Just Admit It!

Semester 2: Episode 6: What Should I Do if I Got Waitlisted?

In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Nat (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi) and Christine (former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown) share tips on what waitlisted students can do to optimize their chances of enrolling at their best-fit universities.

Semester 2: Episode 5: What Do Students and Families Need to Know About the Financial Aid Process?

In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Nat (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi) and Nellie (former Associate Director of Admissions at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania) share insight into one of the most complex pieces of the college admissions puzzle: financial aid.

Semester 2: Episode 4: What Are Business School Admissions Committees Looking For?

In this episode, IvyWise counselors Christine (formerly at Yale and Georgetown) and Nellie (formerly at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania) share insight into the complex and competitive business school admissions process. We also have a special guest joining us, Ed Hsu, who has a dual Columbia MBA/Princeton MPA degree and is now a Senior Adviser, Disruptive Technologies within the World Bank’s Infrastructure Vice Presidency.

Semester 2: Episode 3: What Are Medical School Admissions Committees Looking For?

In this episode, IvyWise medical school admissions counselors McGreggor (formerly at MIT and currently in Harvard Medical School admissions) and Juhn (formerly at Stanford University School of Medicine and UC Berkeley) share insight into the complex and competitive med school application process. Tune in now to learn about all aspects of the admissions process — from selecting undergraduate courses and MCAT test prep, to securing internships and researching med schools!

Semester 2: Episode 2: How Do College Admissions Officers Evaluate Transcripts?

In this episode, IvyWise college admissions counselors Christine (former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown) and Nat (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi) discuss the importance of the transcript and share advice on why students should thoughtfully consider what courses to take each year and how to plan ahead for subsequent years.

Semester 2: Episode 1: What Is the Transfer Admissions Process Like?

In this episode, IvyWise college admissions counselor Juaquin (formerly at Occidental College) talks with Amy (formerly at Bucknell University) about how the transfer admissions process works and share tips on how students can build their balanced college lists and perfect their application materials. They also address some of the most pressing FAQs we have been receiving from students who are contemplating transferring.

Semester 1: Episode 11: How Do I Get Recruited?

In this episode, IvyWise counselor Nat (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi) joins Eric (former Admissions Officer at Columbia University), both of whom went through the college admissions process as recruited athletes, to describe what the athletic recruitment process entails and how prospective college athletes can prepare.

Semester 1: Episode 10: What Extracurricular Activities Do I Need to Do?

In this episode, Eric (former Admissions Officer at Columbia University) and IvyWise counselor Rachel (Former Assistant Dean of Admissions at Swarthmore College) discuss the importance of identifying interests, forming a plan to make an impact both inside and outside of the classroom, and committing to these activities for the long-term.

Semester 1: Episode 9: How Many Universities Should I Apply To?

At IvyWise, we advise students to apply to about 13-15 colleges, with as close to an even distribution of target, reach, and likely institutions as possible. In this episode, IvyWise college admissions expert Rachel (former Assistant Dean of Admissions at Swarthmore College) joins Zach (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Boston College) to share their top tips on how to create a manageable and balanced college list.

Semester 1: Episode 8: How Do College Admissions Committees Review Applications?

This special episode of Just Admit It! gives a sneak peek into an admissions committee via the IvyWise Roundtable process. Our unique Roundtable process simulates the real-world admissions committee found at top universities across the U.S. In this episode, IvyWise expert Victoria (former Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago and Sarah Lawrence College) joins Zach (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Boston College) and Carolyn (former Admissions Officer at Vanderbilt University) to review one of our pro bono students’ profile, transcript, Common App personal statement, and Stanford University supplements. We've posted the application materials on our Instagram (@FollowIvyWise) and podcast page so that you can follow along! (Spoiler alert: He ended up getting into all three of his top-choice universities, including Stanford!)

Semester 1: Episode 7: When Do I Need to Start Planning for College?

It’s never too early to start planning for higher ed! College admissions officers evaluate all four years of high school, so it’s crucial for students and families to start planning for college from ninth grade onwards. In this episode, IvyWise counselors Victoria (former Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago and Sarah Lawrence College) and Nat (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi) discuss when and how to start college prep.

Semester 1: Episode 6: Does Demonstrated Interest Really Matter?

In this episode, IvyWise counselors Victoria (former Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago and Sarah Lawrence College) and Rachel (former Assistant Dean of Admissions at Swarthmore College) explain why it’s crucial for students to demonstrate their interest in their top-choice universities and provide examples of how (and how not!) to do so.

Semester 1: Episode 5: What's Going on with Standardized Testing?

In this episode, IvyWise counselor Nat (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi) joins Eric (former Admissions Officer at Columbia University) to offer advice on when and how students should start planning for standardized testing, discuss the important distinction between 'test-optional' and 'test-blind', and analyze how the COVID-19 pandemic is impacting students' test prep plans.

Semester 1: Episode 4: What Do Admissions Officers Look For?

Most U.S. universities use the ‘holistic review’ process when evaluating college applications. This means admissions officers place emphasis on the applicant as a whole person, not just their academic achievements, so soft factors may be given just as much consideration as the empirical data present in hard factors. In this episode, IvyWise counselors Victoria (formerly at the University of Chicago and Sarah Lawrence College) and Christine (formerly at Yale and Georgetown) break down the college admissions rubric and discuss examples of different hard and soft factors that admissions officers evaluate.

Semester 1: Episode 3: Why Do Supplemental Essays Matter?

In addition to the personal statement, many colleges and universities ask supplemental essay questions as part of the college application process. These essays can range from 100-250-word responses to short, 50-word "popcorn" questions. In this episode, Eric (former Columbia University admissions officer) and Zach (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Boston College) spill the tea on what admissions officers are looking for in supplemental essays and what students can do to stand out.