or peer pressure. But when you sit down and actually dig into what the student wants — campus size, culture, social life, academic environment — the list starts to look very different. That's the work: helping students discover schools they may not have considered that could be exactly right for them.
Lisa: And we meet students wherever they are. Some families come to us with everything figured out. Some students feel completely lost. Most are somewhere in the middle. All of that is fine. We're here for you at whatever stage of this roller coaster you're on.
Josh: Our whole philosophy is that this process should feel empowering, not overwhelming. That's not just something we put on a business card — it's how we want to run every single client relationship.
Josh: Alright, let's close out episode one with our first Hot Takes or Hard Truths. Lisa, you introduced the segment — you go first.
Lisa: Okay. Here it is, and this one is specifically for parents and guardians: the college with the biggest name is not always the best college for your kid. I say this with love. When a particular school dominates your conversations — when your attachment to a name or an alma mater is driving the list — that's really about you, not your student.
Josh and I have watched families push kids toward certain schools because of prestige, because of the bumper sticker, because of what they get to brag about around town. And we've seen what happens when that school turns out not to be a fit. The student struggles. Or worse — they feel like a failure. And they're not a failure. That place just wasn't built for who they are.
Fit is not a consolation prize. It is the whole point.
And here's the thing I say all the time, that I cannot say enough: your student is an amazing human who can absolutely handle disappointment. What they struggle to handle is the feeling that they've disappointed you. That's a tough pill to swallow, but it's worth sitting with.
Josh: That's a really good one. And since it's our first episode, I'm going to add my own. Rest is part of the college application process. This is important. Students who are running on fumes aren't going to produce their best writing, their most thoughtful essays, or their most genuine applications. The school year just ended. Students need to recover, reflect, maybe binge a few shows they missed. That's not wasted time.
A student who rests, who actually thinks about what matters to them and why they want to apply to particular schools — that student is going to stand out. Quality over quantity, every time. Rest is part of the process.
Lisa: Amen to that, Josh.
Josh: Alright — first episode, first Drop the Mic. Lisa?
Lisa: Okay, here's mine, and I want every family to hear it: You are not behind. Wherever you are in this process is exactly where you're supposed to be right now.
This college search is not a race. It's a conversation — with yourself, with your family, eventually with the schools you'll apply to. Start that conversation honestly, and things will become clearer. Take a breath. You are not behind.
Josh: Amen. Mine is for parents: The student in front of you is already enough. Our job — and hopefully this podcast's job — is to help you see that, and to help your student show the world that.
Lisa: We're so glad you're here. Thank you for joining us.
Josh: We really want you to come back next week — we're going to dig into one of the most misunderstood parts of the application: how colleges actually read your GPA. It's probably not how you think.
Lisa: I am so excited for that topic — it's one of my favorites. In the meantime, if you'd like to learn more about our services or have Josh and I help guide your family through this process, visit us at decisiondrop.com. We have service packages, information about both of us, and ways to reach out. Until next week — remember, we are Decision Drop, making your college journey collaborative, simple, and most importantly, yours. Bye!
Josh: See y'all next time.
