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PODCAST

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel

Does thinking about applying to college, grad school, or prep school make your head spin? The Admittedly Podcast is for both parents and students preparing for or navigating school admissions. We aim to demystify the admissions process and share with you what you really need to know to succeed. Our host, Thomas Caleel, former director of MBA admissions and financial aid for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, is here to help. He is a lifelong entrepreneur and CEO of a global

education how to

All Episodes

22:35

S5E28: Your Student Is Exceptional, But Are They...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/10/08

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at https://info.admittedly.co/path-to-admissions Your child may be bright, hardworking, involved, and genuinely impressive. But does that make them competitive at the most selective colleges? In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel has a candid conversation with parents about one of the hardest realities of college admissions: your child can be exceptional without being the exception

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25:39

S5E27: Silicon Valley Wants You to Rethink Your...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/10/02

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at info.admittedly.co/path-to-admissions. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel examines the rise of alternative education paths, from tech and startup programs to AI-driven schools and direct-to-work opportunities. As students are increasingly told that a traditional four-year degree may no longer be necessary, families are facing a much more complicated question: how do you know

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20:10

S5E26: What 22 Years of Tutoring Teaches You About...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/09/24

In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel sits down with Sarah Bernbach, Associate Director of Advantage Testing's New York offices, to explore what more than two decades of tutoring has taught her about how students learn, build confidence, and find their voice. Drawing on 22 years of experience (and her own unconventional path as a pastry chef, bookbinder, writer, and costume designer), Sarah explains why struggling is often part of learning, why a lack of motivation can actually be

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15:46

S5E23: How to Choose Your High School Classes for...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/09/09

🎓 Need help building your academic and college admissions strategy? Learn more about Admittedly and how our team of former Ivy+ admissions officers helps students make strategic decisions Course selection is one of the most important—and often overlooked—parts of building a competitive college application. The classes you choose don't just determine your GPA; they show admissions officers how you've challenged yourself, where your academic interests lie, and how you've taken advantage of the

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16:23

S5E24: How to Start High School the Right Way: A 9th...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/09/02

🎓 Want help building a thoughtful high school and college admissions strategy? Learn more about Admittedly and how our team of former Ivy+ admissions officers helps students and families plan academics, extracurriculars, summers, testing, college lists, applications, and more. Freshman year isn't about building the perfect college application. It's about building the habits, academic foundation, relationships, and curiosity that will give you more options later. In this episode of The Admittedly

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24:49

S5E23: How to Approach Your College Application...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/08/27

Get Expert Feedback on Your College Essay Not sure if your essay is ready to submit? Admittedly's Essay Review Service gives students direct, strategic feedback on their essays from experts who understand how admissions officers actually evaluate an application. Our team can help identify what's working, what's missing, and where your essay could be stronger—without rewriting it for you or replacing your voice. ✍️ Learn more about Admittedly's Essay Review Service Here - In this episode

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20:28

S5E22: Are You Taking the Right Classes? How Course...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/08/19

🎓 Want help building the right admissions strategy? Learn more about Admittedly and how our team of former Ivy+ admissions officers helps students make strategic decisions around course selection, extracurriculars, testing, college lists, applications, and more. - A strong GPA only tells part of the story. In highly selective college admissions, admissions officers are also looking closely at how much you challenged yourself within the opportunities available to you. In this episode of The

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24:09

S5E21: How College Transfer Admissions Really Work |...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/08/07

In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel is joined by Sonam Aidasani, Director of Product & Strategy at Admittedly and former Duke admissions officer, to break down one of the most misunderstood areas of college admissions: transferring. Is transferring actually an easier way into a highly selective college? What makes a compelling reason to transfer? And if you're already thinking about transferring before freshman year even begins, what should you be doing now? Thomas and Sonam

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20:37

S5E20: The Middle School Advantage | How to Build the...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/07/30

