Just Admit It!
Ready for the truth about college admissions? IvyWise’s Just Admit It! podcast features the most straightforward, practical, and up-to-date higher ed information and college prep advice for students, families, and educators around the world who are navigating the complex and competitive admissions process.
Ready for the truth about college admissions? IvyWise’s Just Admit It! podcast features the most straightforward, practical, and up-to-date higher ed information and college prep advice for students, families, and educators around the world who are navigating the complex and competitive admissions process.
Episodes
4 hours ago
4 hours ago
Feeling pressured to pick a "forever" career path before you’ve even graduated high school? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Alecia (formerly at Duke University) share expert advice on exploring majors, navigating the "undeclared" route, and demonstrating intellectual curiosity even if your academic interests are still evolving.
Wednesday Apr 29, 2026
S12, E7: Do I Need a Dramatic Topic for My College Application Essay?
Wednesday Apr 29, 2026
Wednesday Apr 29, 2026
Join host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Victoria (formerly at UChicago and Sarah Lawrence College) to learn why authenticity and cohesion carry more weight than a theatrical narrative, along with practical tips for finding the extraordinary in your everyday experiences.
Wednesday Apr 15, 2026
S12, E6: Can I Still Be a Competitive College Applicant with Low SAT/ACT Scores?
Wednesday Apr 15, 2026
Wednesday Apr 15, 2026
Are your SAT/ACT scores not what you had hoped for? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Chris (formerly at Wesleyan University) discuss how to present your strengths and remain competitive, even without a perfect standardized testing score.
Wednesday Apr 01, 2026
S12, E5: What if All My Dream Colleges Are Highly Selective?
Wednesday Apr 01, 2026
Wednesday Apr 01, 2026
Is your college list filled with reach schools? Join host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Alecia (formerly at Duke University) for practical advice on how to balance your list with high-quality "target" and "likely" schools to ensure you have great options.
Wednesday Mar 18, 2026
S12, E4: Which Colleges Should I Apply to if I Don’t Know What I Want in a College?
Wednesday Mar 18, 2026
Wednesday Mar 18, 2026
IvyWise counselor Christine (formerly at Boston University) joins host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) to discuss how to navigate the college search when you don't have a clear top-choice school or major in mind. You’ll learn practical strategies for exploring your interests and building a balanced college list that keeps your options open.
Wednesday Mar 04, 2026
S12, E3: How Can I Stand Out in Today’s Hyper-Competitive College Admissions Process?
Wednesday Mar 04, 2026
Wednesday Mar 04, 2026
With college acceptance rates hitting record lows, many students wonder how they can stand out from the competition. Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Kayon (formerly at MIT) pull back the curtain on what "standing out" looks like in a sea of high-achieving applicants.
Wednesday Feb 18, 2026
S12, E2: How Should I Spend Summer Break to Boost My College Applicant Profile?
Wednesday Feb 18, 2026
Wednesday Feb 18, 2026
Is summer really a "break" when you're preparing for college? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) sits down with IvyWise counselor James (formerly at University of Illinois - Chicago, USC, and University of Utah) to discuss how to plan impactful summer activities that reflect your authentic interests and build a competitive college applicant profile. From internships to research opportunities and purpose projects to on-campus programs, learn what admissions officers really look for and how to make the summer count without burnout.
Wednesday Feb 04, 2026
S12, E1: How Can I Use AI to Help Me with College Admissions Prep?
Wednesday Feb 04, 2026
Wednesday Feb 04, 2026
AI tools like ChatGPT are everywhere — but how should students actually be using them in the college admissions process? In this episode, host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Rachel (formerly at Swarthmore) discuss how students can use AI responsibly to brainstorm, organize, and strengthen their applications without compromising authenticity or ethics.
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
S11, E10: Undergrad to Grad School: Your Year-by-Year Action Plan
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
Wednesday Dec 17, 2025
Is grad school on your radar? Join host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise graduate school admissions expert Indhika (formerly at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and McCourt School of Public Policy) as they break down what you should be doing in each year of your undergraduate career to prepare for successful graduate school applications.
Wednesday Dec 03, 2025
S11, E9: From Campus to Courtroom: Your Undergrad Checklist for Law School Admissions
Wednesday Dec 03, 2025
Wednesday Dec 03, 2025
Planning to apply to law school? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) chats with IvyWise law school admissions expert Jeb (formerly at Columbia Law School) to reveal what you should be doing in each year of undergrad to maximize your chances of getting into your top-choice law schools.
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
S11, E8: Undergrad to MBA: The Ultimate Guide for Business School Admissions Success
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
Wednesday Nov 19, 2025
Thinking of business school? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) sits down with IvyWise MBA admissions counselors Kayon (formerly at the MIT Sloan School of Management) and Nellie (formerly at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania) to detail what you should be doing in each year of your undergraduate career to prepare for top MBA programs.
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
S11, E7: Med School Prep: Your Undergrad Roadmap Year-by-Year
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
Wednesday Nov 05, 2025
Dreaming of a career in medicine? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) joins IvyWise medical school admissions counselor Sarika (former Director of Admissions at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA) to break down what you should do through each year of undergrad to maximize your chances of getting into med school.
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
S11, E6: Building Your Profile: A Grade-by-Grade Guide to College Admissions Success
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Wednesday Oct 29, 2025
Wondering how to craft a compelling college applicant profile? This episode breaks it down, year by year! Join host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) as she speaks with expert IvyWise counselor Amy (formerly at Harvard) about strategically building your profile from freshman to senior year.
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
S11, E5: 8th Graders: Kickstart Your College Admissions Journey Now
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
Wednesday Oct 22, 2025
College might seem far away, but eighth grade is the perfect time to start thinking about college prep! Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) sits down with expert IvyWise counselors Juaquin (formerly at Occidental College) and Nat (formerly at NYU, NYU Abu Dhabi, and Skidmore College) to discuss what eighth graders need to know.
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
S11, E4: Set the Stage in 9th Grade: Your Freshman Year College Prep Checklist
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Wednesday Oct 08, 2025
Just starting high school? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Amy (formerly at Harvard) break down everything ninth graders need to know about the college admissions process. Discover how to lay a strong college prep foundation in your freshman year.

IvyWise
With nearly 450 years of combined admissions experience at some of the top institutions around the world, IvyWise’s college admissions experts know what it takes to get into your top-choice universities. From brainstorming personal statement essay topics and building test prep strategies, to creating a balanced college list and choosing impactful extracurricular activities, our former Deans and Directors of admission tell it like it really is and provide insight into what colleges are really looking for.


