Just Admit It!

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Ready for the truth about college admissions? IvyWise’s ‘Just Admit It!’ podcast features straightforward, practical and up-to-date information and advice for students, families and educators around the world who are navigating the complex college admissions process. With over 250 years of combined admissions experience at some of the top institutions around the world, IvyWise’s college admissions experts know what it takes to get into your top-choice universities. From adapting to the current pandemic situation and brainstorming application essay topics, to building a balanced college list and planning for impactful summer breaks, our former Deans and Directors of Admissions tell it like it really is and provide insight into what universities are really looking for.

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    • May 28, 2025 LATEST EPISODE
    • every other week NEW EPISODES
    • 36m AVG DURATION
    • 103 EPISODES

    4.7 from 24 ratings Listeners of Just Admit It! that love the show mention: insight, content, great.



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    Latest episodes from Just Admit It!

    Semester 10: Episode 10: Christine G., Formerly at Boston University

    Play Episode Listen Later May 28, 2025 31:23


    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.

    Semester 10: Episode 9: Chris, formerly Associate Dean of Admissions at Wesleyan University

    Play Episode Listen Later May 14, 2025 29:21


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

    Semester 10: Episode 8: Counselor Tasha, formerly at Boston University and USC

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 30, 2025 25:34


    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.

    Semester 10: Episode 7: Amanda, Formerly at Brown and The New School

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 16, 2025 26:31


    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.

    Semester 10: Episode 6: Christine, Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 2, 2025 30:28


    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.

    Semester 10: Episode 5: Rachel, Former Assistant Dean of Admissions at Swarthmore College

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 19, 2025 28:57


    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.

    Semester 10: Episode 4: Rod, former Associate Director at Case Western University

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 5, 2025 27:41


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

    Semester 10: Episode 3: Amy, Former Admissions and Financial Aid officer at Harvard College

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 19, 2025 29:10


    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.

    Semester 10: Episode 2: Lloyd, Formerly at Yale University and Vassar College

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 5, 2025 32:37


    Just Admit It! host, Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) sits down with IvyWise Counselor Lloyd (formerly at Yale and Vassar) to hear about his wide breadth of experience and his favorite part of the application process.

    Semester 10: Episode 1: Alecia, Former Assistant Director of Admissions at Duke University

    Play Episode Listen Later Jan 29, 2025 26:52


    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.

    Semester 9: Episode 8: Social Media for Success

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 11, 2024 32:54


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

    Semester 9: Episode 7: Academic Enrichment Beyond School Walls

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 27, 2024 28:55


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

    Season 9: Episode 6: Giving Back While Gaining Skills — Meaningful Volunteer Opportunities

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 13, 2024 40:23


    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. 

    Season 9: Episode 5: Leadership 10 — Essential Skills to Make an Impact

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 30, 2024 28:01


    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. 

    Season 9, Episode 4: From Interest to Expertise — Leveraging Research Mentorship

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 16, 2024 32:06


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

    Semester 9: Episode 3: Summer Success — Academic Programs on College Campuses

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 2, 2024 33:39


    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.

    Semester 9, Episode 2: From Hobbies to Highlights- Extracurriculars to Focus On

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 18, 2024 30:47


    Master Counselor and Host, Tasha (formerly Boston University and USC) chats with Premier Counselor Christine (formerly Yale, Georgetown) about the importance of intentional and impactful extracurricular activities.

    Semester 9: Episode 1: What does it mean to build your profile?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 4, 2024 50:06


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

    Semester 8: Episode 8: How to Build a Strong Candidacy, No Matter Your “Chances”

    Play Episode Listen Later May 29, 2024 34:52


    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.”

    Semester 8: Episode 7: The IvyWise KnowledgeBase

    Play Episode Listen Later May 15, 2024 30:05


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

    Semester 8: Episode 6: Data and Test-Optional Policies

    Play Episode Listen Later May 1, 2024 32:45


    IvyWise Premier Counselor, Chris (formerly Wesleyan University), and our host, Principal Counselor, Tasha, (formerly Boston University and USC), discuss data and test-optional admissions policies. 

