This week, join Tokyo Academics Admissions Consultant Jennifer Liepin as she engages in an insightful discussion with Kirsten Sharett, a seasoned Admissions Consulting professional and former Princeton Admissions Advisor. Kirsten specializes in story-driven coaching, helping students create compelling narratives that shine in their college applicat…

This week, Tokyo Academics Admissions Consultant Jennifer Liepin sits down with Claire Gerety-Mott, a professional writer and director who specializes in film school admissions. A graduate of Columbia University Film School, Claire brings a wealth of knowledge from both the film industry and film education. In this episode, she'll share invaluable …

This week, Tokyo Academics Admissions Consultant Jennifer Liepin discusses the growing trend of direct admissions. In this episode, we explore the origins of this innovative practice, its operational mechanics, and the underlying motivations driving colleges to adopt it. Jennifer provides expert insights into how direct admissions can benefit both …

This week on the Accepted Podcast, Admissions Consultant Jennifer Liepin interviews Shaurya Baruah, a senior at the Peddie School who will be studying computer science at the University of Michigan this fall. Jennifer and Shaurya discuss the boarding school experience and share valuable lessons for high school students aiming to develop their inter…

This week, Tokyo Academics Admissions Consultant Jennifer Liepin sits down with Eren Harris, an experienced former admissions consultant and the former Head of Admissions at PrepScholar. Eren, who holds a Bachelor's degree from Yale and a Master's degree from Harvard, is well-versed in the world of elite education. In this episode, Eren discusses t…

In this extended episode, Tokyo Academics Admissions Consultant Jennifer Liepin sits down with Brandon Mack, a former Rice University Admissions Director and seasoned Non-Profit Professional. With a wealth of experience in higher education, advocacy, and private consulting, Brandon offers deep insights into the world of admissions officers. The dis…

This week, Jennifer shares key insights on the return of test-mandatory for many top-tier universities. We're diving deep into the research that's fueling this shift, exploring if standardized tests truly predict college success, especially for students from diverse backgrounds. We'll also explore what this means for the future of college applicati…

This week, we're joined by Jennifer Liepin, a seasoned admissions consultant with a passion for educational equity. With over 20 years of experience, Jennifer shares key insights from the recent admissions cycle, highlighting what makes students stand out to top-tier universities. Known for her success in guiding students to Ivy League and Top 20 s…

"How optional is optional?" has arguably become one of the most controversial questions in the admissions landscape with regards to standardized testing. However, recent data from MIT and a New York Times article both suggest that there may be some merit to top schools reintroducing some form of standardized testing as a requirement. This becomes a…

One of the most important parts of this podcast is the opportunity to respond to questions from students and parents. This week, Tyler responds to a student inquiry about seeking out impactful summer opportunities and discerning which options are going to provide the greatest outcomes for the investment of time. With the plethora of options comes a…

Advanced Placement examinations are one of many ways to demonstrate to colleges that you are academically ready for the rigor of their institution. The breadth and flexibility of the AP program means that it absolutely should be considered as part of any college application strategy, even if you are not attending a school that offers AP. However, w…

In this week's episode, Tyler sits down with Oxford alum and UK education specialist, Maggie. Together, they delve deep into the intricacies of UK university admissions, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of what it takes to secure a place in one of these prestigious institutions. Whether you're a student who's dreaming of study…

It's the holiday season, which for many means an opportunity to give back. But for college admissions, are a few winter break community service hours going to be enough? In response to a listener question, Tyler spends some time talking about the importance of community impact, dismisses some myths about what counts as "meaningful" volunteer work, …

Join us for an insightful conversation with Dr. Jason Cody Douglass as we delve into the world of the Yale Young Global Scholars program. Discover what makes this program a game-changer in the realm of summer educational opportunities, unraveling its essence, significance, and the qualities that define an ideal candidate. Dr. Douglass sheds light o…

It's that time of year. Kids are out of school for 2-3 weeks, and all parents seem to see is some combination of video games, hanging out with friends, and screen time. Winter break is certainly a period to take a breather from the intensity of fall, but it is also an essential time, without competing priorities, to really start planning your futur…

The UC application is due in just a few days! There are a lot of key differences between the UC application and the Common App, and with that comes a variety of ways to both make mistakes on and maximize your application. This week, Tyler offers some final advice on how to make sure your UC applications really shine, covering the UCs unique grading…

