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, incl...
May 19, 2022•31 min•Season 4Ep. 10
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.
May 12, 2022•35 min•Season 4Ep. 9
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.
Apr 28, 2022•44 min•Season 4Ep. 8
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...
Apr 14, 2022•29 min•Season 4Ep. 7
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 ...
Mar 31, 2022•41 min•Season 4Ep. 6
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!
Mar 17, 2022•37 min•Season 4Ep. 5
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 Ne...
Mar 10, 2022•45 min•Season 4Ep. 4
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.
Feb 24, 2022•36 min•Season 4Ep. 3
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 sta...
Feb 17, 2022•31 min•Season 4Ep. 2
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.
Feb 03, 2022•30 min•Season 4Ep. 1
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.
Dec 17, 2021•44 min•Season 3Ep. 11
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 student...
Dec 02, 2021•33 min•Season 3Ep. 10
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.
Nov 11, 2021•42 min•Season 3Ep. 9
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 ...
Oct 28, 2021•42 min•Season 3Ep. 8
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-...
Oct 14, 2021•41 min•Season 3Ep. 7
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 fro...
Oct 07, 2021•40 min•Ep. 12
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...
Sep 30, 2021•42 min•Season 3Ep. 5
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....
Sep 16, 2021•43 min•Season 3Ep. 4
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 applica...
Sep 03, 2021•46 min•Season 3Ep. 3
Besides, grades and test scores, one of the most important elements of the college admissions rubric is the essay. While the Common App has the required personal statement essay, many universities also ask supplemental questions, which give admissions officers the chance to get to know more about the applicants. In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Zach (Former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at Boston College) and Katie (Former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at M...
Aug 26, 2021•46 min•Season 3Ep. 2
In the Semester 3 opener, IvyWise college admissions experts Katie (Former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at MIT) and Mike (Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Stanford) discuss different elements of the Common Application, including demographic info, essays, and the extracurricular activities section – and more! Drawing upon both personal and professional experiences with the platform, they share insight into how students can stand out to college admissions committees through th...
Aug 12, 2021•36 min•Season 3Ep. 1
The college admissions process is complex to navigate, so it’s natural for parents to want to jump in and take control of the process in an effort to alleviate their students’ stress levels. However, it’s important to keep in mind that the process is a big step towards independence for students – so, parents need to take a step back while still offering support. In this episode, IvyWise College Admissions Experts Christine (Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown), Judy (F...
Jul 01, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 11
For many secondary school students, one of the biggest decisions they have to make is where they want to pursue their higher education. In this episode, Christine (IvyWise Counselor and former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown), Scott (IvyWise Counselor and former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale), Martin (Founder of Campion College Consultancy and former Head of Careers and Higher Education at South Island School, Hong Kong) and Jenny (Keystone Tutors’ Regional Dir...
May 27, 2021•52 min•Season 2Ep. 10
In this episode, IvyWise college admissions experts Amy (who was an Associate Director of Admissions at Bucknell, where she played volleyball at the Division I level as an undergrad and later on specialized in athletic recruitment advising), Juaquin (who was an Admissions Officer at Occidental and was a recruited swimmer at Wesleyan), and Nat (who was a Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi and was a recruited tennis player at Skidmore) share college prep advice for st...
May 06, 2021•45 min•Season 2Ep. 9
In this episode, Nat (IvyWise College Admissions Counselor and WiseStartTM Counselor and Former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi), Lorenza (IvyWise Executive Functioning Coach), Martin (Director of Upper School at Bennett Day School) and Jennifer (Upper School Counselor at Bennett Day School) discuss how building executive functioning skills and good study skills from a young age can help to set students up for success in high school, college and beyond.
Apr 22, 2021•38 min•Season 2Ep. 8
In this episode, IvyWise counselors Christine (Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown), Cara (Former Assistant Dean of Admissions at Colgate University) and Nat (Former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi) review the 2020-21 college admissions cycle, including how COVID-19 and test-optional policies impacted students’ college prep and the number of college applications, and offer their predictions for future admissions cycles.
Apr 15, 2021•41 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Getting waitlisted can leave students feeling disappointed and anxious, but there are several steps students can take to improve their chances of being admitted. 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.
Apr 01, 2021•37 min•Season 2Ep. 6
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.
Mar 25, 2021•43 min•Season 2Ep. 5
In this episode, Christine (IvyWise Counselor and Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown) and Nellie (IvyWise MBA and Graduate Admissions Counselor and Former Associate Director of Admissions 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 Techno...
Mar 18, 2021•40 min•Season 2Ep. 4
In this episode, IvyWise Medical School Admissions Counselors McGreggor (Former Director of Selection at MIT, member of the Harvard Medical School Admissions Committee and Pre-Medical Advisor at MIT) and Juhn (Former MD Admissions Officer at Stanford University School of Medicine and Pre-Medical Advisor at 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 cour...
Mar 11, 2021•1 hr 1 min•Season 2Ep. 3
