The Way to College Podcast

Brian Eyster describes his professional journey as a “25-year internship.”It's a journey that has been filled with successes, failures, experimentation, and learning what he was good at. Today, Brian is helping families navigate one of their biggest financial challenges: paying for college.
In this episode of The Way to College Podcast, Brian and I cover everything from career exploration to allowing young people to fail safely, and why students shouldn't be expected to have everything figured out at 18 or 22.
We also get into college planning and funding, including financial aid, FAFSA, college savings, and why families should ask better questions before making major financial decisions about college.
Brian's final advice is one worth remembering:
It's okay to ask for help.
Whether you're a student trying to figure out what's next or a parent trying to figure out how to pay for it, there's something in this conversation for you.
🎧 Listen now to The Way to College Podcast.

In my conversation with Cesar Quezada, we discussed his experience as a first-generation college student and his remarkable academic turnaround, mentorship, career pivots, leaving his comfort zone, serving students, and learning to navigate uncertainty.
We also talk about something especially close to the mission of The Way to College: the power of sharing our stories.
Cesar eventually began speaking publicly about his own experiences so educators could better understand and support students. He then encouraged his students to share their stories at professional conferences as well. For Cesar, representation matters because hearing people's experiences can change how others think and act.
If you know a student or an adult whose plans aren't working out the way they expected, share this episode.

What if you don’t know exactly what you want to do with your life?
Rick Margo will tell you to keep going. Eventually you'll find out.
In this episode of The Way to College Podcast, Rick shares a career journey that was anything but perfectly planned. Growing up in Rio Grande City in a family with deep ties to Texas A&M, college was always an expectation, but Rick admits that even after arriving at A&M, he had no idea where his career would take him.
From federal service to college recruitment, helping launch Texas A&M’s presence in McAllen, and now serving his community through Texas A&M Health, Rick’s story is a powerful reminder that careers aren’t always linear—and they don’t have to be.
Along the way, we talk about:
Why you don’t need to have your entire career mapped out
The value of internships and real-world experience
Why attitude, customer service, and teamwork can matter as much as a 4.0 GPA
How your reputation can open—or close—future opportunities
Knowing when it may be time to make a career change
Why you should still give your best effort even when you’re ready to move on
The importance of relationships, trust, patience, and service
Rick also shares one of the lessons his father gave him growing up: “If you’re going to be a beach bum, be the best beach bum you can.”
It’s funny—but the lesson is serious: whatever you choose to do, do it well, treat people well, and become the person others know they can count on.
Whether you’re a student trying to choose a path, a recent graduate entering the workforce, or a professional wondering what comes next, this conversation is a reminder that you don’t have to know the final destination to keep building a meaningful life and career.

What happens when the career you thought you wanted turns out not to be the career for you?
In this episode of The Way to College Podcast, I reconnect with my former Stanford classmate Cathy Ogawa, whose journey is proof that there is no single “right” path to a meaningful career.
Cathy entered college thinking she would become a pediatrician. When that path didn’t work out, she explored everything from computer science and Japanese to economics.
Eventually, she found her way back to something she had known about herself since childhood: she was good at working with young people, and she loved doing it.
Today, Cathy serves as a school-based director with Big Brothers Big Sisters, supporting mentoring programs for young people across Hawaii. Along the way, she has worked in early childhood education, school administration, accreditation, nonprofit leadership, and youth development.
We talk about:
🎓 Feeling lost in college, even at a place like Stanford
💰 The danger of choosing a career based only on money
🔄 Giving yourself permission to pivot
🤝 Why relationships and mentors matter
🧠 Navigating imposter syndrome
❤️ Finding work that is meaningful and “filling your cup”
🛤️ Why a circuitous career path can still lead somewhere extraordinary
Cathy’s message is especially important for students and young professionals who feel pressure to have everything figured out:
Your path does not have to be a straight line, and that’s okay.
Listen, follow The Way to College Podcast, and share this episode with someone who needs permission to keep exploring.

On this special episode of The Way to College Podcast, Aimee Nunez walks us through the CommonApp. She discusses some of the newer features of the CommonApp platform and some of the myths and misconceptions that inform how students approach the CommonApp. Join us as we unpack the CommonApp. #commonapp #collegeapps #collegesuccess #senioryear