Jess Chermak Gives the Inside Scoop About AP Classes and College Admissions
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In this episode, Cory and college admissions expert Jess Chermak unpack the high-stress world of high school course selection and the myths surrounding AP overload. They explore why students don’t need to take every advanced class to impress colleges—and how chasing perfection can backfire. From the politics of AP credits to the value of authenticity in applications, Jess shares how students can craft a meaningful academic path that reflects who they are, not just what looks good on paper. It's a conversation about letting go of pressure and leaning into purpose.
Brought to you by Pacific Preparatory.
About our guest:
Jessica Chermak is an Independent College Counselor with over a decade of experience in academia and helping students navigate the college admissions process. She also spent four years conducting research at University of Colorado Boulder’s Institute of Behavioral Science, and the prior two years working as an Operations Research Analyst for the US Army at the TRADOC Analysis Center, in White Sands Missile Range, NM. Jessica is a Certified Educational Planner (CEP), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC), and Professional Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). Jessica is also a member of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the Rocky Mountain Association for College Admission Counseling (RMACAC), and has served on the board of the College Consultants of Colorado (CCC). Within IECA, Jessica has served as the Chair and Vice Chair of the Business Practices Committee, and continues to be an active member of the Government Relations and Education & Training Committees. In addition to those roles, she co-hosts monthly College Conversations for IECA that focus on Engineering and Computer Science institutions and has participated in IECA’s DC Advocacy Days (which involves lobbying congressional leaders about various education-related bills and issues). In addition to being an independent college counselor, Jessica also serves as a College & Career Counselor for Living Wisdom High School (based in Palo Alto, CA) and Windsor Charter Academy (based in Windsor, CO).
Find her at:
Website: www.virtualcollegecounselors.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/virtualcollegecounselors/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheVirtualCollegeCounselors
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/virtual-college-counselors
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