What if your obsession with The Lord of the Rings could become your master’s… and maybe even your PhD? 📚✨

In this episode, Jason sits down with Catherine — AdmissionPrep’s lead essay editor, writing coach, and advisor — to unpack how she:

• Went from health science in Cégep to English literature at McGill

• Fought through COVID disruptions and a housing crisis to complete a master’s in Fantasy Literature at the University of Glasgow

• Turned a childhood love of Tolkien into serious academic research (including fan fiction and dwarves!)

• Dealt with “the void” of not knowing what to do after changing paths

• Learned to trust her gut, even with a practical-minded family voice in the background

If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I turn what I love into real research… and maybe a graduate degree?” this conversation will give you a ton of reassurance, ideas, and next steps.

Want someone like Catherine to help you tell your own story in applications? Learn more at admissionprep.com.

In this special episode of The Journey, host Jason Yee distills the top 10 insights from his recent student interviews - offering a candid look at what life is really like at North America’s most competitive universities.

From the “U of Tears” reputation at U of T to the entrepreneurial edge at Waterloo, the social heartbeat of Queen’s Engineering, and the hidden interdisciplinary gems like McMaster’s iBioMed, Jason connects the dots between student experiences, academic culture, and the evolving state of higher education.

You’ll hear stories of resilience, ambition, and self-awareness—from Ivy League admits and scholarship winners to students building startups in their dorm rooms. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or student plotting your own journey, this episode reveals what separates the good from the great—and how to navigate the modern admissions maze with clarity and confidence.

🎧 Highlights include:

• The myth vs. reality of “U of Tears”

• What makes Ivy admits meticulous

• How Waterloo became an “entrepreneur factory”

• The social DNA of Queen’s Engineering

• Western Ivey’s unique “dual-degree edge”

• Type 1 vs. Type 2 fun: how students frame hardship and growth

Would you double your university costs and move across the country if it meant a bigger future?
Matthew Tran did exactly that — leaving Vancouver for Queen’s Smith School of Business in Kingston. In this episode, he breaks down how he made Queen’s affordable (hello, scholarship stacking), why the club ecosystem + alumni network were game-changers, and how internships (including AdmissionPrep, Vancouver Canucks, and PepsiCo) led to a coveted full-time offer.

We also dig into Matthew’s high-school playbook: a 4.0 GPA, leadership-heavy extracurriculars (volleyball, band, student council, a homelessness awareness initiative), and his underrated strategy of contacting academic/career advisors before choosing a school.

If you’re weighing UBC/SFU vs. Queen’s - or just want a practical blueprint for turning university into ROI - this one’s for you.

Need guidance like Matthew had? Get a plan, scholarships, and application support at admissionprep.com.

Topics & Highlights

• 01:24 Breakfast of champions: more yogurt

• 02:50 Where Matthew is now - Marketing at PepsiCo (competitive return offer)

• 03:47 When career thinking started; early pull toward marketing

• 04:55 High-school activities: volleyball, band (tenor sax!), leadership, Hot Potato Initiative

• 08:54 GPA & the online-class “hacks” during COVID (4.0)

• 10:33 Work ethic: modeled by parents; using peers as motivation, not comparison

• 12:19 Starting uni prep; discovering scholarships; joining AdmissionPrep

• 13:41 Offers: UBC Sauder, SFU Beedie, Queen’s Commerce - why Queen’s won

• 16:32 Any regrets? None. Community, exchange (Singapore), and outcomes

• 17:34 What Queen’s does uniquely well (clubs, smaller classes, college-town density)

• 19:27 Alumni engine: recurring recruiter visits; open-door mentorship

• 22:14 Cost talk: scholarships, grants, TA, summer courses; making Smith affordable

• 26:01 Internship ladder to PepsiCo (including the Thailand interview saga)

• 33:55 Advice to 15–16-year-old Matthew: slow down and reach out early

We sit down with Victoria - a future lawyer, Terry Fox Humanitarian Scholar, and AdmissionPrep Advisor - to explore her incredible journey from moving to Canada in Grade 10 with a language barrier to graduating from high school with a 99% average.

Victoria shares how she built her community through service, earned one of Canada’s most competitive awards, and found her path to law school through reflection and self-discovery - including her year working in Tanzania with Global Affairs Canada.

We discuss the truth about U of T’s reputation (is it really that hard?), how to thrive as an ambitious student, and why taking a gap year might be the smartest move you can make.

🎧 Tune in to hear:

• How Victoria overcame challenges as a newcomer and became a national scholarship winner

• What it’s really like to study at U of T — the rigor, resources, and reality

• Insights on preparing for law school and finding your purpose along the way

💡 Whether you’re a student, parent, or educator, Victoria’s story is proof that resilience and curiosity are still the superpowers of the next generation.

👉 Learn more about how AdmissionPrep helps ambitious students like Victoria reach their goals at admissionprep.com

How does a varsity athlete become a founder?
In this episode, Jason Yee sits down with his co-founder (and wife) Madison to unpack her path from elite soccer to building a company that helps students launch their futures.

They dive into what UBC Sauder really teaches you, what it doesn’t, and how the discipline of sport translates into entrepreneurship.
You’ll hear how Madison navigated pressure, picked UBC over other offers, and turned business-school lessons into real-world success.

If you’re a student, athlete, or aspiring founder, this one’s a masterclass in turning education into action.

