Destination YOUniversity

Meet Matteo!

Best Selling Author. TEDx Speaker. College Admission Expert. Football Enthusiast.

Dr. Cynthia Colón is the Amazon Best Selling author of Be Committed! Get Admitted., and the Spanish version, Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión! She is the national host of Destination YOUniversity podcast and founder of College Essay Bootcamp and Dream College Academy. “Cyndie” grew up with 14 Tíos and Tías with advice on everything except how to get admitted to college. Cynthia's immigrant mother had the courage to ask for help and changed the trajectory of her life. Because of Lydia (Mom), Cynthia is an alumna of USC, Columbia University, and UCLA. Dr. Colón is on a mission to help more public school students get private school service to access top 100 colleges. Dr. Colón delivered her first TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair,” in Los Angeles in 2023. She  has been featured on KTLA, ABC, NBC, FOX 5, KCAL, WGN, WPIX.

Be Committed. Get Admitted!: 7 Steps to College Admission Success

Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión!

FREE Download: How Admission Officers Choose Who To Admit Or Reject

Book a Free Mini Strategy Call

Download your FREE 10 Sample Essays 

Purchase 40+ Winning Essays To Top 100 Colleges

Register for Dream College Academy (9th - 11th)

Register for College Essay Bootcamp (11th - 12th)

Visit our website

TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair”

Follow On: 

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn 

Pinterest

Essay Camp Dates 2024:

JUNE: 17 and 24 

JULY: 15, 22, 29

AUGUST: 5, 12, 19

#drcynthiacolon #author #tedxspeaker #collegeadmissionexpert #dreamcollegeacademy #collegeessaybootcamp #essaycamp #becommittedgetadmitted #highschoolparents #highschoolstudents #collegecounselor #collegedreams #top100colleges #publicschoolstudentsprivateschoolservice #destinationYOUniversity #collegecounselor #collegeadmissions

What’s the deal with all of those essays?!

Is your teen at a loss for what to write about? Are they feeling overwhelmed by having to decide what are THE most important parts of their life?

If your teen is overwhelmed with even thinking about the essay portion of their college applications, you should grab them and together, give a listen to this podcast!  In it, I  will share the ONE exercise I typically ONLY give to my students. This method has been teen-proofed and battle tested for over 15 years, and I can still remember perfecting and perfecting it. 

Rising seniors: 

If you are feeling stuck – give the podcast linked below  a listen – I’ll break down what you need to know and give you MY ONE brainstorm exercise that gets all my essay campers UNSTUCK within our first hour of class. I cannot wait to share this with you. 

Listen, every teenager has plenty to write about,  but not every topic has equal value. The trick is to figure out what you ABSOLUTELY must get across to an Admission Officer that spends from 8 – 15 minutes on your file. 

Are you ready to give your teen the help they need and deserve?

Best Selling Author. TEDx Speaker. College Admission Expert. Football Enthusiast.

Dr. Cynthia Colón is the Amazon Best Selling author of Be Committed! Get Admitted., and the Spanish version, Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión! She is the national host of Destination YOUniversity podcast and founder of College Essay Bootcamp and Dream College Academy. “Cyndie” grew up with 14 Tíos and Tías with advice on everything except how to get admitted to college. Cynthia's immigrant mother had the courage to ask for help and changed the trajectory of her life. Because of Lydia (Mom), Cynthia is an alumna of USC, Columbia University, and UCLA. Dr. Colón is on a mission to help more public school students get private school service to access top 100 colleges. Dr. Colón delivered her first TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair,” in Los Angeles in 2023. She  has been featured on KTLA, ABC, NBC, FOX 5, KCAL, WGN, WPIX.

Be Committed. Get Admitted!: 7 Steps to College Admission Success

Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión!

