PODCAST · education
Demystifying College Admissions
by Julie Kim
I'm Julie Kim, and I'm the host of Demystifying College Admissions. Look, I've been there before! Navigating through the college admissions process is overwhelming, confusing and ultimately stressful. This podcast is designed to inspire high school students to identify their passions, learn all about the most updated college admissions strategies, with guests and experts from all industries! And the best part is we'll also dive into mental health so that this podcast will be a healthy, safe, and vulnerable space for all teens and parents out there!
Episodes
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Is Test-Optional Actually a Trap? SAT & ACT Truths Every Parent Needs to Know
Is your child a strong student who freezes up on test day? Are you wondering if relying on "test-optional" policies is a safe strategy—or a silent risk for top-tier college applications? And with the SAT moving fully digital and adaptive, why are so many high-achieving students scoring lower than...
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Do Science Competitions Actually Impress Colleges?
Are you a student with a big passion for science, but you're feeling totally overwhelmed by the college admissions process? Are you wondering if competitions like ISEF are actually worth your time, or how you can even get a busy professor to mentor your research project? In today's episode, we're...
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August 2025 College Admissions Checklist: What To Focus on This Month
Is summer winding down and you're feeling the back-to-school jitters? Wondering how to navigate college admissions, whether you're a freshman just starting out or a senior facing big deadlines? We've got you covered! Today, we're diving into essential August checklists for every high schooler....
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[PPBC COACHING CALL] Planning for Ivy League Starts Early: A Freshman Coaching Session
Are you a rising high school student wondering how to tackle the daunting college admissions process? Or perhaps you're a parent seeking insider strategies to help your child stand out? If so, you're going to love this one! These are my favorite types of episodes to bring you, where I pull back…
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What I Wish I Knew In High School: Ivy League & Surgeon Life With My Husband
This episode is an extra special one as I'm joined by my husband, a Brown University graduate and practicing oral surgeon! He's here to share what he wishes he knew back in high school, from navigating the Ivy League experience to thriving in the intense world of surgical training We've prepared...
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College Admissions Fear Is Real — Here's How to Cope
Do you ever feel that knot of anxiety tightening in your stomach just thinking about college admissions? Are you a student wrestling with the fear of rejection, the pressure to be perfect, or the daunting question of "what if I'm not good enough?" Today I want to talk about dealing with this fear...
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How Kira Got Accepted Into University of Virginia (UVA) - Passion Prep Student Testimonial
Have you ever felt like perfect grades and sky-high SAT scores were the only ticket to your dream college? What if you could defy those odds? Today, you'll meet Kira, a Passion Prep student who just landed her spot at the University of Virginia, her dream college despite facing GPA and test score...
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5 Proven College Admissions Strategies That Got My Students Accepted Into Ivy League & Top-tier Colleges In 2024
Would you like to know how our students got accepted into Ivy Leagues & Top-tier colleges, especially in competitive fields such as Computer Science, Pre-Med, and Pre-Law? Or, learn why you are actually decreasing your chances of getting accepted into your dream colleges without even realizing…
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7 Traits of Students Who Got Accepted Into Their Dream Ivy League & Top-tier Colleges
Ever wonder what truly sets apart students who achieve their Ivy League dreams? Or, more broadly, what the hidden traits are of those who conquer any goal they set their mind to? Over the last 14 to 15 years, I have been able to collect 7 common traits of highly successful people who have...
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When is the best time to take the SAT or ACT (For each grade level)?
Are you not sure when is the right moment to dive into SAT or ACT prep? This is a question I get often, so I wanted to break it all down for you today based on each grade level. In our latest episode, I reveal the best time to start preparing for these standardized tests, how diagnostic scores…
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Myth: You have to be a genius to get into Ivy League colleges
Do you have to be a genius to get into Ivy League colleges? This is a question I get often, and I want to quickly debunk this myth for students (+parents) currently navigating their college admissions journey. More than ever, colleges now are looking for more than just quantitative factors, and…
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The impact of social media in college admissions
In today's digital age, there's no denying that social media has become an integral part of our lives. However, there's just so much going on in the world of social media and I've discovered students having a hard time managing all that comes with social media as it relates to college admissions....
