Just Admit It!

Semester 5: Episode 3: What Do Students and Families Need To Keep in Mind When Planning for School Placement?

With so many different factors to consider – from location and curriculum, to extracurricular offerings and counseling services – searching for the right K-12 options can be an overwhelming process for students and families to navigate. In this episode, IvyWise WiseStart™ Counselors Cheryl (formerly at Horace Mann School and Miss Porter’s School) and Nat (formerly at NYU, NYU Abu Dhabi, and Skidmore College) and Master Tutor Carl share their top tips on how to identify your best-fit school and successfully navigate the K-12 admissions process.

Semester 5: Episode 2: How Can I Ensure a Smooth Transition to College Life?

When a student arrives at college – an exciting period of self-exploration and learning – adjusting to campus life and deciding on a major and future can be overwhelming. In this episode, IvyWise Academic Advising Team Leader and Law School Admissions Counselor Kendra (formerly at Northeastern University), Academic Advisor and Graduate School Admissions Counselor Indhika (formerly at Georgetown University) and College Admissions Counselor Jenny (formerly at Washington University in St. Louis) share their top tips on how college-bound students can prepare for the transition to university life and set themselves up to have the most joyful and successful college experiences possible.

Semester 5: Episode 1: How Did the 2021-22 Admissions Cycle Go?

In the Semester 5 opener, IvyWise college admissions experts Chris (formerly at Wesleyan University) and Mike (formerly at Stanford University, NYU, and the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley) review the 2021-22 college admissions cycle, including changes in standardized testing, application numbers, and acceptance rates, and offer their predictions and top tips on how students can prepare for future admissions cycles.

Just Admit It! Semester 5 Trailer

Back by popular demand: IvyWise’s Just Admit It! podcast returns for a fifth season! In this season, IvyWise admissions counselors, tutors, and executive functioning coaches will cover a variety of topics, including how to prepare for college life, what families need to consider when planning for the K-12 admissions process, how to improve writing skills, building a balanced college list, how to practice stress management during the college application process, tips for STEM and pre-med students, how to prepare for graduate school, and more! Tune in and follow us for expert advice from the IvyWise team. Our experts will be answering listener questions throughout the season, so please submit your questions to podcast@ivywise.com!

Semester 4: Episode 11: How Can I Support My Student While Still Encouraging Independence?

In this episode, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor Mari (formerly at MIT), Executive Functioning Team Leader Lorenza, and Executive Functioning Coach Nicki share advice on how parents can support their children through their educational journeys while still helping them become independent learners and extraordinary students.

Semester 4: Episode 10: What Different Types of Universities Are There?

With over 3,000 four-year institutions in the U.S., 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!

Semester 4: Episode 9: How Can I Prepare My Student for Self-Advocacy?

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.

Semester 4: Episode 8: What Is the Admissions Process Like for Non-Traditional Medical School Programs?

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.

Semester 4: Episode 7: What Does "Holistic Review" Really Mean?

Most U.S. 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!

Semester 4: Episode 6: How Can Juniors Prepare for Senior Year?

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!

Semester 4: Episode 5: Should I Take a Gap Year?

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!

Semester 4: Episode 4: How Do I Choose My Best-Fit Admissions Offer?

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!

Semester 4: Episode 3: How Can I Make the Most of Campus Visits?

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.

Semester 4: Episode 2: What Should I Do Over Spring and Summer Breaks?

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.

Semester 4: Episode 1: Should I Transfer?

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.