In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel takes on a recurring theme in his conversations with students and families: complacency. For those aiming at Ivy+ and other highly selective schools, “coasting” is a red flag.

Thomas unpacks why admissions officers notice when students take their foot off the gas, how drifting summers and watered-down academics hurt an application, and the difference between burnout, changing direction, and simply checking out. He also explains what top schools actually want to see: consistency, curiosity, and commitment to meaningful growth.

Key Takeaways:

• Why admissions officers notice when you take your foot off the gas

• How summers, academics, and extracurriculars reveal your engagement (or lack of it)

• How to prune activities, focus your time, and avoid becoming one-dimensional

• What Ivy League and highly selective schools really want to see in your application

You don’t need to do everything. But you can’t afford to coast.

Have questions or thoughts on this? Engage with us on Instagram and TikTok @admittedlyco — we want to hear your perspective on complacency and what keeps you motivated. For more support and resources, visit www.admittedly.co