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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 counselors Mike (formerly at Stanford University) and Rachel (formerly at Swarthmore College) are joined by Eric (former admissions counselor at Columbia University and The New School) to 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.

Semester 3: Episode 11: What should I do if I got deferred?

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.

Semester 3: Episode 10: What should students do over winter break?

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.

Semester 3: Episode 9: How can middle schoolers start preparing for high school now?

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.

Semester 3: Episode 8: What should 9th and 10th graders be doing now for college prep?

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.

Semester 3: Episode 7: How should medical school applicants prepare for interviews?

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.

Semester 3: Episode 6: What are the different MBA application deadlines?

Are you thinking about going to business school? Just like with the undergraduate admissions process, the earlier you start planning, the better! And, again similar to the undergrad admissions process, the majority of business schools offer multiple rounds of admissions. In this episode, IvyWise MBA & Graduate School Admissions Expert Nellie (Former Associate Director of Admissions at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania) and guest speaker Divinity Matovu (who got her MBA from Wharton and is the Founder & CEO of MBA Mama) discuss what all the different application deadlines entail and share advice for those who want to pursue an MBA.

Semester 3: Episode 5: Why are recommendation letters important?

Most universities require recommendation letters for admission, but many students wait until the last minute to gather this essential piece of the college application puzzle. In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Christine (Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown) and Robin (Former Senior Assistant Director of Admission at Georgetown) share advice on how students can cultivate strong relationships with their teachers, how they can choose which teachers to ask for recommendation letters, and when they should start asking for these letters.

Semester 3: Episode 4: How Can Students Start off the New School Year on the Right Foot?

Amidst all the uncertainty during this busy back-to-school season, it might be hard for students to stay organized with their assignments and activities. In this episode, IvyWise college prep expert Christine (Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown) and IvyWise Executive Functioning Coaches Lorenza and Nicki share advice on how students can develop their time management, organizational and study skills in order to start off the new school year on the best note possible.

Semester 3: Episode 3: What do all the different application rounds mean?

Between Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, Single-Choice Early Action, Regular Decision and Rolling Admissions, there are numerous options for students to choose from when it comes to deciding which application rounds to submit their college applications in. In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Katie (Former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at MIT) and Krista (Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Johns Hopkins University) explain what each application round entails and offer advice on how students can build their own best-fit college application strategies.