    Semester 8: Episode 5: Using Data To Build Your Balanced College List

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 17, 2024 34:12


    IvyWise Master Counselor Carolyn (Formerly Vanderbilt University) and our host, Principal Counselor Tasha (formerly Boston University and USC)  discuss how to use data to build your balanced college list.

    Semester 8: Episode 4: What Are My Chances? Probability and Chance Calculators

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 3, 2024 36:21


    IvyWise Premier Counselor Robin (Formerly Vanderbilt University and Georgetown University) and our host, Principal Counselor Tasha (formerly Boston University and USC)  discuss college admissions chance calculators on Episode 4 of What are my chances?

    Semester 8: Episode 3: Data Versus Anecdotal Evidence

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 20, 2024 32:09


    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.

    Semester 8: Episode 2: Admissions data is everywhere. But what matters?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 6, 2024 35:00


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

    Semester 8: Episode 1: Trustworthy and Untrustworthy College Admissions Sources

    Play Episode Listen Later Feb 21, 2024 35:47


    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.

    Semester 7: Episode 10: What does it mean to be flat or LMO?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2023 29:26


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

    Semester 7: Episode9: What is yield and why does it matter?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 1, 2023 34:38


    Ep 9: IvyWise Master Counselor, Carolyn (formerly Vanderbilt University) and our host, Principal Counselor, Tasha (formerly Boston University and USC) answer the question: What is yield and why does it matter?

    Just Admit It: Semester 7: Episode 8: What is a hook?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2023 27:10


    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"?

    Semester 7: Episode 7: What is demonstrated interest?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 3, 2023 37:54


    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?

    Semester 7: Episode 6: What does it mean to build your profile?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 20, 2023 35:46


    IvyWise Master Counselor, Rachel (formerly Swarthmore College) and our host, Principal Counselor Tasha (formerly Boston University and USC) answer the question: What does it mean to build your profile?

    Semester 7, Episode 5: What's the difference between Test Optional and Test Blind?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 6, 2023 33:11


    IvyWise Principal Counselor, Jenny (formerly Washington University in St. Louis)  and our host, Principal Counselor, Tasha (formerly Boston University and USC) answer the question: What is the difference between Test Optional and Test Blind?

    Semester 7: Episode 4: What are the different types of Early Action applications?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 22, 2023 34:00


    IvyWise counselor Robin (formerly at Georgetown and Vanderbilt Universities) and host Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) crack the code by breaking down Early Action application types.

    Season 7: Episode 3: What are ”grit” and ”fit”?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 8, 2023 29:59


    IvyWise counselor Chris (formerly at Wesleyan University) and host Tasha (formerly at Boston University and USC) answer the question: What are "grit" and "fit"?

    Semester 7 Episode 2: What is a pointy student?

    Play Episode Listen Later Sep 1, 2023 26:34


    IvyWise Principal Counselor Alecia (formerly Duke University) and our host, Principal Counselor Tasha (formerly Boston University and USC) answer the question: What is a “pointy” student?

    Semester 7: Episode 1: What is an admissions committee?

    Play Episode Listen Later Aug 18, 2023 36:04


    In this episode, IvyWise counselor Tiffany (formerly at MIT and Colgate) and host Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) kick off Semester 7 by sharing insights into the admissions committee process. 

    Semester 6: Episode 10: What is NYU like?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 28, 2023 34:44


    IvyWise college admissions counselor Nat (former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at NYU and NYU Abu Dhabi) shares insights into the academic offerings, campus life, and application process at New York University.

    Semester 6: Episode 9: How should I tackle college application essay prompts?

    Play Episode Listen Later Jun 14, 2023 44:26


    In this episode, IvyWise counselors Robin (formerly at Georgetown and Vanderbilt Universities) and Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) share top tips on how to tackle college application essay prompts.   

    Semester 6: Episode 8: What is Stanford University like?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 31, 2023 31:17


    IvyWise college admissions counselor Mike (formerly at Stanford University) shares insights into the academic offerings, campus life, and application process at Stanford.