FREE Download: How Admission Officers Choose Who To Admit Or Reject

Book a Free Mini Strategy Call

Download your FREE 10 Sample Essays 

Purchase 40+ Winning Essays To Top 100 Colleges

Register for Dream College Academy (9th - 11th)

Register for College Essay Bootcamp (11th - 12th)

Visit our website

TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair”

Follow On: 

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn 

Pinterest

Essay Camp Dates 2024:

JUNE: 17 and 24 

JULY: 15, 22, 29

AUGUST: 5, 12, 19

#drcynthiacolon #author #tedxspeaker #collegeadmissionexpert #dreamcollegeacademy #collegeessaybootcamp #essaycamp #becommittedgetadmitted #highschoolparents #highschoolstudents #collegecounselor #collegedreams #top100colleges #publicschoolstudentsprivateschoolservice #destinationYOUniversity #collegecounselor #collegeadmissions

How your teen can beef up their resume!

There are more colleges than there are shopping malls, Apple stores, and national parks, combined. With over 4000 colleges and universities, I can promise you that your teen WILL get into college. The average acceptance rate at colleges across the country is over 60%. 

Becoming appropriately involved in activities will help you in your admissions journey.  Every college-bound teen should be active in something at school and/or possibly outside of school. 

For example if a student belongs to a few clubs, organizations, athletics or  performing arts, and shows real commitment to those few, this will help boost the application.  

Not sure what this looks like? 

Choose 1-2 main activities that take up 3-10 hours per week in their high season. For example, service organization on campus, MUN, Robotics, school musical, a sport, Math or Writing Tutors, student government.

Then, if you combine that with 2-4 clubs that you enjoy but likely don’t take more than 5 hours per month, such as Book Club, Art Club, Diversity Club, Compost Club, etc. and/or something outside of school like: Church, Youth & Government, Girl or Boy Scouts or something similar  -- You are good to go!! 

Click below to listen to my podcast about beefing up the resume if: 

Best Selling Author. TEDx Speaker. College Admission Expert. Football Enthusiast.

Dr. Cynthia Colón is the Amazon Best Selling author of Be Committed! Get Admitted., and the Spanish version, Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión! She is the national host of Destination YOUniversity podcast and founder of College Essay Bootcamp and Dream College Academy. “Cyndie” grew up with 14 Tíos and Tías with advice on everything except how to get admitted to college. Cynthia's immigrant mother had the courage to ask for help and changed the trajectory of her life. Because of Lydia (Mom), Cynthia is an alumna of USC, Columbia University, and UCLA. Dr. Colón is on a mission to help more public school students get private school service to access top 100 colleges. Dr. Colón delivered her first TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair,” in Los Angeles in 2023. She  has been featured on KTLA, ABC, NBC, FOX 5, KCAL, WGN, WPIX.

Be Committed. Get Admitted!: 7 Steps to College Admission Success

Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión!

FREE Download: How Admission Officers Choose Who To Admit Or Reject

Book a Free Mini Strategy Call

Download your FREE 10 Sample Essays 

Purchase 40+ Winning Essays To Top 100 Colleges

Register for Dream College Academy (9th - 11th)

Register for College Essay Bootcamp (11th - 12th)

Visit our website

TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair”

Follow On: 

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn 

Pinterest

Essay Camp Dates 2024:

JUNE: 17 and 24 

JULY: 15, 22, 29

AUGUST: 5, 12, 19

#drcynthiacolon #author #tedxspeaker #collegeadmissionexpert #dreamcollegeacademy #collegeessaybootcamp #essaycamp #becommittedgetadmitted #highschoolparents #highschoolstudents #collegecounselor #collegedreams #top100colleges #publicschoolstudentsprivateschoolservice #destinationYOUniversity #collegecounselor #collegeadmissions

Create a list that WORKS for you!

When April of her senior year rolled around, Saige  was only admitted to ONE college. One. She was denied at 14 schools. This story still haunts me to this day. From that day forward I never wanted that crushing rejection to hit another kid as hard as it did for Saige. 

