S12, E3: How Can I Stand Out in Today’s Hyper-Competitive College Admissions Process?

With college acceptance rates hitting record lows, many students wonder how they can stand out from the competition. Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Kayon (formerly at MIT) pull back the curtain on what "standing out" looks like in a sea of high-achieving applicants.

Is summer really a "break" when you're preparing for college? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) sits down with IvyWise counselor James (formerly at University of Illinois - Chicago, USC, and University of Utah) to discuss how to plan impactful summer activities that reflect your authentic interests and build a competitive college applicant profile. From internships to research opportunities and purpose projects to on-campus programs, learn what admissions officers really look for and how to make the summer count without burnout.

AI tools like ChatGPT are everywhere — but how should students actually be using them in the college admissions process? In this episode, host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Rachel (formerly at Swarthmore) discuss how students can use AI responsibly to brainstorm, organize, and strengthen their applications without compromising authenticity or ethics.

Is grad school on your radar? Join host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise graduate school admissions expert Indhika (formerly at Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and McCourt School of Public Policy) as they break down what you should be doing in each year of your undergraduate career to prepare for successful graduate school applications.

Planning to apply to law school? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) chats with IvyWise law school admissions expert Jeb (formerly at Columbia Law School) to reveal what you should be doing in each year of undergrad to maximize your chances of getting into your top-choice law schools.

Thinking of business school? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) sits down with IvyWise MBA admissions counselors Kayon (formerly at the MIT Sloan School of Management) and Nellie (formerly at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania) to detail what you should be doing in each year of your undergraduate career to prepare for top MBA programs.

Dreaming of a career in medicine? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) joins IvyWise medical school admissions counselor Sarika (former Director of Admissions at the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA) to break down what you should do through each year of undergrad to maximize your chances of getting into med school.

Wondering how to craft a compelling college applicant profile? This episode breaks it down, year by year! Join host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) as she speaks with expert IvyWise counselor Amy (formerly at Harvard) about strategically building your profile from freshman to senior year.

College might seem far away, but eighth grade is the perfect time to start thinking about college prep! Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) sits down with expert IvyWise counselors Juaquin (formerly at Occidental College) and Nat (formerly at NYU, NYU Abu Dhabi, and Skidmore College) to discuss what eighth graders need to know.

Just starting high school? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Amy (formerly at Harvard) break down everything ninth graders need to know about the college admissions process. Discover how to lay a strong college prep foundation in your freshman year.