Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply.

Are expensive summer programs and paid research opportunities actually helping students get into selective colleges? Or are families spending thousands of dollars on activities that do little to strengthen an application?

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel tackles one of the most controversial topics in college admissions: pay-to-play summer programs and research opportunities. From university-branded pre-college programs to paid research mentorships, Thomas explains how admissions officers evaluate these experiences, why some impressive-sounding credentials carry less weight than parents expect, and when paying for an academic opportunity can genuinely make sense.

Key Takeaways

• Paid research: Does paying for research actually strengthen a college application?

• High school research: Do students need research experience for Ivy League admissions?

• Summer programs: When are expensive pre-college programs worth the investment?

• University prestige: Does attending a summer program at a top university give students an advantage?

• Alternative experiences: Why might jobs, internships, and independent projects stand out more?

• University of Chicago: What makes its summer program admissions pathway different?

The question isn't whether a program is prestigious or expensive. It's whether the experience helps your student develop genuine interests, take initiative, and build a more compelling college application.

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply.

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply.

SAT or ACT? Does the PSAT matter? When should your student start preparing? Should they submit their scores to test-optional colleges? And what does a competitive score actually look like for Ivy League and other highly selective universities?

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel answers some of the most common questions families have about standardized testing and its role in college admissions. Inspired by a recent live event with Arun Alagappan, founder of Advantage Testing, Thomas breaks down how students should approach the SAT, ACT, and PSAT, from choosing the right exam to developing a realistic testing timeline.

As colleges reconsider test-optional policies and place renewed emphasis on standardized scores, understanding how testing fits into the broader application has become increasingly important. Thomas explains how admissions officers interpret scores alongside grades and academic rigor, what students should consider before withholding scores, and why even an impressive overall score may not tell the full story.

Key Takeaways

• SAT vs. ACT: Does one test give students an advantage in selective college admissions?

• When should students begin preparing for the SAT or ACT?

• How much does the PSAT matter for college admissions?

• What does applying test-optional communicate to admissions officers?

• How do colleges evaluate standardized test scores alongside GPA, course rigor, and AP or IB performance?

• Can a high SAT or ACT score compensate for weaker grades?

• How much do individual section scores matter for students interested in engineering, business, or other academic fields?

• Do students really need a 1550+ SAT score to be competitive for Ivy League admissions?

The right testing strategy isn't simply about chasing the highest possible score. It's about understanding your student's academic strengths, choosing the right exam, preparing at the right time, and knowing how their scores contribute to the larger admissions picture.

For families seeking individualized SAT/ACT preparation and academic support, learn more about Admittedly's partnership with Advantage Testing at https://admittedly.co/test-prep-tutoring/

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call: admittedly.co/apply

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply.

Should you apply Early Decision, Early Action, or wait until Regular Decision? With early application deadlines approaching, the decision is about more than getting your application in first. It's about understanding where you have the strongest opportunity, what you're committing to, and how your choice affects the rest of your college admissions strategy.

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down the differences between Early Decision (ED), Early Action (EA), Restrictive Early Action (REA), and Regular Decision (RD), and explains why the changing higher education landscape could make early application strategy particularly important this cycle.

Drawing on his decades of admissions experience and recent conversations with current admissions officers, Thomas explores how colleges are thinking about enrollment and yield, why early acceptance rates can be misleading, and what students should consider before committing to a binding application. He also addresses ED2, financial aid considerations, deferrals, and the importance of preparing a strong Regular Decision strategy.

Key Takeaways

• What is the difference between Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, and Regular Decision?

• Does applying Early Decision actually increase your chances of admission?

• Why might colleges prioritize early applicants more heavily this admissions cycle?

• How should students choose which college to apply to early?

• What should families understand about financial aid before making a binding Early Decision commitment?

• When does Early Decision II make sense, and when should students avoid it?

• What should you do if your early application is deferred?

• How can students prepare their essays and Regular Decision applications strategically?

The right early application strategy isn't simply about applying to the most prestigious school on your list or chasing a higher acceptance rate. It's about understanding your competitiveness, evaluating the tradeoffs, and making a decision that supports your larger admissions goals.

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps with our team of Admissions experts, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply.

To learn more about Admittedly's essay review services, visit https://hubs.li/Q04vzrv10.

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at https://info.admittedly.co/path-to-admissions

Your child may be bright, hardworking, involved, and genuinely impressive. But does that make them competitive at the most selective colleges?

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel has a candid conversation with parents about one of the hardest realities of college admissions: your child can be exceptional without being the exception in an extraordinarily competitive applicant pool. As families enter another application cycle, Thomas explains why strong grades, extracurricular activities, and good intentions don't always translate into a compelling application.

Drawing on real examples from his work with students and families, Thomas explores how parents can lose perspective, why checking the right boxes isn't the same as standing out, and what happens when students reach senior year without a clear strategy. More importantly, he explains how earlier, more objective guidance can help students identify their interests, develop meaningful accomplishments, and build an application that reflects who they actually are.