Saige was a solid B student, a few AP courses, average test scores, and a good list of activities. A kid like Saige would have access to any number of colleges across the country, just not the highly selective ones. She was a good writer – but short of having a first novel published, good writing was not going to get her foot in the door of the most selective colleges in the country. And that’s what Saige believed was in her future. I knew it was not. 

When Saige came to my office to finalize her list, a list filled with elite private schools and the top two CA public schools, I knew I had my work cut out for me. We sat for an hour negotiating which schools she should apply to. Like two 4th graders negotiating trades from our  Halloween hauls,  we went back and forth, as I tried to get some appropriate, ‘Target’ schools on her list filled with nothing by pie-in-the-sky ‘Reach’ schools.

That spring, Saige had only ONE college that said YES. Only one.

I learned a tough lesson years ago. The only goal of the college admission process is to maximize each teen’s choices. PERIOD. Parents and teens must let go of their egos and dream adequately, hope appropriately, and remain realistic about a process that sometimes feels unfair and harsh.

Sometimes I have to offer tough love to students like Saige. But, I know that in the end, a student with lots of choices in the spring is a happier student than the one with unrealistic dreams and the probable stack of rejection letters.

Best Selling Author. TEDx Speaker. College Admission Expert. Football Enthusiast.

Dr. Cynthia Colón is the Amazon Best Selling author of Be Committed! Get Admitted., and the Spanish version, Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión! She is the national host of Destination YOUniversity podcast and founder of College Essay Bootcamp and Dream College Academy. “Cyndie” grew up with 14 Tíos and Tías with advice on everything except how to get admitted to college. Cynthia's immigrant mother had the courage to ask for help and changed the trajectory of her life. Because of Lydia (Mom), Cynthia is an alumna of USC, Columbia University, and UCLA. Dr. Colón is on a mission to help more public school students get private school service to access top 100 colleges. Dr. Colón delivered her first TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair,” in Los Angeles in 2023. She  has been featured on KTLA, ABC, NBC, FOX 5, KCAL, WGN, WPIX.

Be Committed. Get Admitted!: 7 Steps to College Admission Success

Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión!

FREE Download: How Admission Officers Choose Who To Admit Or Reject

Book a Free Mini Strategy Call

Download your FREE 10 Sample Essays 

Purchase 40+ Winning Essays To Top 100 Colleges

Register for Dream College Academy (9th - 11th)

Register for College Essay Bootcamp (11th - 12th)

Visit our website

TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair”

Follow On: 

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn 

Pinterest

Essay Camp Dates 2024:

JUNE: 17 and 24 

JULY: 15, 22, 29

AUGUST: 5, 12, 19

#drcynthiacolon #author #tedxspeaker #collegeadmissionexpert #dreamcollegeacademy #collegeessaybootcamp #essaycamp #becommittedgetadmitted #highschoolparents #highschoolstudents #collegecounselor #collegedreams #top100colleges #publicschoolstudentsprivateschoolservice #destinationYOUniversity #collegecounselor #collegeadmissions

I had come to the conclusion that he had only a few topics to write about; one included his community service trip. I made the mistake of sharing this with his parents and when we spoke on the phone, the father said “…but I recently listened to a podcast and the guest said she might die if she read another essay about building homes in Costa Rica.”  

I remember having that feeling as an Admissions rep at Vassar. 

I said this young man’s parents, “Believe me, I completely agree 1000%. But his essay is NOT going to be about what he did – but rather WHY he did it. 

The difference between WHAT and WHY, and why it matters.

Importance of the Essay

The Reality: Which colleges you apply to will be determined by your Academic Qualities (AQs): grades, test scores, and rigor of curriculum. And, while your hard work has earned you the right to apply to selective, and in some cases, highly selective institutions, everyone else in that same applicant pool has the same AQs. Your academic accomplishments are NOT what will get you admitted. 

What will? The Personal Qualities (PQs) revealed in your essays. 

Limited Space: In a college application you have up to five essays to unwrap short stories about YOU. The opportunity to shed light on who you are, where you come from, and what you value comes with only 600 words – 1600 words. That’s it. 

