Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel

We will be back! Wrapping up Season 1 and preparing for the launch of Season 2. Let's reflect on all of this years' achievements and celebrate the end of another school year.

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Key notes:

• The podcast will be taking a brief hiatus for the start of summer, but Thomas assures listeners that an exciting second season is on the horizon.
• Exclusive content and special guides are in the works for the summer, specifically for those who have joined the mailing list. Thomas expresses his gratitude to the supportive community, as the podcast has achieved an impressive feat of being in the top 10% of all podcasts globally during its first season.

What's to come in Season 2?

• In season 2 the podcast will explore topics such as prep school admissions, graduate school admissions, and the admission cycle for high school juniors.
• Engaging guests and students will join the show to discuss their candidacies and experiences.
• Subscribers on the mailing list can anticipate exclusive and valuable content. Special guides on writing essays and preparing for the fall admission cycle will be available. Additionally, subscriber-only podcasts will be released, offering unique perspectives and information.

As summer approaches, Thomas encourages listeners to take a well-deserved break and indulge in activities they are passionate about. He emphasizes the importance of conveying personal journeys and aspirations to schools during the admissions process. Season two of the podcast will delve further into this theme.

In this mini-series, Thomas talks about the top things to do as a junior student applying to college. It is an important time because the students start to feel that their time is coming, and several questions are now coming to mind.

As a follow-up to the previous episode, today, Thomas highlights the best tips to follow during your application. Usually, August 1st is the day when students are allowed to start their applications, but you don't get any extra points for being too early. A lot can happen during summer, so living all the experiences before writing about them is the way to go.

When writing an essay, certain things like punctuation, conciseness, and grammar are fundamental. In parallel, writing more doesn't always mean writing better. Tune in to learn more!

Key Highlights

• Grammar is important when working on your application.
• Be honest and genuine with your answers.
• Be conscious about the strategy you want to follow.
• Don't forget: the university wants to know more about you.
• More is not your friend: be concise and original.
• You don't get extra points for being too early, so take your time.

About Thomas

Thomas is a parent and alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania. After earning his MBA at the Wharton School in 2003, he moved to Silicon Valley. For three years, he was director of admissions and financial aid at Wharton School. He worked closely with admissions professionals, students, alumni, and professors to create the best possible MBA class.

Thomas has been an entrepreneur his entire life in the fields of finance, agriculture, wellness, and sporting goods. As the founder of Global Education Opportunities, he works with diverse and underserved communities to help them become successful college students. Thomas started the podcast Admittedly because he is passionate about demystifying the application process for parents and applicants.

Follow Admittedly on social media

TikTok: @admittedlypodcast

Instagram: @admittedlypodcast

In this mini-series, Thomas talks about the top things to do as a junior student applying to college. It is an important time because the students start to feel that their time is coming, and several questions are now coming to mind.

Although it is normal to be confused and overwhelmed, it is also important to take a moment and start to organize things. For example, making a list of schools the student wants to apply to, visiting these same schools, gathering recommendations, and researching are all great things to focus on during this time.

It is also valuable to take advantage of the summer break. It is perfectly ok to want to relax, travel, or spend time with family and friends, but now is also the time to start preparing for the future ahead.

Key Highlights

• Learn what you need to do between now and the fall.
• How are you presenting yourself to the university?
• Recommendations are fundamental during this time.
• It's helpful to have a list of desired schools.
• Get to know the university if you pay a visit.
• Important aspects to consider during this time are your grades and leadership skills.
• Take advantage of summertime to organize things.

About Thomas

Thomas is a parent and alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania. After earning his MBA at the Wharton School in 2003, he moved to Silicon Valley. For three years, he was director of admissions and financial aid at Wharton School. He worked closely with admissions professionals, students, alumni, and professors to create the best possible MBA class.

Thomas has been an entrepreneur his entire life in the fields of finance, agriculture, wellness, and sporting goods. As the founder of Global Education Opportunities, he works with diverse and underserved communities to help them become successful college students. Thomas started the podcast Admittedly because he is passionate about demystifying the application process for parents and applicants.

Follow Admittedly on social media

TikTok: @admittedlypodcast

Instagram: @admittedlypodcast

MBA is the perfect program for students looking to accelerate their careers and strengthen their skills. These programs are designed to help young students succeed in any business area.

In this episode, Thomas highlights the best strategy for college students to begin an MBA program. First and foremost, it is helpful to look up all the options and all the different courses that universities have to offer. From there, to apply to a program, it is also fundamental to understand the DNA of the program.

Other questions to think about when applying for an MBA are:

• What are my goals?
• Why is now the right moment to do it?

These are questions that most likely the university will also ask. Tune in to learn more!

Key Highlights

• Learn everything about the matriculation of MBA programs.
• Usually, April is the end of the admission cycle.
• Look up the programs and all the options from all universities.
• Things to consider when applying: why is now the right time?
• What do you hope to achieve with an MBA degree?
• In order to be accepted, it's important to understand the DNA of the program.
• MBA programs teach a variety of skills, including networking and leadership.

