Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel

🎓 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 Podcast, Thomas Caleel shares what ninth graders (and their parents) should actually be thinking about as they begin high school. From choosing rigorous courses and building relationships with teachers to exploring extracurriculars, asking for help early, and making the most of freshman summer, Thomas explains how to start strong without turning ninth grade into an admissions pressure cooker.
Key Takeaways
Why your ninth-grade academic choices can shape your options later in high school
How to build strong relationships with teachers from day one
Why freshman year is the time to explore activities
How to recognize academic struggles early and ask for help before you're playing catch-up
Why intellectual curiosity matters more than knowing your future major at 14
How parents can support exploration without imposing their own expectations
What to start thinking about now to make freshman summer meaningful
Conclusion
Ninth grade is a transition, and no student needs to have everything figured out. But for students with highly selective college ambitions, drifting through freshman year isn't a strategy either. Focus on strong academic habits, explore what genuinely interests you, build relationships, ask for help when you need it, and use this year to create a foundation you can build on throughout high school.
🎓 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.
📱 Follow Admittedly for more college admissions strategy:
Instagram & TikTok: @admittedlyco

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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
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In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel goes inside the college essay review process from an admissions officer's perspective. With admissions readers moving through thousands of applications, a "beautiful" essay isn't enough—your essays need to communicate something meaningful about who you are and make sense within the larger story of your application.
Thomas breaks down the Common App personal statement, supplemental essays, additional information, and circumstances essays—and the role each should play. He also tackles some of the most common mistakes he sees, from manufactured trauma and résumé-style essays to copying successful essays, misusing AI, and letting parents over-edit a student's voice.
Key Takeaways
Why your essays need to support the strategy of your entire application
What admissions officers are actually trying to learn from your personal essay
Why great essays need a strong hook—but shouldn't start with one
Common essay topics and approaches that often miss the mark
How to use supplemental, additional information, and circumstances essays strategically
Why copying "essays that worked" can actually make your writing less effective
Where parents and AI can—and shouldn't—fit into the writing process
Your college essay should sound like you, but that doesn't mean you have to figure out whether it's working on your own. Before you submit, make sure your essay is doing its job: adding something meaningful to your application, communicating your story clearly, and giving an admissions officer a reason to keep reading.
🎓 Looking for more comprehensive admissions support? Learn more about working with Admittedly's team of former Ivy+ admissions officers.
📱 Follow Admittedly: Instagram & TikTok: @admittedlyco




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🎓 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.
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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 Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down academic rigor and how families should think strategically about course selection from middle school through senior year. From AP, IB, and A-Level programs to math sequencing and intended majors, Thomas explains why individual course decisions need to be considered as part of a much longer academic trajectory.
Key Takeaways
Why GPA alone doesn't tell admissions officers enough
How course selection can shape your options years later
What "academic rigor" actually means at highly selective colleges
How AP, IB, A-Level, and advanced courses factor into admissions
Why your intended major should influence your academic trajectory
Conclusion
Academic rigor isn't about taking the hardest class simply because it exists. It's about building a thoughtful academic trajectory that demonstrates curiosity, preparation, and the ability to succeed in the field you hope to pursue. The strongest course strategy looks beyond this semester and asks: What does this choice make possible next year... and the year after that?
🎓 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.
📱 Follow Admittedly for more college admissions strategy:
Instagram & TikTok: @admittedlyco

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 unpack the different paths students take—from community college to four-year universities, to students realizing their current college simply isn't the right fit, to families considering transfer as a deliberate admissions strategy. They also explain why transfer admissions is its own process and why strong college grades alone aren't enough.
Key Topics:
The different reasons students pursue transfer admissions (and which ones make the strongest case)
Why your high school transcript can still matter in transfer admissions
The importance of college grades, professor relationships, recommendations, and campus involvement
Why admissions officers scrutinize your reason for leaving your current institution
Whether you can reuse essays from your original freshman application
How SAT and ACT scores can factor into a transfer application
Transfer vs. gap year: what students should consider before choosing either path
Why every college's transfer policies, requirements, priorities, and credit rules need to be researched individually
Considering a Transfer?
Admittedly's transfer programs are designed for students preparing to apply now as well as students who are earlier in college and want to position themselves strategically for a potential transfer later.
From course selection and academic performance to campus involvement, recommendations, testing, school selection, and the application itself, the decisions you make before applying can significantly shape your options.
📅 Speak with the Admittedly team about your transfer strategy:
Apply for a Complimentary Strategy Call
📱 Follow Admittedly:
Instagram & TikTok: @admittedlyco

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 and exploring interests to understanding academic pathways and preparing for the transition to high school, Thomas shares how families can support students without creating unnecessary pressure.
Key Takeaways
Why middle school should focus on exploration.
How study habits and executive functioning become long-term advantages.
Why extracurricular involvement is about curiosity and discipline, not checking boxes.
The importance of preparing for the transition into ninth grade.
How early academic decisions can impact future course options.
Why parents should guide the process without taking it over.
How Admittedly's Middle School Program helps families prepare with confidence.
Middle school isn't about getting ahead for the sake of getting ahead. It's about giving students the time, support, and confidence to discover who they are before the stakes get higher. A thoughtful foundation today creates more opportunities tomorrow.
To speak with an advisor and learn more about Admittedly's Middle School Program, book a Complimentary Strategy Call:
https://admittedly.co/middle-school/
Watch our Middle School Episode With Dr. Peggy: https://youtu.be/2pNkKqLh1CU?si=guJKzHZnroSokVIk 
Watch our Episode About Executive Functioning: https://youtu.be/ywv1arlTbkY?si=eYGOLSxhZ7y5lz_h 
Instagram & TikTok: @admittedlyco