The GOAL Of The Essay: The goal is simple: get the reader to want to learn more about YOU. Period. The way to do that is to create essays that are interesting, engaging, and compelling. Believe me, the WHAT will always be less engaging than the WHY.

The Essay Can Maximize or Minimize Your College Choices: Each year College Admission Officers read thousands of applications from thousands of high schools. It is no wonder that they all begin to look and sound the same. The role of the essay, when done well, is to maximize your college options. Each of your essays is an opportunity to convince the reader to advocate for you and ultimately admit you. 

There are No Do-Overs in this process. 

When it comes to the college essay, it is critical to get it right the first time.

Best Selling Author. TEDx Speaker. College Admission Expert. Football Enthusiast.

Dr. Cynthia Colón is the Amazon Best Selling author of Be Committed! Get Admitted., and the Spanish version, Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión! She is the national host of Destination YOUniversity podcast and founder of College Essay Bootcamp and Dream College Academy. “Cyndie” grew up with 14 Tíos and Tías with advice on everything except how to get admitted to college. Cynthia's immigrant mother had the courage to ask for help and changed the trajectory of her life. Because of Lydia (Mom), Cynthia is an alumna of USC, Columbia University, and UCLA. Dr. Colón is on a mission to help more public school students get private school service to access top 100 colleges. Dr. Colón delivered her first TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair,” in Los Angeles in 2023. She  has been featured on KTLA, ABC, NBC, FOX 5, KCAL, WGN, WPIX.

Be Committed. Get Admitted!: 7 Steps to College Admission Success

Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión!

FREE Download: How Admission Officers Choose Who To Admit Or Reject

Book a Free Mini Strategy Call

Download your FREE 10 Sample Essays 

Purchase 40+ Winning Essays To Top 100 Colleges

Register for Dream College Academy (9th - 11th)

Register for College Essay Bootcamp (11th - 12th)

Visit our website

TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair”

Follow On: 

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn 

Pinterest

Essay Camp Dates 2024:

JUNE: 17 and 24 

JULY: 15, 22, 29

AUGUST: 5, 12, 19

#drcynthiacolon #author #tedxspeaker #collegeadmissionexpert #dreamcollegeacademy #collegeessaybootcamp #essaycamp #becommittedgetadmitted #highschoolparents #highschoolstudents #collegecounselor #collegedreams #top100colleges #publicschoolstudentsprivateschoolservice #destinationYOUniversity #collegecounselor #collegeadmissions

Ever feel like every morning is a Chinese fire drill. Your kids test your patience in moving as slowly as possible to get ready and get out of the house on time. Carpool, drop-offs, and, oh, and did we eat breakfast? Do you have your homework? Athletic equipment? Who’s picking you up? What time are you done with rehearsal, practice, tutoring? 

You’ve moved mountains all before 7:30am. Exhaustion sets in about 9am. 

Now, I want you to picture the night before college applications are due. Trust me, you do NOT want to be running around like a Chinese fire drill wondering if your teenager will actually make the deadline. You pacing the floor while your kid is still looking up the awards won in sophomore year! Ugh. That is not what I want for you. 

Parents, I don’t want you to get to November and feel rushed, feel like a nagging parent, and find yourself and your teen hitting send at 11:50pm just before the final deadline. 

No. Nope. Not on my watch. 

In today’s podcast episode:

You Will Learn: The Importance of Having a 4-Year College Admission Plan 

You Will Leave With: What To Do Prior To Senior Year and how to prepare if you’re just getting started

Best Selling Author. TEDx Speaker. College Admission Expert. Football Enthusiast.

