Episode 304 | Arthur Smith | Arthur Smith Advising | The Knowledge Entrepreneurs Show

Episode Description

In this episode, Arthur Smith, founder of Arthur Smith Advising with nearly 30 years in higher education, reveals how his dual experience as a Cornell admissions dean and 23-year track coach shaped his mentorship philosophy. Drawing from chairing admissions committees at an Ivy League institution, Arthur explains how he looks for "spark" in applications—that genuine curiosity and vulnerability that separates piled-up achievements from authentic student identity. He discusses the two critical gaps he saw in college counseling: the shortage of counselors for millions of students, and widespread misconceptions creating unnecessary stress about the opaque admissions process. Arthur shares his quality control approach of personally vetting every application despite working with multiple counselors, all longtime colleagues who share his philosophy. He explains his evolving perspective on AI—using it ethically to organize thoughts while ensuring students write their own essays, and understanding which colleges use AI screening tools that could inadvertently hurt applicants.