Key Takeaways

• Why do excellent students still get rejected from highly selective colleges?

• What does it actually mean to be exceptional in a competitive applicant pool?

• How can parents distinguish meaningful extracurricular involvement from simply staying busy?

• Why don't passion projects, student-founded clubs, and impressive-sounding activities always stand out?

• What can families do differently during freshman, sophomore, and junior year?

• How can students build a more focused and authentic application narrative?

• Why is an objective outside perspective so valuable before senior year?

The goal isn't to push every student toward an Ivy League school or manufacture an impressive résumé. It's to understand what your student genuinely wants, evaluate where they stand, and give them the time and support to pursue those goals intentionally. Because by senior year, many of the most important decisions have already been made.

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at https://info.admittedly.co/path-to-admissions

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at info.admittedly.co/path-to-admissions.

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel examines the rise of alternative education paths, from tech and startup programs to AI-driven schools and direct-to-work opportunities. As students are increasingly told that a traditional four-year degree may no longer be necessary, families are facing a much more complicated question: how do you know which path will actually serve you long term?

Drawing on examples from emerging education models and the tech industry, the conversation explores what students should weigh before stepping away from a traditional college path, from career flexibility and transferable skills to networks, mentorship, and the value of education beyond a credential.

Key Takeaways

• Is college still worth it as AI and technology reshape the workplace? • How should families evaluate new alternatives to a four-year college degree? • What should students consider before choosing a tech or direct-to-work opportunity? • How much do college networks, professors, and alumni matter long term? • How are trade schools different from emerging tech-focused education programs? • What could students be overlooking when they choose a faster path into the workforce?

The goal is not to choose college simply because it is traditional or reject new educational models because they are unfamiliar. It is to understand the tradeoffs, protect your long-term options, and make an informed decision about the path that serves you best.

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at info.admittedly.co/path-to-admissions.

In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel sits down with Sarah Bernbach, Associate Director of Advantage Testing's New York offices, to explore what more than two decades of tutoring has taught her about how students learn, build confidence, and find their voice.

Drawing on 22 years of experience (and her own unconventional path as a pastry chef, bookbinder, writer, and costume designer), Sarah explains why struggling is often part of learning, why a lack of motivation can actually be fear, and what helps students move from uncertainty to mastery. Thomas and Sarah also dive into college essays, including why students often focus too much on what happened to them instead of what their story reveals about who they are.

Key Topics:

• Why student resistance or lack of motivation may actually be rooted in fear

• How great tutors build trust and confidence with students

• What being a beginner teaches us about learning and mastery

• Why authenticity is so difficult (and important) in personal writing

• How to find a college essay topic that reveals who you are

• Why imitating successful college essays can work against your own voice

Guest:

Sarah Bernbach is the Associate Director of Advantage Testing's New York offices and has spent 22 years as an elite tutor helping students strengthen their academic skills, writing, and confidence as learners.

Learn more about Admittedly's partnership with Advantage Testing: admittedly.co/programs

Follow Admittedly: Instagram & TikTok: @admittedlyco

Follow Advantage Testing: Instagram: @advantagetesting

🎓 Need help building your academic and college admissions strategy? Learn more about Admittedly and how our team of former Ivy+ admissions officers helps students make strategic decisions

Course selection is one of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of building a competitive college application. The classes you choose don't just determine your GPA; they show admissions officers how you've challenged yourself, where your academic interests lie, and how you've taken advantage of the opportunities available to you.

In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down how students should approach course selection across AP, IB, A-Level, and other academic systems. He also explains how to think ahead from middle school through senior year—and what students can do if they realize they need to strengthen their academic trajectory or their school doesn't offer the courses they need.

Key Takeaways

• Why course selection and academic rigor matter beyond your GPA
• How early academic decisions can shape your options later in high school
• How to approach AP, IB, A-Level, honors, and other advanced curricula
• Why your most rigorous courses should align with your intended academic interests
• How to use outside courses, community colleges, and other options to strengthen your academic trajectory
• What to do if you realize you're behind or made the wrong course choices
• Why senior year should represent the strongest point in your academic progression

Conclusion

There isn't one perfect high school schedule for every student. The goal is to build an academic trajectory that makes sense for your interests, your goals, and the opportunities available at your school—and to think ahead before individual course decisions limit your options. And if you haven't followed the ideal path so far, there may still be ways to strengthen it.

🎓 Need help building your academic and college admissions strategy? Learn more about Admittedly and how our team of former Ivy+ admissions officers helps students make strategic decisions around course selection, testing, extracurriculars, college lists, applications, and more.

📱 Follow Admittedly for more college admissions advice: Instagram & TikTok: @admittedlyco

🎓 Want help building a thoughtful high school and college admissions strategy? Learn more about Admittedly and how our team of former Ivy+ admissions officers helps students and families plan academics, extracurriculars, summers, testing, college lists, applications, and more.