Dr. Cynthia Colón is the Amazon Best Selling author of Be Committed! Get Admitted., and the Spanish version, Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión! She is the national host of Destination YOUniversity podcast and founder of College Essay Bootcamp and Dream College Academy. “Cyndie” grew up with 14 Tíos and Tías with advice on everything except how to get admitted to college. Cynthia's immigrant mother had the courage to ask for help and changed the trajectory of her life. Because of Lydia (Mom), Cynthia is an alumna of USC, Columbia University, and UCLA. Dr. Colón is on a mission to help more public school students get private school service to access top 100 colleges. Dr. Colón delivered her first TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair,” in Los Angeles in 2023. She  has been featured on KTLA, ABC, NBC, FOX 5, KCAL, WGN, WPIX.

Be Committed. Get Admitted!: 7 Steps to College Admission Success

Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión!

FREE Download: How Admission Officers Choose Who To Admit Or Reject

Book a Free Mini Strategy Call

Download your FREE 10 Sample Essays 

Purchase 40+ Winning Essays To Top 100 Colleges

Register for Dream College Academy (9th - 11th)

Register for College Essay Bootcamp (11th - 12th)

Visit our website

TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair”

Follow On: 

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn 

Pinterest

Essay Camp Dates 2024:

JUNE: 17 and 24 

JULY: 15, 22, 29

AUGUST: 5, 12, 19

#drcynthiacolon #author #tedxspeaker #collegeadmissionexpert #dreamcollegeacademy #collegeessaybootcamp #essaycamp #becommittedgetadmitted #highschoolparents #highschoolstudents #collegecounselor #collegedreams #top100colleges #publicschoolstudentsprivateschoolservice #destinationYOUniversity #collegecounselor #collegeadmissions

Located in Pittsburgh, PA, Carnegie Mellon is a medium size institution home to about 7300 undergraduate students. In 2022, CMU accepted about 11 % of the applicant pool. 

The best way to learn about Carnegie Mellon is to tell the TALES of its founders:

Born in 1835 in Scotland, Andrew Carnegie immigrated to the US in 1848. According to Wikipedia - by the 1860s Carnegie had investments in railroads, railroad sleeping cars, bridges and oil derricks. He built Carnegie Steel Company which he later sold to JP Morgan in 1901 for 480 million dollars. With this sale, Andrew Carnegie surpassed Rockefeller as the richest man in America. He spent the remainder of his life as a philanthropist – and built  Carnegie Hall, Carnegie Institution for Science, Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, and of course, Carnegie Mellon University, first formed as Carnegie Institute of Technology. 

Richard B. Mellon assumed the presidency of Mellon bank, after his brother, Andrew Mellon was appointed Treasury Secretary. Richard’s prior experience included President of Pittsburgh Reduction Company and he was invested in the city’s Coal Company. Richard and his brother Andrew made several large donations to their alma mater, University of Pittsburgh, including a large sum to create the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research, founded in 1913.

In 1967 the Carnegie Institute of Technology and Mellon Institute of Industrial Research merged to form Carnegie Mellon University.  

Given the backgrounds of the two men, it is no wonder that the College of Engineering is consistently ranked in the top 10 in the US and US News and World Report has the Tepper School of Business ranked as #6 this year. If you are looking for top engineering and/or business programs, CMU offers a quality education and a rich city in which to take what you learn in the classroom and apply it in a work experience. 

There are TWO more cool things about CMU:

First, the campus is covered in red circles that line the sidewalk at CMU. Like golden stars on Hollywood Blvd, Carnegie Mellon proudly boasts :

114 Emmy Award Winners, 43 Tony Award laureates, 9 Academy Award Winners

Please NOTE: You MUST audition for the School of Drama and School of Music – your admission to the college 80% audition and 20% academic. 

Second, they have an annual spring carnival. Students build incredibly colorful, innovative, and imaginative booths and super fun competitions that only the creative minds CMU students could create.  The best part of this tradition is that school shuts down for three full days so everyone can enjoy the fun.  This tells me that the college understands that college is not just about academics, but rather it is also about fun and memory making. When a college recognizes that students are rejuvenated by innovation, creation, imagination, and relaxation – they are better equipped to push through the home stretch of the school year.

Best Selling Author. TEDx Speaker. College Admission Expert. Football Enthusiast.