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How To Strategize Your Unique College Admissions Game Plan
Are you dreaming of attending your dream college and wondering what it takes to stand out in this competitive college admissions process? The answer isn't about doing everything all at once, but about having a strategic game plan and once you have a solid foundation in place first, you can focus…
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Hard Major vs. Easy Major
Identifying your major and building evidence(s) around it will help you stand out in the college admissions process, but do you select a hard major with a lesser chance of acceptance, or an easier one with a higher chance of getting accepted? This is a very nuanced topic because it depends on a…
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Passion Prep Student Interview - Accepted into Cornell University!
A few weeks ago, one of our outstanding Passion Prep students, Rebecca, reached out to share the exciting news that she had been accepted into Cornell University! She wanted to express her gratitude for the support and guidance she received from our Passion Prep program. Her story is so inspiring...
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Passion Prep Case Study: Accepted to Harvard, Columbia, and UC Berkeley
In this episode, I'm excited to share real-life case studies from our students who gained acceptance into some of the most prestigious and competitive colleges: Harvard, Columbia, and UC Berkeley. By highlighting these case studies, you'll gain valuable insights into the strategies and approaches...
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[Passion Prep Student Interview] How She Landed a Johns Hopkins Research Position
I'm thrilled to introduce you to Tara, one of our outstanding Passion Prep students, as she shares her inspiring journey through the college admissions process. In this episode, Tara opens up about the overwhelming stress she initially felt, trying to juggle "all the things" to stand out. But as...
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Should You Apply To Ivy League Colleges?
In today's episode, I tackle the controversial question, "Should you apply to Ivy League colleges?" I break down the real value of these prestigious institutions and whether they're truly worth the effort. Discover the key reasons people are drawn to Ivy League schools and what they can offer…
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6 Lessons I learned growing up as an Asian American in the United States (College Admissions Edition)
I immigrated with my family to the United States from South Korea in third grade, and I've lived through what it feels like to navigate life and education in this country. My parents sacrificed so much to give me this opportunity to live, study and start my own business here, so in this episode…
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Let's Be Honest. Is An Ivy League Education Worth It?
Today, we will be talking about a controversial topic - is an Ivy League/Top-tier college education actually worth it? Recently, DailyMail.com published a report detailing the links between Ivy League degrees and future earnings, and this immediately prompted me to pick up my microphone and voice...
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Student Panel 2024: Accepted into Cornell, UNC Chapel Hill, and many more
To kick off another new episode, I will be sharing a recent Student Panel hosted with several of our Passion Project Bootcamp students. In this episode, our students share their unique college admissions journey and how they were able to find success throughout this process ultimately leading to...
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New College Admissions Trends to Watch in 2024 and 2025
The college admissions landscape is undergoing significant changes for the first time in history. For students to have a successful college application season, they must stay informed and be prepared for the latest policy changes in the world of college admissions. To kick off our new season for...
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Parents' Roles In College Admissions, New Trends, And the best college admissions advice with Elizabeth West (College Consultant)
Every single episode we talk a lot about students' passion and helping them find their interest and values, but today I want to focus on the role the families play in this process with my special guest, Elizabeth West of EWC College Consulting. In this great conversation with Elizabeth, we take a...
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How To Get What You Really Want: College Acceptance, Confidence, and Ultimate Success
If you've been following me for a while now or you're a student in one of our programs, you know that I am always emphasising the importance of mindset. In this episode, I want to talk about some of the things that are not really discussed in the space of college admissions. Today, I reveal the...
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How To Make College Admissions Journey MORE FUN and LESS STRESSFUL
The college admissions process is stressful, but in this solo episode, I reveal how you can make this journey less stressful and more fun, I uncover the reasons why this stress exists, and the ways that college admissions have changed drastically over the years. Today, you'll learn the true...
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An Interview with Grad of Brown University, Cambridge, Harvard Medical School, and White House Fellowship, Andrew Kim
Today I'm joined by a very special guest, Andrew Kim, who is a graduate of Brown University, Cambridge, Harvard Medical School and a White House Fellowship. In this episode, Andrew reveals how he achieved all his accomplishments. You'll be surprised to hear that it wasn't just by studying hard,...