    Semester 6: Episode 7: Whom should I ask for letters of recommendation?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 19, 2023 34:19


    In this episode, IvyWise counselors Kim (formerly at UPenn) and Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) share insight into the importance of letters of recommendation.

    Semester 6: Episode 6: What is Yale University like?

    Play Episode Listen Later May 4, 2023 37:24


    IvyWise college admissions counselors and Yale alumni Christine (former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale and Georgetown Universities) and Scott (former Assistant Director of Admissions at Yale) share insights into the academic offerings, campus life, and application process at Yale University.

    Semester 6: Episode 5: How important are transcripts and course rigor?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 20, 2023 39:27


    IvyWise college admissions counselors Robin (formerly at Georgetown and Vanderbilt Universities) and Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) answer a seemingly simple question: How important are transcripts and course rigor? They use examples and case studies to break down trends, the importance of course selection, and grades.

    Semester 6: Episode 4: What's going on with standardized testing?

    Play Episode Listen Later Apr 7, 2023 30:42


    IvyWise Master Tutor Carl and College Admissions Counselor Tasha discuss recent changes to the standardized testing landscape and share top test prep tips for college-bound students.

    Semester 6: Episode 3: What is MIT like?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 24, 2023 41:26


    IvyWise counselors Katie (Former Senior Assistant Director of Admissions at MIT) and Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) share insight into the academic offerings, campus life, and application process at MIT.

    Semester 6: Episode 2: What is Columbia University like?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 17, 2023 32:40


    IvyWise counselors Eric (formerly at Columbia University) and Tasha (formerly at USC and Boston University) share insight into the academic offerings, campus life, and application process at Columbia.

    Semester 6: Episode 1: What is the US holistic college admissions rubric?

    Play Episode Listen Later Mar 10, 2023 44:00


    For Semester 6, IvyWise counselor Tasha (former International Admissions Officer at USC and Assistant Director of International Admissions at Boston University) takes over as host. Tasha will be asking her fellow IvyWise colleagues about the different elements of the holistic college admissions rubric and about some of their former institutions. In this season opener, Tasha asks Tiffany (formerly at MIT) and Krista (formerly at Johns Hopkins University) to answer a foundational question: What is the US holistic college admissions rubric?

    Semester 5: Bonus Episode: What should I do if I got deferred?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 16, 2022 33:08


    While getting deferred can be confusing and disappointing, it is important to maintain a positive attitude and take action as soon as possible. Eric (formerly at Columbia University) and Tiffany (formerly at MIT) explain what a deferral means, why it happens, and what deferred students should do next.

    Semester 5: Episode 11: How can college students prepare for grad school/the workforce?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 15, 2022 39:27


    IvyWise Academic Advisor & Graduate School Admissions Counselor Indhika (formerly at Georgetown University), Academic Advising Team Leader & Law School Admissions Counselor Kendra (formerly at Northeastern University), and Academic Advisor & MBA Admissions Counselor Nellie (formerly at The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania) share their top tips for college students who are contemplating going to grad school and/or entering the workforce.

    Season 5: Episode 10: What makes a strong STEM and/or pre-med student?

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 8, 2022 43:58


    IvyWise counselors Juhn (formerly at Stanford University School of Medicine and UC Berkeley), Krista (formerly at Johns Hopkins University), and Rod (formerly at Case Western Reserve University) share their advice for students who are interested in pursuing STEM and/or pre-med tracks. They also address a question from one of our loyal listeners about which universities feed the most students to medical schools.

    Season 5: Episode 9: What are the most common mistakes you see in college applications?

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 17, 2022 46:52


    In this episode, IvyWise counselors Alecia (formerly at Duke University), Danielle (formerly at the University of Pennsylvania), and Kim (formerly at UPenn) discuss the most common mistakes they see when evaluating college applications and share their top dos and don'ts for college-bound students.

    Semester 5: Episode 8: How can students prepare for admissions interviews and auditions?

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 27, 2022 39:12


    In this episode, IvyWise college admissions counselors Eric (formerly at Columbia University and The New School) and Rachel (formerly at Swarthmore College) share top tips on what to expect during admissions interviews and auditions – and how college-bound students can stand out to admissions officers.

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