True Admissions

W. Kent Barnds interviews families and professionals involved in the college admissions process and offers his perspective on college admissions and higher education in general.

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W. Kent Barnds is Executive Vice President of Augustana College in Rock Island, IL, and Vice President of Enrollment, Communication, and Planning.

You can read more posts from Barnds at:

W. Kent Barnds at the Huffington Post

Bowtie Admissions

Catching up with the IACAC during the coronavirus pandemic

By • May 13, 2020

W. Kent Barnds discusses college admissions during the coronavirus pandemic with Amy Thompson, College & Career Counselor for York Community High School in Elmhurst, IL, and Megan O'Rourk, a Regional Admissions Counselor for Providence College in Providence, RI. Amy is currently President of Illinois Association for College Admissions Counseling and Megan is President Elect. 

Mother-daughter team navigates college admissions during the coronavirus pandemic

By • May 12, 2020

W. Kent Barnds discusses college admissions during the coronavirus pandemic with Sangeetha Rayapati, a professor of music specializing in vocal pedagogy at Augustana College, and her daughter Annika, who is a High School sophomore.

College admissions during the coronavirus pandemic

By • Apr 17, 2020

W. Kent Barnds discusses college admissions during the coronavirus pandemic with colleagues Karen Dahlstrom, Executive Director of Admissions, and Courney Wallace, Director of Admissions for the Chicago Region, both of Augustana College.

Starting your college search in a time of a pandemic: A conversation with an independent counselor

By • Apr 15, 2020

"Relax and remember you are not alone in this" is some of the advice Bruce Epstein, independent counselor with First Choice College Counseling, offers to juniors as they make their first steps toward choosing a college this spring in this conversation with W. Kent Barnds on this episode of True Admissions. High school juniors and their support network will benefit from listening to this great dialog between two experts in the the college search and selection process. 

A student and her father discuss how COVID-19 affected their college search

By • Apr 8, 2020

Kent Barnds hosts a conversation with a senior and father to discuss how COVID-19 has impacted her final college choice. Food, classroom visits and interactions with current students are really important for Natalie. Her father is focused on dollars and cents! Listen to this comforting and reassuring conversation with a student trying to decide between her remaining two choices.

Making a final college choice in a time of a pandemic

By • Apr 3, 2020

"Relax, reach out to an admissions officer and remember you are not alone in this" is some of the advice Bruce Epstein, independent counselor with First Choice College Counseling, offers to seniors trying to make a final college choice this spring in this conversation with W. Kent Barnds on this episode of True Admissions. High school seniors and their support network will benefit listening to this great dialog between two experts in the the college search and selection process.

How should I think about Gen Ed requirements?

By • Jan 6, 2017

Kent Barnds talks with Eric Rowell, Assistant Director of Admissions and Diversity Outreach at Augustana College, about the importance of considering general education courses when comparing colleges and universities.

It's FAFSA time! (Wait, what's a FAFSA?)

By • Sep 28, 2016

Kent Barnds talks with Chris Vaughan, Chief Information Officer at Augustana College, about the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.


How optional is "Test Optional?"

By • Aug 9, 2016

Kent Barnds talks with Krista Rittenhouse from the Augustana College Advancement Department about what a college means when it says about “test optional."


What a college means when it talks about “demonstrated interest"

By • Aug 5, 2016

Kent Barnds talks with Debbie Blaylock from the Augustana College Office of Communication and Marketing about what a college means when it talks about “demonstrated interest."


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