About Thomas

Thomas is a parent and alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania. After earning his MBA at the Wharton School in 2003, he moved to Silicon Valley. For three years, he was director of admissions and financial aid at Wharton School. He worked closely with admissions professionals, students, alumni, and professors to create the best possible MBA class.

Thomas has been an entrepreneur his entire life in the fields of finance, agriculture, wellness, and sporting goods. As the founder of Global Education Opportunities, he works with diverse and underserved communities to help them become successful college students. Thomas started the podcast Admittedly because he is passionate about demystifying the application process for parents and applicants.

Follow Admittedly on social media

TikTok: @admittedlypodcast

Instagram: @admittedlypodcast

If you don't know ChatGPT, it's a new technology that can - among other things - create well-written texts for many purposes. An admission essay would not be different. But what are the positive and negative points of using such technology?

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas gives his perspective on this topic, highlighting the risks of relying on ChatGPT to write the most flawless essay. One of the most important things in an admission essay is recognizing the writer's personality in the words. Automated technology will create a perfect but impersonal essay.

However, ChatGPT can be helpful when it comes to generating ideas and being an inspiration. Thomas gives you tips to utilize this new tool the right way.

Key Highlights

• Learn whether or not you can and should use ChatGPT.
• Tips on the efficiency and legality of this new technology.
• ChatGPT can be very insightful and good at generating ideas.
• The personality of the writer needs to come through the essay.
• Why outsource your effort to write the perfect essay?

About Thomas

Thomas is a parent and alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania. After earning his MBA at the Wharton School in 2003, he moved to Silicon Valley. For three years, he was director of admissions and financial aid at Wharton School. He worked closely with admissions professionals, students, alumni, and professors to create the best possible MBA class.

Thomas has been an entrepreneur his entire life in the fields of finance, agriculture, wellness, and sporting goods. As the founder of Global Education Opportunities, he works with diverse and underserved communities to help them become successful college students. Thomas started the podcast Admittedly because he is passionate about demystifying the application process for parents and applicants.

Follow Admittedly on social media

TikTok: @admittedlypodcast

Instagram: @admittedlypodcast

In this episode of Admittedly Podcast, Thomas breaks down the different types of financial aid students can get. Although it's an important topic, it's also highly individual; every situation needs to be analyzed separately.

Thomas explains that there are two main types of financial aid: merit-based and need-based. Need-based scholarship involves a form called FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). This form will ask questions that may or may not grant the student financial aid for college or graduate school.

Whether or not the student applies for scholarships, it's essential to analyze the whole scenario, put together information from all the possible scholarships, and make the decision consciously.

Key Highlights

• It's a very individual topic.
• There are two main types of financial aid: merit-based and need-based.
• Before making a decision, be aware of the investment in the long term.
• Analyze if the investment is worth it.
• There are services that can help you find scholarships.
• There are ways to pay the college back .
• It's important to put together a sheet with all the possible scholarships.
• At the end of the process, examine what the best scenario is.

About Thomas

Thomas is a parent and alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania. After earning his MBA at the Wharton School in 2003, he moved to Silicon Valley. For three years, he was director of admissions and financial aid at Wharton School. He worked closely with admissions professionals, students, alumni, and professors to create the best possible MBA class.

Thomas has been an entrepreneur his entire life in the fields of finance, agriculture, wellness, and sporting goods. As the founder of Global Education Opportunities, he works with diverse and underserved communities to help them become successful college students. Thomas started the podcast Admittedly because he is passionate about demystifying the application process for parents and applicants.

Follow Admittedly on social media

TikTok: @admittedlypodcast

Instagram: @admittedlypodcast

Being honest and truthful in your application is the first step to take when trying to get into the college of your dreams. It's common to try and make ourselves look good in the application, but there is a fine line between trying to look good and lying.

In this episode, Thomas shares some tips about this topic, citing the Varsity Blues Scandal - one of the most significant cases of this nature ever investigated.

It's crucial to understand this process: admissions based on merit are a priority for schools, and any misinformation provided in the application can result in the revoking of the admission at any time.

Key Highlights

• The Varsity Blues Scandal was classified as a conspiracy.
• People involved in this fraud took advantage of loopholes in the admission process.
• You can't control or prevent anyone from cheating.
• There is a fine line between lying and making yourself look good.
• All claims and statements need to match reality.
• Schools can and sometimes will revoke the admission if any misstatement arises.

About Thomas

Thomas is a parent and alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania. After earning his MBA at the Wharton School in 2003, he moved to Silicon Valley. For three years, he was director of admissions and financial aid at Wharton School. He worked closely with admissions professionals, students, alumni, and professors to create the best possible MBA class.

Thomas has been an entrepreneur his entire life in the fields of finance, agriculture, wellness, and sporting goods. As the founder of Global Education Opportunities, he works with diverse and underserved communities to help them become successful college students. Thomas started the podcast Admittedly because he is passionate about demystifying the application process for parents and applicants.