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Student Case Study: ACCEPTED to UPenn Early Decision (Without Straight A's and SAT Optional)
We have some exciting news! Our Passion Project Bootcamp Next Level student Isha just got accepted into UPenn Early Decision, and in today's episode, you're going to hear exactly how she did it. Isha shares her GPA, SAT scores, extracurriculars, and the strategies from our program that she...
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Student Case Study: ACCEPTED into John Hopkins, Cornell, and USC
Today I'm sharing with you some of the examples and strategies from our Passion Project Bootcamp and Next Level students. In this episode, you'll hear from three different students of ours; one who got accepted into John Hopkins and Harvard, another who was accepted into Cornell, and the final...
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Class of 2024 Students: 5 Things You Must Work on Right Now
Today I have a very special episode for our Class of 2024 students. Being a Junior is really tough; you have an unforgiving course load, an insane amount of homework, and a lot of added commitments that make it difficult to look ahead and plan for your Senior year. That's why I wanted to record a...
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Should Passion Really Drive Your College Admissions Journey?
As you can see from the title of this episode, today I want to help you understand something so essential to question in your college admissions journey: whether passion should drive your college admissions journey. In this episode, you'll o hear why I believe the answer to this question is "no"...
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College Insight With UC Berkeley Alumni Nicky Certo
Today we have a very special guest, Nicky, who is a graduate of UC Berkeley. Nicky majored in film and minored in computer science, and we invited him onto the podcast because he has a lot of useful insights and information about important things like selecting a major. This is an area where many...
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Introducing Passion Prep!
Julie Kim Consulting has been renamed Passion Prep! Our mission is to inspire, motivate, and mentor high school students to get accepted into their dream colleges using their strengths, real personality, passion, values and honesty. We mentor our students to live passionately and daringly. This…
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How To Eliminate Negative Self-Talk From Your College Journey (PPBC Student Interviews)
In this episode, I want to talk about the negative self-talk that is so addicting and easy to fall into. We tend to be hard on ourselves and want to do everything during the college admissions process, but there is a way to make this journey life-changing and stress-free. Today, I am going to…
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The Mindset Boost You Need For Back-To-School Season (PPBC Student Interviews)
As school is starting back up again, I am incredibly excited to be recording a brand new episode for you today! Along with the fun that comes with back-to-school shopping, this is a great time to focus on goal setting, which is something that I always looked forward to when I was a student. To…
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Navigating The College Admissions Journey As a First Generation Student (PPBC Student Interviews)
In today's podcast episode, I wanted to reveal what it was like for me as a 1st Generation Korean American to navigate the college admissions process. I also have a lot of insights to share that can be applied if you are an international student or a 1.5 generation student as well, so you'll want...
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Too Early or Too Late To Start College Consulting? Let's find out. (PPBC Student Interviews)
Today, I'm going to answer the most frequently asked question that my team and I get, and that is when to start preparing for college admissions. Is it too early to start in 9th grade, or is it too late to start when you're a junior? You'll find out today! We're also sharing another series of...
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You Don't Need To Get Accepted Into Your Dream College To Be Successful (PPBC Student Interviews)
You don't need to get accepted into your dream college to be successful. You may have read the title of this episode and wondered… "Is Julie serious?" Yes, I am! In this episode, I'm going to unpack what I truly mean when I say that you don't need to get into your dream college to be successful,...
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How This Strategy Will Get You Accepted Into Your Dream Colleges (PPBC Student Interviews)
I'm so excited to be sharing this compilation episode with you, where three of our Passion Project Bootcamp students will be sharing their experiences and feedback about the Passion Project Bootcamp Program with you, in their own words! In this episode, I really want you to understand how this…
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Inside Cornell: How I Got Accepted
Today, I have another case study with one of our Passion Project Bootcamp students, Alex. In this episode, Alex shares his college admissions story of how he got accepted into Cornell University. He reveals what it felt like to receive the acceptance letter and realize that all his hard work had...
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The Complete Guide On How To Get ACCEPTED Into USC Without SAT/ACT Scores
I'm so excited to be speaking with another one of our Passion Project Bootcamp students this week! Katie just got accepted into USC Marshall School of Business, and in this episode, she reveals how she discovered that she didn't have to follow what everybody else was doing, and the strategies she...
