Season 5

Semester 5: Bonus Episode: What Should I Do if I Got Deferred?

While getting deferred can be confusing and disappointing, it is important to maintain a positive attitude and take action as soon as possible. Eric (former admissions counselor at Columbia University) and Tiffany (formerly at MIT) explain what a deferral means, why it happens, and what deferred students should do next.

Semester 5: Episode 11: How Can College Students Prepare for Grad School/the Workforce?

IvyWise Academic Advisor and Graduate School Admissions Counselor Indhika (formerly at Georgetown University), Kendra (former law school admissions counselor at Northeastern University), and Academic Advisor and MBA Admissions Counselor Nellie (formerly at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania) share their top tips for college students who are contemplating going to grad school and/or entering the workforce.

Semester 5: Episode 10: What Makes a Strong STEM and/or Pre-Med Student?

IvyWise counselors Juhn (formerly at Stanford University School of Medicine and UC Berkeley) and Rod (formerly at Case Western Reserve University) are joined by Krista (formerly at Johns Hopkins University) to share their advice for students who are interested in pursuing STEM and/or pre-med tracks. They also address a question from one of our loyal listeners about which universities feed the most students to medical schools.

Semester 5: Episode 9: What Are the Most Common Mistakes You See in College Applications?

In this episode, IvyWise counselors Alecia (formerly at Duke University) and Kim (formerly at the University of Pennsylvania), speak to admissions expert Danielle (formerly at the University of Pennsylvania) about the most common mistakes they see when evaluating college applications and share their top dos and don’ts for college-bound students.

Semester 5: Episode 8: How Can Students Prepare for Admissions Interviews and Auditions?

In this episode, Eric (former admissions officer at Columbia University and The New School) and Rachel (formerly at Swarthmore College) share top tips on what to expect during admissions interviews and auditions – and how college-bound students can stand out to admissions officers.

Semester 5: Episode 7: What Are Alternative Ivy Leagues Like?

In this episode, IvyWise college admissions counselor Judy (formerly at Georgetown University) and Krista, former Assistant Director of Admissions at Johns Hopkins, share insight into non-Ivy League universities that are experiencing dramatic increases in popularity, examining changes in acceptance rates, increases in application numbers and other factors that prospective college applicants should keep in mind.

Semester 5: Episode 6: How Can High School Students Use Executive Functioning Skills and Practice Stress Management During the College Application Process?

In this episode, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor Robin (formerly at Georgetown University and Vanderbilt University), Executive Functioning Team Leader Lorenza, and Executive Functioning Coach Nicki share their top tips on how school high school students can further develop their executive functioning skills and practice stress management and self-care during the college application process.

Semester 5: Episode 5: Is the “Reach, Target, Likely” List Becoming More of a Spectrum?

In this episode, IvyWise college admissions counselors Nat (formerly at NYU, NYU Abu Dhabi, and Skidmore College) and Chris (formerly at Wesleyan University) share insight into the ‘Reach’, ‘Target’, and ‘Likely’ categories and how the list is becoming more of a spectrum.

Semester 5: Episode 4: How Can I Improve My Personal Narrative Writing Skills?

Unlike some creative writing, the personal narrative is clear and dedicated with its intent, narrative arc, and lesson(s) learned or taught. In this episode, IvyWise College Admissions Counselor and Academic Advisor Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) and Master Tutor Jonathan (B.A., Princeton University; M.A., Harvard University; M.Sc., Lund University) share their top tips on how students can improve their personal narrative writing skills.

Semester 5: Episode 3: Planning for K-12 School Placement: What to Know

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™ Counselor Nat (formerly at NYU, NYU Abu Dhabi, and Skidmore College) and Master Tutor Carl are joined by K-12 admissions expert Cheryl (formerly at Horace Mann School and Miss Porter’s School) to 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!