Just Admit It!

University isn't just harder than high school — it's a completely different academic and social experience. From classroom expectations to independence and self-advocacy, IvyWise counselor Amy (formerly at Harvard) and host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) break down what students should expect when transitioning to college life and how to set yourself up for success beyond admissions.

Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Juaquin (formerly at Occidental College) discuss the importance of depth, commitment, and impact — and how to tell a cohesive story even when your passions don't fit neatly into one box.

Feeling pressured to pick a "forever" career path before you’ve even graduated high school? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Alecia (formerly at Duke University) share expert advice on exploring majors, navigating the "undeclared" route, and demonstrating intellectual curiosity even if your academic interests are still evolving.

Join host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Victoria (formerly at UChicago and Sarah Lawrence College) to learn why authenticity and cohesion carry more weight than a theatrical narrative, along with practical tips for finding the extraordinary in your everyday experiences.

Are your SAT/ACT scores not what you had hoped for? Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Chris (formerly at Wesleyan University) discuss how to present your strengths and remain competitive, even without a perfect standardized testing score.

Is your college list filled with reach schools? Join host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselor Alecia (formerly at Duke University) for practical advice on how to balance your list with high-quality "target" and "likely" schools to ensure you have great options.

IvyWise counselor Christine (formerly at Boston University) joins host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) to discuss how to navigate the college search when you don't have a clear top-choice school or major in mind. You’ll learn practical strategies for exploring your interests and building a balanced college list that keeps your options open.

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.

Tenth grade is a pivotal year for college preparation, and this episode is your comprehensive guide! Join host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) as she sits down with expert IvyWise counselors Phuong (formerly at Babson College) and Rod (formerly at Case Western Reserve University) to break down exactly what sophomores need to do to build a strong foundation for college admissions.

11th grade is the most critical year for college admissions! Host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) teams up with IvyWise experts Ernald (formerly at Princeton and Drexel) and Juaquin (formerly at Occidental College) to reveal the key college prep steps every junior needs to implement.

Seniors, it's crunch time! Join host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and IvyWise counselors Kayon (formerly at MIT and University of Rochester) and Scott (formerly at Yale) as they break down everything 12th graders need to do for college admissions. From perfecting applications to navigating deadlines, get expert advice to maximize your senior year success.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) connects with counselor Christine G. (also formerly at Boston University) to hear how her admissions and professional recruitment experience informs her counseling style.

Just Admit It! host, Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) sits down with Chris (former Associate Dean of Admissions at Wesleyan University) to hear about how his three-decade career in admissions informs his work as an IvyWise counselor.

Just Admit It! host, Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) goes to the other side of the mic! Counselor Christine (formerly at Yale and Georgetown) interviews Tasha about her admissions experience and about her priorities as an IvyWise counselor.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) sits down with IvyWise Counselor Amanda (formerly at Brown University and The New School) to hear about her favorite parts of the admissions cycle and the approach she brings to her counseling.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) speaks with IvyWise counselor Christine (formerly at Yale and Georgetown) to learn about the breadth and depth of her professional experience.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) sits down with IvyWise counselor Rachel (formerly at Swarthmore College) to hear about her admissions experience on the road and on campus, as well as her favorite and least favorite parts of the admission process.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) shines a spotlight on IvyWise Counselor Rod (formerly at Case Western Reserve University) to hear about his extensive admissions recruitment experience and what he loves most about the college admissions world.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) sits down with IvyWise Counselor Amy (formerly at Harvard) to hear about her favorite parts of the admissions process and why she loves counseling students.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) shines the spotlight on IvyWise counselor Alecia (formerly at Duke University) and learns about her experience, expertise, and more.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and Eric (former admissions counselor at Columbia University and the New School) discuss how students can leverage social media in their college admissions process to elevate their profiles.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) teams up with Eric (former admissions counselor at Columbia University and The New School) to break down the ways that academic enrichment can strengthen a student’s college admissions profile.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) chats with IvyWise Counselor Nat (Formerly at NYU) to discuss the importance of volunteer opportunities to build your student profile. 

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) chats with IvyWise counselor James (formerly at USC, USC Marshall School of Business, University of Illinois-Chicago, and University of Utah) about the importance of leadership in making a strong student profile for college admissions. 

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) chats with IvyWise Research Mentor Maya (Ph.D. candidate at Northwestern University) about the value of conducting research during high school to build your profile.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) chats with IvyWise counselor Alecia (formerly at Duke) about the exciting opportunity provided by summer and pre-college programs.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) chats with IvyWise counselor Christine (formerly at Yale and Georgetown) about the importance of intentional and impactful extracurricular activities.

Just Admit It! host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) kicks off Semester 9 of the podcast discussing what profile building really means. She looks back at Semester 7: Episode 6 ("What Does It Mean To Build Your Profile?" with Rachel [formerly at Swarthmore College]) and gives updated definitions and examples of different aspects of the college applicant profile.  

IvyWise counselor Meg (formerly at Princeton and Amherst) and our host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) get away from the numbers to discuss how to build a strong candidacy, no matter your “chances.”

IvyWise counselor Rachel (formerly at Swarthmore College) and Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) discuss all that the IvyWise KnowledgeBase has to offer.

IvyWise college admissions counselor Chris (formerly at Wesleyan University) and our host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) discuss data and test-optional admissions policies. 

Our host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and Carolyn, former admissions officer at Vanderbilt, discuss how to use data to build your balanced college list.

IvyWise counselor Robin (formerly at Vanderbilt University and Georgetown University) and our host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) discuss college admissions chance calculators.

IvyWise counselor Nat (formerly at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi) and our host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) compare data versus anecdotal evidence in the college admissions process.

IvyWise counselor Kimberly (formerly at Rice University and Vassar College) and our host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) answer the question: Admissions data is everywhere. But what matters?

Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) and Alecia (formerly at Duke University) kick off Semester 8 with a discussion on data and decisions in college admissions.

IvyWise counselor Kimberly (formerly at Rice University and Vassar College) and host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) answer the question: What does it mean to be "flat" or "LMO"?

Our host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) talks with former Vanderbilt admissions officer Carolyn to answer the question: What is "yield" and why does it matter?

IvyWise counselor Robin (formerly at Georgetown and Vanderbilt) and our host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) answer the question: What is a "hook" or a "hooked student"?

IvyWise college admissions counselor Rod (formerly at Case Western Reserve University) and our host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) answer the question: What is demonstrated interest?

IvyWise counselors Rachel (formerly at Swarthmore College) and Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) answer the question: What does it mean to build your profile?