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How She Got Accepted Into Vanderbilt, UC Berkeley, and UCLA
Today, I'm so excited to be introducing you to another Passion Project Bootcamp student, Ginny, who just got accepted into Vanderbilt, UC Berkeley, and UCLA (among other schools), and in this episode, she shares how our program helped her gain trust in herself, build her confidence during her...
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How My Student Got ACCEPTED Into Rice University
Today, I have a special episode, because I'm interviewing my Passion Project Bootcamp student Simi, who just got ACCEPTED into her dream college: Rice University! I was so excited for Simi to share her journey and to give her insight on the college admissions process on our latest podcast…
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How To Get Accepted Into Your Dream College with Less Effort
The college admissions process can be overwhelming, intimidating, and often confusing, and there is a misconception that it must be hard. It doesn't have to be this way though, and in this episode, I reveal how you can get accepted into your dream college with less effort. We are going to dive…
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How My Student Got ACCEPTED Into Johns Hopkins University
Today I have a very special and emotional episode, because one of my Passion Project Bootcamp students just got accepted into John Hopkins University, which was her dream college because she wants to be a doctor in the near future! For confidentiality purposes I refer to her as "Michelle" in this...
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The Beginner's Guide to College Admissions
Hey there! I took a break recording the podcast for January as my team and I were focusing on launching our Premier 1-Year Group College Consulting Program, Passion Project Bootcamp NEXT LEVEL - but we're back! We only open this program once a year, so if you want to be notified for Next Level...
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PPBC Coaching Call: How To Showcase Your Passion Project in Your College Essay & Application
Today, I have another informative podcast episode for you! I'm coaching one of our Passion Project Bootcamp students, Rushil, who asks me a lot of great questions. Topics include: What is the ultimate goal of creating and executing a Passion Project? What is the best way to showcase your Passion...
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PPBC Coaching Call: "I'm stressed about my competitive school and my grades"
Today we're bringing back the Passion Project Bootcamp coaching call series, where I invite my students onto the podcast and coach them through questions ranging from mindset, study techniques, college admissions strategies, Passion Projects, and much more! This is one of the many benefits you'll...
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How To Pay For College with Brad Baldridge
Today I have a very special guest for you, and he is someone who knows so much about financial aid, scholarships, and how to pay for college. This episode is an important one because getting into college is one thing but how can you figure out the affording college? I haven't really talked about…
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The 3 Rules for Success
Recently, I posted a poll on my Instagram and asked what my followers would like to hear me talk about on this podcast episode. The topic that most students wanted me to discuss was the 3 Rules For Success, which is what I will share here with you today! We often think that success is linear. We...
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Why I Decided To Be a College Consultant
It's been a while since I've sat down to record a solo chit chat episode for you, so today I thought I would share with you why I became a college consultant. I feel really called to do this work helping our high school students going through the college admissions process, and in this episode,...
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ABOUT THIS SHOW
I'm Julie Kim, and I'm the host of Demystifying College Admissions. Look, I've been there before! Navigating through the college admissions process is overwhelming, confusing and ultimately stressful. This podcast is designed to inspire high school students to identify their passions, learn all about the most updated college admissions strategies, with guests and experts from all industries! And the best part is we'll also dive into mental health so that this podcast will be a healthy, safe, and vulnerable space for all teens and parents out there!
HOSTED BY
Julie Kim
CATEGORIES
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How many episodes does Demystifying College Admissions have?
Demystifying College Admissions currently has 162 episodes available on PodParley. New episodes are automatically indexed when they're published to the podcast feed.
What is Demystifying College Admissions about?
I'm Julie Kim, and I'm the host of Demystifying College Admissions. Look, I've been there before! Navigating through the college admissions process is overwhelming, confusing and ultimately stressful. This podcast is designed to inspire high school students to identify their passions, learn all...
How often does Demystifying College Admissions release new episodes?
Demystifying College Admissions publishes regularly with 162 episodes available. Check the episode list for the typical release schedule.
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You can listen to Demystifying College Admissions on PodParley by clicking any episode. We provide an embedded audio player for direct listening, and you can also subscribe via your preferred podcast app using the RSS feed.
Who hosts Demystifying College Admissions?
Demystifying College Admissions is created and hosted by Julie Kim.
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