Interview with Jon Burdick, Vice Provost for Enrollment at Cornell University

Have you ever wondered how to make your character stand out to impress those highly selective institutions? The answer may surprise you - it's all about being effortlessly yourself. Joining us on the show today is Jon Burdick, a good friend and former colleague with an impressive track record, including positions as Vice Provost and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at the University of Rochester and, more recently, as Vice Provost for Enrollment at Cornell University. Tune in to hear Jon's insights on admissions trends, understanding 'highly rejective' schools, and his advice for those considering highly selective institutions like Cornell. He stresses the point of understanding your why and provides valuable insights on school rankings. We then dive into a discussion on character and its role in the admissions process, and he highlights why it's crucial to show integrity (and how easy it is to spot disingenuous line items on applications!) He continues to share his thoughts on AI tools and other tools he’d like to see schools leverage. Be sure not to miss out on this insightful conversation with an admissions professional, so start listening now!

Key Points From This Episode:

• [0:01:00] A special welcome and introduction to our guest, Jon Burdick!
• [0:03:45] He shares some of the biggest trends and changes happening in admissions.
• [0:06:45] Highly rejective schools: what it means and the process it entails.
• [0:08:05] Jon’s general advice to those pursuing highly selective schools (like Cornell).
• [0:09:50] Why it’s worth asking yourself why you want to go to a particular school.
• [0:11:00] What Jon would like families to understand about school rankings.
• [0:13:10] Advice to parents and students on how to approach rankings when applying.
• [0:15:25] His thoughts on character and its role in the admissions process.
• [0:17:00] How to demonstrate character in a way that matters to highly selective schools.
• [0:19:00] Why integrity is crucial and why it’s easy to spot a disingenuous line item.
• [0:20:00] AI tools: their use (or misuse) and potential impact on the admissions process.
• [0:24:00] His thoughts on students using AI for writing purposes.
• [0:26:10] Other tools Jon would like to see schools leverage (like interviews and tests).
• [0:31:00] Why he believes life is not a straight sprint.
• [0:33:00] Stripping it back to the things we know, for sure, about humans.
• [0:34:25] Why good teaching actually matters and finding ways to support teachers.

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Jonathan Burdick on LinkedIn

Jonathan Burdick on X

Ask Dean B

The Character Initiative

Mastery Transcript Consortium

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You

Sh*t Your Teenagers Won’t Tell You on Instagram