00:00 – IntroJason introduces Madison and sets up the conversation about Sauder, athletics, and entrepreneurship.

00:44 – Breakfast & Fasting RoutineMadison shares her scrambled-tofu breakfast and why she fasts until noon.

01:25 – Where She Is TodaySix years into building AdmissionPrep: growth, learning, and impact.

02:47 – Early Education GoalsGrowing up in a family that valued university + soccer as her main path.

03:43 – Choosing UBCDeciding between Trinity Western and UBC — and why potential mattered more than rankings.

05:49 – The Varsity PathwayInside the Canadian development ladder: provincial teams, NTC, and the Whitecaps residency.

07:10 – Academic Reputation & Big-Picture ThinkingHow UBC’s global credibility shaped her decision.

08:46 – Discovering BusinessStarting in Arts, discovering econ, and transferring into Sauder.

10:42 – Most Valuable LessonsThe classes that still pay off today: business writing, career prep, public speaking, and finance.

12:27 – Culture of AmbitionWhy Sauder grads land top jobs — and how internships drive that success.

14:28 – The Hard PartsSecond-year riguor: accounting, finance, econ, stats — and who this program isn’t for.

15:49 – The Social SideUBC’s massive club scene and how varsity sports shape your social experience.

17:13 – Entrepreneurship GapsWhat Sauder missed then (and how it’s evolving now).

19:13 – If Madison Were DeanHer idea: make “Build Your Own Business 101” a required course.

19:58 – Advice to 16-Year-Old Madison“Expect failure — and embrace it.”

21:04 – Jason’s TakeawayWhy Sauder still matters — and how its lessons fuel real-world founders.

💡 Learn more: admissionprep.com
Follow @AdmissionPrep for more founder stories & student success insights.

Want to get into UBC Sauder? In this guide, we share why Macleans ranked Sauder as the best business school in Canada. You’ll also find out about what specializations Sauder offers, how to get accepted to the school and how the application process works os you're prepared well in advance. Chapters: 00:00 - What Is This Guide About00:20 - What Are The Topics Covered00:36 - Competitive Standards For Sauder01:23 - Degrees Available At Sauder04:22 - Structure of The Application Process05:49 - The Personal Profile Questions06:50 - Sauder Specific Questions07:52 - Sauder Interview Process Breakdown09:10 - How To Get 1-1 SupportDeadlines: Since the recording of this video, UBC has updated their deadlines for 2025/2026. You can learn about that in this video:    • UBC's 2025/26 New First Review Admissions ...  Interview with BUCS Amazon Employee: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0iH0...Visit us at AdmissionPrep.com if you'd like 1-1 support!

Does the business school you choose really make a difference? In this episode, Jason sits down with Linda, a dual-degree student at Western’s Ivey Business School, to explore the Advanced Entry Opportunity, the competitiveness of Ivey admissions, and how the program shapes real-world career paths. From IB to Ivey, Linda shares her journey - and why Ivey stands out as one of the most unique and valuable business programs in Canada.

If you want guidance on your journey, let us know by checking out admissionprep.com or sending us an email at [email protected]

Want to get into UofT Rotman? In this guide, we break down exactly what makes Rotman one of the highest ranked business schools in Canada. You’ll also find out about what specializations UofT offers, what deadlines you have to meet, how to get accepted to the school and examples of practice questions to prepare for the supplemental questions Chapters: 00:00 - What Is This Guide About00:17 - What Are The Topics Covered00:52 - Competitive Standards For Rotman01:20 - Degrees Available At Rotman04:18 - Deadlines05:54 - Structure of Supplemental Applications & What Is Kira Talent06:41 - How To Stand Out At UofT08:42 - Practice Questions/Prompts09:52 - How To Get 1-1 SupportVisit us at AdmissionPrep.com if you'd like 1-1 support!

Everyone says “relax, take it easy, don’t overdo it.” But Paige chose a different path. She knew there were seasons where the only way forward was to go all-in - maxing out on academics, leadership, and extracurriculars when it mattered most.

That choice carried her into UBC’s ultra-competitive Business and Computer Science program - and later into an elite role as a Software Development Engineer at Amazon.

In this episode of The Journey, Jason Yee and Paige break down:

• How she built a standout admissions profile in high school

• What it takes to survive and thrive in the rigorous “BUCS” program

• Why pushing hard during key windows can unlock opportunities others miss

• And her candid advice for students who feel pressure to know exactly where they’re going

Paige’s story is a reminder: your path isn't always linear - sometimes you need to sprint.

If you'd like guidance on your journey, visit us at admissionprep.com

Engineering is often stereotyped as a lonely pursuit — long nights, endless problem sets, and students grinding away in isolation. But in this episode of The Journey, Jonas shares how his path to Queen’s University was shaped by community, collaboration, and authenticity. From winning the prestigious Chancellor’s Scholarship to finding the right peer group, Jonas shows that success in engineering isn’t about going it alone — it’s about building the right support system.

We’ll explore how Queen’s culture of collaboration made the difference, why choosing a school is about more than prestige, and what lessons Jonas would pass on to his 16-year-old self.

At The Journey, brought to you by AdmissionPrep, we believe the same principle applies to admissions: it’s not just about getting in, it’s about finding the place where you’ll thrive.

If you'd like help with navigating your journey, please visit us at www.admissionprep.com