December 9, 2025

Navigating Direct Admissions, AI, and College Decisions with Allison Turcio

The admissions landscape is changing quickly—AI, direct admissions, and changes in applicant behavior and the job market are all transforming the way higher education works. Luckily, Allison Turcio has some tips to navigate the system successfully.

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About this episode

In this week’s episode, Allison Turcio, AVP of Enrollment Marketing at Siena College, unpacks the changing landscape of admissions and AI’s role in these changes. She also gives some valuable tips for how families can approach college admissions in a healthy and productive way.

She kicks off the episode by explaining why families shouldn’t rule out colleges based on sticker price alone and highlights data points like loan default rates that provide a clearer picture of real outcomes.

She also discusses how the rise of direct admissions might change higher ed, highlighting the fact that they can give students earlier insight into scholarships and financial aid. She also discusses shifts in applicant behavior, including applying to more schools and using AI in the research process. Turcio offers guidance on using AI responsibly, especially for essays, and stresses the continued importance of campus culture, human connection, and personal reflection when choosing a school.

Finally, she discusses how rapid changes in the job market make it essential for colleges to prepare students for flexible, future-oriented careers. Despite the stress of the process, Turcio encourages families to approach it with curiosity and enjoy the meaningful moments along the way.

Mentioned in the episode

Host

Will Geiger

Will Geiger is the co-founder of Scholarships360 and has a decade of experience in college admissions and financial aid. He is a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Kenyon College where he personally reviewed 10,000 admissions applications and essays. Will also managed the Kenyon College merit scholarship program and served on the financial aid appeals committee. He has also worked as an Associate Director of College Counseling at a high school in New Haven, Connecticut.Will earned his master’s in education from the University of Pennsylvania and received his undergraduate degree in history from Wake Forest University.

Guest

Allison Turcio

Allison Turcio, Ed.D., is Assistant VP of Enrollment and Marketing at Siena College, a marketing professor, consultant, host of The Application Podcast, and publisher of the Higher Education Marketer’s Digest.

Allison frequently presents at industry conferences and serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of Education Advancement & Marketing. She has led her team to win several accolades, including AMA’s 2023 Emerging Marketer in Higher Education Award. Allison has been selected for Albany Business Review’s 40 Under 40 and Siena’s Excellence in Administration award. She holds a doctorate degree in higher education leadership from Northeastern University, a master’s in communications and bachelor’s in English.