Dr. Cynthia Colón is the Amazon Best Selling author of Be Committed! Get Admitted., and the Spanish version, Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión! She is the national host of Destination YOUniversity podcast and founder of College Essay Bootcamp and Dream College Academy. “Cyndie” grew up with 14 Tíos and Tías with advice on everything except how to get admitted to college. Cynthia's immigrant mother had the courage to ask for help and changed the trajectory of her life. Because of Lydia (Mom), Cynthia is an alumna of USC, Columbia University, and UCLA. Dr. Colón is on a mission to help more public school students get private school service to access top 100 colleges. Dr. Colón delivered her first TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair,” in Los Angeles in 2023. She  has been featured on KTLA, ABC, NBC, FOX 5, KCAL, WGN, WPIX.

Be Committed. Get Admitted!: 7 Steps to College Admission Success

Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión!

FREE Download: How Admission Officers Choose Who To Admit Or Reject

Book a Free Mini Strategy Call

Download your FREE 10 Sample Essays 

Purchase 40+ Winning Essays To Top 100 Colleges

Register for Dream College Academy (9th - 11th)

Register for College Essay Bootcamp (11th - 12th)

Visit our website

TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair”

Follow On: 

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn 

Pinterest

Essay Camp Dates 2024:

JUNE: 17 and 24 

JULY: 15, 22, 29

AUGUST: 5, 12, 19

#drcynthiacolon #author #tedxspeaker #collegeadmissionexpert #dreamcollegeacademy #collegeessaybootcamp #essaycamp #becommittedgetadmitted #highschoolparents #highschoolstudents #collegecounselor #collegedreams #top100colleges #publicschoolstudentsprivateschoolservice #destinationYOUniversity #collegecounselor #collegeadmissions

A private college that grows heart and mind.

I am a product of a large university. I am proud of my USC experience, but honestly,  there is nothing quite as comforting as a small school. You feel the difference almost immediately. Upon my arrival in the Admission office – I was greeted, given a packet and invited to refreshments in a cozy waiting room.  I drank my water on the blue couch in front of a fireplace and waited to be escorted down the hallway to a room that was once the inside of a chapel with stone colored brick and vibrant stained-glass windows.  

Founded in 1861, Xavier is the 6th oldest Catholic college in the US and located in Cincinnati, OH.  It is home to just over 4000 Musketeers 

What does it mean to be a Jesuit Institution?  It means they are committed to a well rounded to liberal arts education and social justice.

Here are three things to note about Xavier University:

First:  Sticking with the warm, welcoming, comfortable feel of a small school – the Xavier community can be best summed up by describing Freshman Orientation – known to Musketeers as “MAN-REE-SA” 

Imagine your first day of college – you drive up with your parents with a car full of boxes and you are scared to death and your parents are trying to hold it together. 

When all of a sudden – neon t-shirts descend onto your car as you pull up – and a small village of upperclassmen unload your boxes and personally deliver them to your room!! 

Shortly thereafter – you say good-bye to that empty car load now only filled with love -  and YOU  spend the next 72 hours enmeshed with your MAN – REE- SA group – and begin discovering new friends that just might be your friends for life. 

I cannot imagine a better way to be greeted on the first day of college. 

Second: there are a few programs that will require an additional application and/or process for admission. I want to point out two: 

Radiologic Technology – 2 year and 4 year program 

Nursing – 

Finally: Xavier basketball:  This is big time DI basketball. The “cross town shootout” is an annual big game against out of conference rival, University of Cincinnati.

Students camp out – outside of the Cintas Center waiting to be let in. The Head Coach has been known to come bearing gifts of pizza and the like. 

Don’t overlook what you might call “small schools” – a college that can grow your heart and your mind – is worth investigating!

Best Selling Author. TEDx Speaker. College Admission Expert. Football Enthusiast.