Follow Admittedly on social media

TikTok: @admittedlypodcast

Instagram: @admittedlypodcast

Ivy Day is when all the Ivy League schools release their admissions decisions. It's an important day for students, but also a very stressful one. After all, it's the day when the student sees the result of 4 years of hard work, and it can be positive or negative. Whatever the results are, it's time to be smart and strategic.

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas shares his thoughts on the next steps after receiving a college admission decision.

If the results are positive, it's time to celebrate while being sensitive about your colleagues. If the result is not what you wanted, there are things you can do to minimize the loss, process the pain, and prepare for the future. In the end, it's not about being competitive; it's about finding the right place for you.

Key Highlights

• What are the next steps after receiving your college admission decision?
• There are three possible outcomes: positive, negative, or waitlist.
• Don't take it personally.
• Be sensitive about the results involving your colleagues.
• Evaluate your next steps with strategy.
• You might want to take some time and be involved in your local school's activities.
• A "gap year" can be taken during this time to travel, work, research, or volunteer.

About Thomas

Thomas is a parent and alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania. After earning his MBA at the Wharton School in 2003, he moved to Silicon Valley. For three years, he was director of admissions and financial aid at Wharton School. He worked closely with admissions professionals, students, alumni, and professors to create the best possible MBA class.

Thomas has been an entrepreneur his entire life in the fields of finance, agriculture, wellness, and sporting goods. As the founder of Global Education Opportunities, he works with diverse and underserved communities to help them become successful college students. Thomas started the podcast Admittedly because he is passionate about demystifying the application process for parents and applicants.

Follow Admittedly on social media

TikTok: @admittedlypodcast

Instagram: @admittedlypodcast

In this episode of Admittedly Podcast, Thomas connects with Dr. Lauren Rubin. Dr. Rubin has over twenty years of experience teaching test prep and essay writing to students of all ages.

In today's show, Dr. Rubin talks about the important writing components of an essay and how to organize the ideas on the paper. One of the key steps to making a great essay is to first read the material with attention and fully understand the concept of what was read. After that, the next step should be using evidence to prove your point and structure all the facts and sources.

Even before this step, it's also important for the student to have feedback on their previous essays in order to improve their skills.

Key Highlights

• Learn the writing aspects of a great essay.
• To keep sharpening writing skills is crucial to practice.
• The student needs to have guidance throughout the practice.
• The student also needs to understand what is being asked of them.
• The process of writing needs to take into account the character limits.
• It's important to revise what was written in the first drafts.

About Thomas

Thomas is a parent and alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania. After earning his MBA at the Wharton School in 2003, he moved to Silicon Valley. For three years, he was director of admissions and financial aid at Wharton School. He worked closely with admissions professionals, students, alumni, and professors to create the best possible MBA class.

Thomas has been an entrepreneur his entire life in the fields of finance, agriculture, wellness, and sporting goods. As the founder of Global Education Opportunities, he works with diverse and underserved communities to help them become successful college students. Thomas started the podcast Admittedly because he is passionate about demystifying the application process for parents and applicants.

Related Links

Dr. Lauren Rubin's website: www.centerforscholasticsuccess.com

Download Free Writing Guide: www.thomascaleel.com/free-guide

Follow Admittedly on Social Media

TikTok: @admittedlypodcast

Instagram: @admittedlypodcast

In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas connects with Dr. Lauren Rubin. Dr. Rubin has over twenty years of experience teaching test prep and essay writing to students of all ages.

In today's show, she shares several tips and strategies for standardized tests. For the student to reach their greatest potential, it's important to take the proper test and the one whose particularities the student has more ability with.

Dr. Rubin also highlights the differences between SAT and ACT, the importance of reading and writing, and how often the student needs to study for the tests to succeed.

Key Highlights

• Reading is crucial to succeeding on tests.
• Students should start to study for the tests in their junior year.
• Sometimes quality is more important than quantity when it comes to studying.
• Learn the differences between SAT and ACT.
• Tips for international students (writing and grammar).
• Reading well and writing well are connected.

About Thomas

Thomas is a parent and alumnus of the University of Pennsylvania. After earning his MBA at the Wharton School in 2003, he moved to Silicon Valley. For three years, he was director of admissions and financial aid at Wharton School. He worked closely with admissions professionals, students, alumni, and professors to create the best possible MBA class.

Thomas has been an entrepreneur his entire life in the fields of finance, agriculture, wellness, and sporting goods. As the founder of Global Education Opportunities, he works with diverse and underserved communities to help them become successful college students. Thomas started the podcast Admittedly because he is passionate about demystifying the application process for parents and applicants.

Related Links

Dr. Lauren Rubin's website: www.centerforscholasticsuccess.com

Download Free Writing Guide: www.thomascaleel.com/free-guide

Follow Admittedly on Social Media

TikTok: @admittedlypodcast

Instagram: @admittedlypodcast