Season 1

Semester 1: Episode 11: How do I get recruited?

From football and basketball to tennis and rowing, there are a number of sports in which student-athletes can be recruited to play at the collegiate level, but it’s important for students to understand the basics of the athletic recruiting process before deciding if it’s an avenue they want to pursue. In this episode, IvyWise counselors Nat (Former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi) and Eric (Former Admissions Officer at Columbia University), both of whom went through the college admissions process as recruited athletes, 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?

College admissions committees want to learn about their applicants holistically, including the causes they are passionate about and what they enjoy doing in their free time. At the end of the day, it’s not about how many activities you can add to your list, but more about your expertise and commitment to the pursuits that you are truly passionate about. In this episode, IvyWise counselors Eric (Former Admissions Officer at Columbia University) and 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 10-15 colleges, with as close to an even distribution of target, reach, and likely institutions as possible. In this episode, IvyWise College Admissions Experts Rachel (Former Assistant Dean of Admissions at Swarthmore College) and Zach (Former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Boston College) 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 that is found at top universities across the US. In this episode, IvyWise expert counselors Carolyn (Former Admissions Officer at Vanderbilt University), Victoria (Former Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago and Sarah Lawrence College), and Zach (Former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Boston College) 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 9th 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 counselors Nat, a former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi, and Eric, a former Admissions Officer at Columbia University, 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, a former Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Chicago and Sarah Lawrence College, and Christine, a former Assistant Director of Admissions 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, IvyWise counselors Eric, a former Columbia University admissions officer, and Zach, a 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. 

Semester 1: Episode 2: What should I write about in my personal statement? EXTENDED EPISODE

Writing the personal statement is often the most challenging aspect of college applications, so it’s no wonder that this is our most frequently received question from students. In this special extended episode of Just Admit It!, IvyWise college admissions experts Rachel (former Assistant Dean of Admissions at Swarthmore) and Zach (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Boston College) share their top tips on how to brainstorm and write college application essays, and what admissions officers are looking for when they read them. 

Semester 1: Episode 1: What’s going on with college admissions this year?

In the debut episode of Just Admit It!, IvyWise college admissions experts Christine (former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown), Nat (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi) and Eric (former Admissions Officer at Columbia) discuss how the coronavirus pandemic is impacting higher ed and how the high school Class of 2021 can navigate the altered application cycle this semester.