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When evaluating an applicant's coursework, admissions officers will also evaluate the strength of the school that the transcript is coming from. In this episode, IvyWise counselors Juaquin (formerly at Occidental College) and Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) discuss the role that the school profile plays in the admissions process.

Many of the most selective institutions either have already gone back to requiring standardized test scores or will be reinstating the requirement soon. In this episode, IvyWise counselors Claire (formerly at the University of Chicago) and Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) chat with IvyWise Master Tutor Carl about how to create a testing strategy.

Course rigor refers to the difficulty of the student's curriculum. In this episode, IvyWise counselors Abdiel (formerly at Harvard University) and Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) discuss the importance of strategic course selection.

A student's transcript is the single most important qualifying or disqualifying element of their application. In this episode, IvyWise counselors Anthony (former Assistant Director of Admission at Princeton University) and Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) unpack how admissions committees evaluate grades.

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.

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.