Just Admit It!

With over 3,000 four-year institutions in the US, it can be challenging for students to know where to start when researching universities to build their balanced college lists. There are so many different factors to consider, such as size, location and campus culture. In this episode, IvyWise college admissions counselors Carolyn (formerly at Vanderbilt), Krista (formerly at Johns Hopkins) and Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) shed light on all sorts of different institutions, including public vs private; rural vs suburban vs urban; small vs medium vs large; liberal arts colleges, arts colleges, institutes of technology and colleges with religious affiliations; single-sex colleges; HBCUs; and military academies!

It’s important for students to build a strong foundation in order to succeed throughout school, college, and life! In this episode, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor and WiseStart™ Counselor Christine (formerly at Yale and Georgetown) and Executive Functioning Coach Nicki share advice on how parents, teachers, and other educators can help students prepare for self-advocacy.

Thinking about going to med school? In this episode, IvyWise admissions experts Juhn (former MD Admissions Officer at Stanford University School of Medicine and Pre-Medical Advisor at UC Berkeley) and Katie (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at MIT) discuss the medical school admissions process, focusing on the process for non-traditional programs, such as BS/MD programs.

Most US universities use a ‘holistic review’ process when evaluating applications, meaning admissions committees place emphasis on the student as a whole person. Colleges want to build well-rounded classes made up of specialists who can contribute to the campus communities in ways other than just academic performance. In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Krista (formerly at Johns Hopkins University) and Tiffany (formerly at MIT, the University of Virginia, and Colgate University) break down what the holistic review process entails and how universities build their first-year classes!

Junior year is one of the most critical college prep years, and with the Common App having already announced the personal statement essay prompts for the upcoming college admissions cycle, current juniors have the opportunity to get a head start on their essays before the rigors of senior year. In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Mike (formerly at Stanford, NYU, and the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley) and Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) share their top tips on how high school juniors can prepare for senior year and the college application process!

Gap years are becoming increasingly popular: Many students are deferring college admission for a year to study, travel, work or volunteer. In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Katie (formerly at MIT) and Nat (formerly at NYU, NYU Abu Dhabi, and Skidmore College) share advice on how students can determine if taking a gap year is the right decision for them – and offer tips on how to make the most of a gap year!

There are many factors for students and families to consider when deciding where to enroll! It’s also important to realize that priorities might have changed in the months leading up to admission decisions, so a university that was once a top choice could easily end up at the bottom of a student’s list after decision notifications come in. In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Christine (formerly at Yale and Georgetown Universities), Eric (formerly at Columbia University and The New School), and Victoria (formerly at The University of Chicago and Sarah Lawrence College) share tips to help students choose their best-fit admissions offers!

Visiting campuses – whether virtually or in-person – is a crucial part of the college prep process! In this episode, IvyWise counsellors Eric (formerly at Columbia University and The New School), Mike (formerly at Stanford University), and Rachel (formerly at Swarthmore College) share advice on how students and families can make the most of their college tours.

As we start getting ready for warmer weather, many students might be wondering how they can have productive and impactful spring and summer breaks. In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Krista (Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Johns Hopkins University), Mike (Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Stanford University), and Tiffany (Former Assistant Director of Admissions at MIT) share advice on how high school students can continue to explore their interests – and stay on track with their college admissions goals – over the upcoming school breaks.

In the Semester 4 opener, IvyWise college admissions experts Mike (Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Stanford University), Amy (Former Associate Director of Admissions at Bucknell University), and Juaquin (Former Admissions Officer at Occidental College) discuss compelling reasons to transfer to a different college, what the transfer admissions process entails, and how to make the most of your time at your current institution.

Receiving a deferral decision can be disappointing and confusing, but it’s important for students to stay positive and view it as a second chance to highlight their accomplishments. In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Carolyn (formerly at Vanderbilt University) and Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) explain what a deferral means, why it happens, and what steps deferred students should take next.

Although winter break is meant to be a time to hit the slopes, drink hot chocolate, and relax around the fireplace, it is also important for students to stay engaged and on track with their college prep so that they don't fall behind in the hyper-competitive college admissions process. In this episode, IvyWise experts Christine (formerly at Yale and Georgetown Universities) and Mike (formerly at Stanford University, NYU, and the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley) share advice on how students can stay on track with their college prep goals over winter break.

While the transition to high school can be intimidating, there are several things that middle schoolers can do now in order to lay the foundation for a successful high school career. In this episode, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor Christine (formerly at Yale and Georgetown Universities) and Executive Functioning Coaches Lorenza and Nicki share advice on how middle schoolers can start preparing for high school now.

It takes time, patience, and the right combination of nurturing and independence to help the seeds of college ideas grow into bountiful plans. 9th grade is the ideal time to start cultivating those sprouts of college dreams, as it gives students time to mature and explore subjects and activities that interest them, and that will eventually grow into academic and career goals. In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Juaquin (formerly at Occidental College and Wesleyan University) and Robin (formerly at Georgetown and Vanderbilt Universities) share advice on how high school freshmen and sophomores can plant the seeds for college prep now.

Thinking about going to medical school? Typically, applicants will be invited to interviews any time between early fall and winter. Interviews can take place at any time once a secondary application is submitted, but most universities will wait until the fall semester begins so that applicants have the chance to interact with current med school students. In this episode, IvyWise Medical School Admissions Expert Juhn (Former MD Admissions Officer at Stanford University School of Medicine and Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Advisor at UC Berkeley) and IvyWise College Admissions Counselor Christine (Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown) share advice on how med school applicants can prepare for their interviews.