Freshman year isn't about building the perfect college application. It's about building the habits, academic foundation, relationships, and curiosity that will give you more options later.

In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel shares what ninth graders (and their parents) should actually be thinking about as they begin high school. From choosing rigorous courses and building relationships with teachers to exploring extracurriculars, asking for help early, and making the most of freshman summer, Thomas explains how to start strong without turning ninth grade into an admissions pressure cooker.

Key Takeaways

• Why your ninth-grade academic choices can shape your options later in high school
• How to build strong relationships with teachers from day one
• Why freshman year is the time to explore activities
• How to recognize academic struggles early and ask for help before you're playing catch-up
• Why intellectual curiosity matters more than knowing your future major at 14
• How parents can support exploration without imposing their own expectations
• What to start thinking about now to make freshman summer meaningful

Conclusion

Ninth grade is a transition, and no student needs to have everything figured out. But for students with highly selective college ambitions, drifting through freshman year isn't a strategy either. Focus on strong academic habits, explore what genuinely interests you, build relationships, ask for help when you need it, and use this year to create a foundation you can build on throughout high school.

🎓 Want help building a thoughtful high school and college admissions strategy? Learn more about Admittedly and how our team of former Ivy+ admissions officers helps students and families plan academics, extracurriculars, summers, testing, college lists, applications, and more.

📱 Follow Admittedly for more college admissions strategy: Instagram & TikTok: @admittedlyco

*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-698ba4c4-86c0-8332-bb91-d1ab5e770345-0" data-turn-id-container= "request-698ba4c4-86c0-8332-bb91-d1ab5e770345-0" data-testid= "conversation-turn-12" data-turn="assistant"> Get Expert Feedback on Your College Essay

Not sure if your essay is ready to submit? Admittedly's Essay Review Service gives students direct, strategic feedback on their essays from experts who understand how admissions officers actually evaluate an application.

Our team can help identify what's working, what's missing, and where your essay could be stronger—without rewriting it for you or replacing your voice.

✍️ Learn more about Admittedly's Essay Review Service Here

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In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel goes inside the college essay review process from an admissions officer's perspective. With admissions readers moving through thousands of applications, a "beautiful" essay isn't enough—your essays need to communicate something meaningful about who you are and make sense within the larger story of your application.

Thomas breaks down the Common App personal statement, supplemental essays, additional information, and circumstances essays—and the role each should play. He also tackles some of the most common mistakes he sees, from manufactured trauma and résumé-style essays to copying successful essays, misusing AI, and letting parents over-edit a student's voice.

Key Takeaways

• Why your essays need to support the strategy of your entire application
• What admissions officers are actually trying to learn from your personal essay
• Why great essays need a strong hook—but shouldn't start with one
• Common essay topics and approaches that often miss the mark
• How to use supplemental, additional information, and circumstances essays strategically
• Why copying "essays that worked" can actually make your writing less effective
• Where parents and AI can—and shouldn't—fit into the writing process

Your college essay should sound like you, but that doesn't mean you have to figure out whether it's working on your own. Before you submit, make sure your essay is doing its job: adding something meaningful to your application, communicating your story clearly, and giving an admissions officer a reason to keep reading.

🎓 Looking for more comprehensive admissions support? Learn more about working with Admittedly's team of former Ivy+ admissions officers.

📱 Follow Admittedly: Instagram & TikTok: @admittedlyco

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🎓 Want help building the right admissions strategy? Learn more about Admittedly and how our team of former Ivy+ admissions officers helps students make strategic decisions around course selection, extracurriculars, testing, college lists, applications, and more.

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A strong GPA only tells part of the story. In highly selective college admissions, admissions officers are also looking closely at how much you challenged yourself within the opportunities available to you.

In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down academic rigor and how families should think strategically about course selection from middle school through senior year. From AP, IB, and A-Level programs to math sequencing and intended majors, Thomas explains why individual course decisions need to be considered as part of a much longer academic trajectory.

Key Takeaways

• Why GPA alone doesn't tell admissions officers enough
• How course selection can shape your options years later
• What "academic rigor" actually means at highly selective colleges
• How AP, IB, A-Level, and advanced courses factor into admissions
• Why your intended major should influence your academic trajectory

Conclusion

Academic rigor isn't about taking the hardest class simply because it exists. It's about building a thoughtful academic trajectory that demonstrates curiosity, preparation, and the ability to succeed in the field you hope to pursue. The strongest course strategy looks beyond this semester and asks: What does this choice make possible next year... and the year after that?

🎓 Learn more about Admittedly and how our team of former Ivy+ admissions officers helps students make strategic decisions around course selection, extracurriculars, testing, college lists, applications, and more.

📱 Follow Admittedly for more college admissions strategy: Instagram & TikTok: @admittedlyco