To speak with an advisor and learn more about Admittedly's Middle School Program, book a Complimentary Strategy Call: https://admittedly.co/middle-school/ Parents often think college admissions starts in high school. In reality, many of the habits, skills, and decisions that shape a student's future begin much earlier. In this episode, Thomas Caleel explains why middle school isn't about building a college résumé... it's about building the foundation for future success. From developing study skills

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34:02

S5E19: Can AI Tell Your Story For You? | AI,...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/07/17

To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 https://admittedly.co/path-to-admissions/ In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel is joined by internationally recognized storytelling expert, podcaster, author, and keynote speaker Gabrielle Dolan to discuss why authentic storytelling matters more than ever in the age of AI. Together, they explore how students can use storytelling to communicate who they are, why

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17:46

S5E18: The 6 Pillars of a Successful Common...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/07/06

To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 apply.admittedly.co The Common Application is more than a collection of forms and essays; it's a strategic opportunity to tell a cohesive story about who you are and why you belong at your target colleges. In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel introduces the Admittedly NEATER Framework, a six-part approach to building stronger college applications. He explains how

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30:57

S5E17: What Makes a Great College Essay?...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/06/18

In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel sits down with Charles Loxton, Chief Communications Officer at Advantage Testing and an experienced application consultant, to explore one of the most misunderstood parts of the admissions process: the college essay. Drawing on decades of experience helping students develop their personal narratives, Charles explains why essays matter, how storytelling works in admissions, and why the best essays often start in unexpected places. Key Topics:

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27:14

S5E16: Class of 2027: Summer Strategy, Essays, & The...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/06/12

To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 https://admittedly.co/path-to-admissions-organic/ In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel speaks directly to rising seniors and their families about one of the most important periods in the college admissions process: the summer before senior year. After years of hard work, many students make critical mistakes during this final stretch that weaken otherwise competitive

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25:45

S5E15: Admissions Essays Explained: What Admissions...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/05/29

To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 https://admittedly.co/path-to-admissions/ College application essays are one of the biggest opportunities students have to differentiate themselves in competitive admissions. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down what admissions officers are actually looking for in college essays, why essays matter in a world of grade inflation and strong test scores,

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22:18

S5E14: What 20+ Years Inside Admissions Taught Me:...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/05/22

To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 admittedly.co/path-to-admissions/ In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel answers a question we see a lot in our comments: "Why should families trust undergraduate admissions advice from a former Director of MBA Admissions at Wharton?". He shares the story behind his admissions journey — from reading MBA applications at the Wharton School to leading MBA Admissions &

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23:58

S5E13: Why Passion Projects, Research, and "Founder"...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/05/15

To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 https://admittedly.co/path-to-admissions/?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=&utm_contentid= In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down one of the most misunderstood trends in modern college admissions: passion projects. From student-founded nonprofits to performative research projects, Thomas explains why many of these activities

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19:02

S5E12: Why Leadership Titles Are Losing Value in...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/04/25

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 apply.admittedly.co In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down why it feels like leadership titles are losing value in modern, holistic college admissions and what admissions officers are actually looking for when it comes to extracurricular involvement. For years, students have been told to chase titles like "president," "founder," or "co-founder" to stand out. But as

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23:26

S5E11: How Top Applicants Approach Extracurriculars:...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/04/11

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down one of the most misunderstood parts of college admissions: extracurricular activities. Families often believe there is a "perfect list" of activities that guarantees admission to selective colleges. In reality, admissions officers are not evaluating what students do, they are evaluating how students engage

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40:44

S5E10: ADHD, Executive Functioning, & College...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/04/03

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel speaks with Mike McLeod, founder of GrowNOW ADHD, about the real factor that determines whether students thrive in college: executive functioning skills. Strong grades and test scores can help students gain admission, but independence, motivation, and resilience determine what happens next. Thomas and Mike break down how

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13:53

S5E9: How to Recover Your Admissions Strategy If You...

Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel ·

2026/03/20

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel tackles a question many students quietly worry about: What if I didn't take high school seriously early on and now I'm behind? Whether it's limited access to AP or honors courses, a lighter course load freshman and sophomore year, or a late realization about college goals, this situation is more common than families think

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