Dr. Cynthia Colón is the Amazon Best Selling author of Be Committed! Get Admitted., and the Spanish version, Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión! She is the national host of Destination YOUniversity podcast and founder of College Essay Bootcamp and Dream College Academy. “Cyndie” grew up with 14 Tíos and Tías with advice on everything except how to get admitted to college. Cynthia's immigrant mother had the courage to ask for help and changed the trajectory of her life. Because of Lydia (Mom), Cynthia is an alumna of USC, Columbia University, and UCLA. Dr. Colón is on a mission to help more public school students get private school service to access top 100 colleges. Dr. Colón delivered her first TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair,” in Los Angeles in 2023. She  has been featured on KTLA, ABC, NBC, FOX 5, KCAL, WGN, WPIX.

Be Committed. Get Admitted!: 7 Steps to College Admission Success

Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión!

FREE Download: How Admission Officers Choose Who To Admit Or Reject

Book a Free Mini Strategy Call

Download your FREE 10 Sample Essays 

Purchase 40+ Winning Essays To Top 100 Colleges

Register for Dream College Academy (9th - 11th)

Register for College Essay Bootcamp (11th - 12th)

Visit our website

TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair”

Follow On: 

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn 

Pinterest

Essay Camp Dates 2024:

JUNE: 17 and 24 

JULY: 15, 22, 29

AUGUST: 5, 12, 19

#drcynthiacolon #author #tedxspeaker #collegeadmissionexpert #dreamcollegeacademy #collegeessaybootcamp #essaycamp #becommittedgetadmitted #highschoolparents #highschoolstudents #collegecounselor #collegedreams #top100colleges #publicschoolstudentsprivateschoolservice #destinationYOUniversity #collegecounselor #collegeadmissions

I have been to a Michigan football game and there is honestly nothing like it. My heart is with the Trojans – but I admit – even having been there on a rainy day – “The Big HOUSE” is amazing. A sea of Maize and Blue - The cheers and coordinated waves literally shake the “big house.” The student section is packed with students. I took one look at the bleacher seating and thought “there is not enough room for all of us to sit.” Well -- Far be it from me to judge – I did not sit for even one minute. I would not want to be the opposing team in this house. But – enough about football – I want to give you some cool facts about Michigan that you might not know.

With more than 50 national championships in 12 spots – the Wolverines are a force to be reckoned with in Division 1 collegiate sports. With that said – what is worth writing down is this:

Michigan is not just all about football. There are a total of 16 acapella groups:

Amazin' Blue is the University of Michigan's oldest and only university-sponsored co-ed a cappella ensemble. Founded in 1987, AB has produced 15 studio albums, performed around the nation, and is the most decorated a cappella group at U of M. Their name is a pun on the University of Michigan's colors, maize and blue... get it?

You can watch Amazin Blue on YouTube – including their performance in the ICCA finals in New York City.

My very good friend, Sheetal, was a member of AB and she shared her favorite memory -

We would go to an outdoor spot called the Arcade and would do impromptu, casual performances for anyone that wanted to show up and listen. We were a popular group at the time, with consistently sold-out shows, so a random arcade sing was a treat for us, as well as for students passing by on the street. Loved this tradition!

The cool thing about the acapella groups is that it reminds me that – even in what can seem like an athletic dominated place -- there IS something for everyone. That – my friends – is the beauty of a LARGE university.

DO NOT LET YOUR preconceived notions about a school determine whether you visit or not – if you are already in the area or close enough – do it – take the leap and hear what they have to say and ask questions. It may not be for you –but you don’t want to miss out if in fact what the admission office offers the “Perfect Pitch.”

OK – let us end with the Admission Numbers

Best Selling Author. TEDx Speaker. College Admission Expert. Football Enthusiast.

