logo
episode-header-image
Dec 2024
1h 1m

105. Best college admissions advice reve...

INGENIUS PREP
About this episode

🎙️ Episode Overview
We’re thrilled to bring you a brand-new episode of our podcast, packed with expert advice on the college admissions process that you won’t want to miss—especially if you have a high schooler in the middle of applying!

This week, we sit down with three former admissions officers from Harvard, the University of Chicago, and the University of Pennsylvania to answer some of the most pressing, real-world college admissions questions straight from Reddit. These are the types of personal and thought-provoking questions that every student (and parent!) wants answers to, and we’re diving deep into them with our expert panel.

In this episode, you’ll hear insights on:

🎓 The "Competition of Suffering": Why students often feel the pressure to write about the "worst thing" that’s ever happened to them in their college essays—and how to approach this tricky topic without falling into the trap.

🤖 Using ChatGPT in College Essays: Can admissions officers tell if a student used tools like ChatGPT? We’ll unpack what truly matters when it comes to writing authentic college essays and how to stand out in your application.

🔍 Behind-the-Scenes of College Admissions: Hear from our team of former admissions officers about their experiences reviewing applications and what they wish they had studied in college (if it were free!).

Get a rare, behind-the-scenes look at what happens in the admissions process at top-tier universities. Whether your student is just beginning their college journey or deep into application season, this episode is packed with valuable insider knowledge and actionable tips that both students and parents will find incredibly helpful.

---

To set up a complimentary strategy call, CLICK HERE

Register for our upcoming webinars.

Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com.

To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

Up next
Oct 3
125. The Future of College Admissions: RED FLAGS That Could Ruin Your Application
Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE. In this episode, we delve into key takeaways from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Conference. Our experts, Ka ... Show More
24m 44s
Sep 19
124. Is Your Student’s Profile Strong Enough for MIT?
EXCLUSIVE VIRTUAL EVENT: Two Students. One Spot. Who Gets In? Watch Former Admissions Officers battle it out live in the first-ever Admissions Showdown—where you’ll witness the debates, the behind-the-scenes decision-making, and the exact factors that determine who gets in. Curio ... Show More
21m 40s
Sep 5
123. Former UChicago Admissions Officer Answers YOUR Biggest Questions
EXCLUSIVE VIRTUAL EVENT: Two Students. One Spot. Who Gets In? Watch Former Admissions Officers battle it out live in the first-ever Admissions Showdown—where you’ll witness the debates, the behind-the-scenes decision-making, and the exact factors that determine who gets in. Curio ... Show More
6m 13s
Recommended Episodes
Aug 2018
EP030: How to Get in to Stanford, Harvard, Berkeley or Yale Ft. Marcella De Laurentiis
Episode 030: How to Get in to Stanford, Harvard, Berkeley or Yale Ft. Marcella De Laurentiis Featuring: Marcella De Laurentiis, College Admissions Specialist Mentor Bio: Marcella started her career working in the admissions office at the University of Chicago, her alma mater. Lat ... Show More
38m 11s
Aug 2021
Season 3: Episode 2: How do I write a great personal statement and supplemental essays?
Besides, grades and test scores, one of the most important elements of the college admissions rubric is the essay. While the Common App has the required personal statement essay, many universities also ask supplemental questions, which give admissions officers the chance to get t ... Show More
46m 9s
May 2020
S1E5: Amy Mitson, Tuck Business School Director of Admissions
Send us a textDo top b-schools prefer the GMAT or GRE? What do programs like Tuck look for in applicants? Does being nice really help you stand out? And is it too late to apply for a spot in next year's class? Amy Mitson, Director of Admissions at Tuck Business School, joins ... Show More
59m 50s
Jan 2024
501: What Colleges Want (Part 1): A Deep Dive into the Factors Colleges Deem Important & State of College Admissions Report
Show Notes On today's episode, Ethan sits down with David Hawkins, Chief Education and Policy Officer at National Association of College Admission Counselors (aka NACAC), and they get discuss, among other things:  What are the most important factors colleges consider?  What signi ... Show More
51m 41s
Sep 2024
517: Inside the Application (Part 3): Supplemental Essay Deep Dive + Developing the College List w/ Special Guest Renee Ferrerio
Today’s episode is part three of our series, Inside the Application. Ethan is joined by Cassidy, a current high school senior who is working on her college applications for the Fall 2025 term.  This episode is a deep dive into the supplemental essays — specific essays that many s ... Show More
1h 14m
Mar 2024
504: What Colleges Want (Part 4): A Crash Course in the Personal Statement with Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy)
On this week’s episode, Tom Campbell (CEG’s Community Manager) sits down with Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy) for Part 4 in our What Colleges Want series to talk about the personal statement. According to the latest State of College Admission report – after grades, course rigor, ... Show More
51m 18s
Mar 2024
505: What Colleges Want (Part 5): A Crash Course in the Supplemental Essays + Application with Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy)
On this week’s episode, Tom Campbell (CEG’s Community Manager) sits down with Ethan Sawyer (College Essay Guy) for Part 5 in our What Colleges Want series to talk about some of the other written parts of the application—the activities list, additional information section, and sup ... Show More
50m 53s
Apr 2024
507: What Colleges Want (Part 7A): Recommendation Letter Crash Course for Students and Families
This week, Tom Campbell (CEG’s Community Manager) is joined by Ayesha King (Director of College Counseling at the International School of Los Angeles) to talk about letters of recommendation. They get into: What goes into a letter of recommendation?  How are they evaluated by col ... Show More
52m 8s
Jun 2025
S18E26: I Don’t Go to a Target School. Can I Still Get Into Consulting?
Send us a textWorried your school isn't on top consulting firms’ target lists? You’re not alone. In this episode, we break down exactly what it takes to land an offer from firms like McKinsey, Bain, BCG, and beyond, especially if you’re coming from a non-target school.We also unp ... Show More
6m 21s
Jan 2022
303: Part 2: Behind the Scenes of an Admission Office w/ Tom Campbell
Tom Campbell is back for another episode in our series that goes behind the scenes of an admissions office to let you know what happens when you click submit on your application—where does it go? Who reads it? What are they thinking? How do they make decisions? At the time of thi ... Show More
1h 6m