Dr. Cynthia Colón is the Amazon Best Selling author of Be Committed! Get Admitted., and the Spanish version, Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión! She is the national host of Destination YOUniversity podcast and founder of College Essay Bootcamp and Dream College Academy. “Cyndie” grew up with 14 Tíos and Tías with advice on everything except how to get admitted to college. Cynthia's immigrant mother had the courage to ask for help and changed the trajectory of her life. Because of Lydia (Mom), Cynthia is an alumna of USC, Columbia University, and UCLA. Dr. Colón is on a mission to help more public school students get private school service to access top 100 colleges. Dr. Colón delivered her first TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair,” in Los Angeles in 2023. She  has been featured on KTLA, ABC, NBC, FOX 5, KCAL, WGN, WPIX.

Be Committed. Get Admitted!: 7 Steps to College Admission Success

Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión!

FREE Download: How Admission Officers Choose Who To Admit Or Reject

Book a Free Mini Strategy Call

Download your FREE 10 Sample Essays 

Purchase 40+ Winning Essays To Top 100 Colleges

Register for Dream College Academy (9th - 11th)

Register for College Essay Bootcamp (11th - 12th)

Visit our website

TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair”

Follow On: 

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn 

Pinterest

Essay Camp Dates 2024:

JUNE: 17 and 24 

JULY: 15, 22, 29

AUGUST: 5, 12, 19

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The University of Southern California

Faithful, Scholarly, Skillful, Courageous, Ambitious. 

When I think back to my experience as a Trojan,  I can only describe it as a feeling that I went to school with a bunch of superheroes. The bravado, confidence, and can-do spirit found in Trojans is equal to that of Wonder Woman, Superman, Batman, and Captain America. But it is the will and the desire to save the world,  or at least the small part of his or her world,  that is the real spirit of USC. The capes we wear, the causes we fight for, and the communities we serve make me proud to be a Trojan. 

With the idea of a superhero in mind, it is no surprise that USC’s  Norman Topping Student Aid Fund is the only student initiated, student funded, primarily student administered scholarship in the nation. Let me repeat – the ONLY student funded scholarship in the nation. 

According the NTSAF website and history – here is the tale:

After a 1970 protest about the homogeneity of the student body, a referendum established a system whereby every academic semester all students enrolled in more than one unit were assessed a nominal fee of $4.00. Ron McDuffie and Dan Smith, two USC undergraduate students came up with the idea to create a fund that would provide qualified low income students, particularly those from the communities surrounding USC, the opportunity to receive scholarship assistance.

To this date, the student self-assessed semester fee has increased to $8.00 which has allowed the NTSAF to contribute over $10 million in scholarships to USC students.  

If you are a first generation to college student and will apply to USC this is an additional scholarship you can consider. Google: USC Norman Topping Student Aid Fund.

USC ALUMNI CONTINUE AS SUPERHEROS IN THE REAL WORLD

Each year, thousands of Trojans gather across the globe to make a difference in their communities. The USC Alumni Day of Service is an opportunity for all alumni and friends to participate in local service volunteer projects organized by our USC alumni clubs, chapters and other affiliated groups worldwide. If you are a Trojan alumnus,  Google USC Day of Service to see how you can participate.

Best Selling Author. TEDx Speaker. College Admission Expert. Football Enthusiast.

Dr. Cynthia Colón is the Amazon Best Selling author of Be Committed! Get Admitted., and the Spanish version, Con Determinación. ¡Logra la admisión! She is the national host of Destination YOUniversity podcast and founder of College Essay Bootcamp and Dream College Academy. “Cyndie” grew up with 14 Tíos and Tías with advice on everything except how to get admitted to college. Cynthia's immigrant mother had the courage to ask for help and changed the trajectory of her life. Because of Lydia (Mom), Cynthia is an alumna of USC, Columbia University, and UCLA. Dr. Colón is on a mission to help more public school students get private school service to access top 100 colleges. Dr. Colón delivered her first TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair,” in Los Angeles in 2023. She  has been featured on KTLA, ABC, NBC, FOX 5, KCAL, WGN, WPIX.

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TEDx Talk, “College Admissions Is NOT Fair”

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Essay Camp Dates 2024:

JUNE: 17 and 24 

JULY: 15, 22, 29

AUGUST: 5, 12, 19

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