There’s no time to waste! Even though it is only November, many competitive summer programs have application deadlines coming up soon. Don’t let a missed deadline be the reason you can’t have a meaningful summer. This week, Tyler talks about the importance of starting your summer research early, and provides advice on how to filter and find the bes…

Note: This podcast was recorded on October 31st, 2023. Submissions have begun! If you've already done so, congratulations! You've passed one major milestone! For those of you who are still working away to get that essay just right or fix those activities, Tyler will share some final tips about ensuring a smooth submission. He will also talk a littl…

Does it really matter if I open that email? Will joining UCLA's Summer Institute increase my chances of getting in? Do I really have to tour a school to have a chance? Are schools really tracking all of this? There are many, many questions around the ambiguous metric of demonstrated interest and how that really affects your chances of getting into …

The word "optional" is showing up a lot across college applications everywhere. Whether it be test scores, resumes, additional recommenders, or even the supplemental essays themselves, choice (or the illusion of it) is more prominent than ever. What does this all mean? Is there a disadvantage to not filling out absolutely everything? Why are they g…

There are a lot of misconceptions out there about how to best strategize around a college application. The beliefs range from the reasonable - "Test optional can't possibly really mean optional, can it?" - to the extreme - "Should I buy a house in Sacramento so my child is considered in state for UC Berkeley?" As part of an ongoing series, Tyler wi…

As we get closer to the first round of application deadlines, Tyler takes some time to review the differences between Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, and any other terms that may affect your overall college list building and application strategy. As more schools lean into accepting more students Early Decision, what does tha…

In the midst of what is already a time filled with stress and indecision, The U.S. News and World Report has decided to release its new college rankings, incorporating a new algorithm that addresses the ongoing criticism it has recently come under. This revision has led to notable shifts in rank for several schools, as well as a renewed skepticism …

College applications have lots of restrictions. Whether it be word count, number of recommendations, size of your portfolio, or even the length of your school list, there are limits. This means that every opportunity you have to provide additional information matters, especially when colleges are placing so much emphasis on "holistic" admissions. S…

Every industry is leaning into the importance of data and analytics to optimize their strategies and decision making. Your college application process is no exception to this. But with all the information out there, how can a student make sure the data they are looking at is accurate and reliable? This week, Tyler takes a deep dive into a resource …

With all the changes happening in the world of college admissions, and especially the recent Supreme Court Decision, this is a particularly important year to take a look at how college supplemental essays have shifted. This week, Tyler dives into a few of the new prompts, and suggests what these changes might mean for prospective students in terms …

This week, Tyler chats with Elia, a Japanese national and TASIS aluma, now navigating her college journey at Trinity. Dive into her transformative years at The American School In Switzerland, the cultural contrasts she faced, and how those pivotal moments in Lugano led her to discover her true calling. Tune in to learn about the pros and cons of a …

As viewpoints and opinions become increasingly polarized in a world of social media, few schools have embraced the need for discourse in the way Claremont McKenna has. This week, Tyler sits down with Associate Dean of Admissions Jennifer Hirsch to discuss CMC’s unique approach to engaging with difference and disagreement as essential learning exper…

In this week's episode, Tyler engages in a long form discussion with Lee Coffin, Vice Provost for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Dartmouth College. They delve into the shifting dynamics of the admissions landscape, influenced by significant global developments such as the pandemic. Coffin sheds light on the nuances of Dartmo…

This episode was recorded before the Supreme Court ruling on the use of race in college admissions. In this episode, Tyler engages in a thoughtful conversation with Dr. Anna Wise, Associate Dean of Admission and Director of International Recruitment for Hamilton College, to unpack the concept of Hamilton's open curriculum and its relevance in today…

This week, Tyler sits down with Adam Sapp, Assistant Vice President & Director of Admissions for Pomona College, to discuss the value of a liberal arts education in a rapidly changing world, and how Pomona College empowers students to explore diverse fields through interdisciplinary learning. Adam delves into the mechanisms Pomona College uses to f…

With colleges still scrambling to decide on their admissions policies after the Supreme Court's decision around affirmative action, one of the elements of the application that has received greater spotlight is the college essay. With many colleges likely to adopt some sort of measurement of adversity as a means of continuing to ensure diversity in …

With the recent landmark decision on race-conscious admissions policies, the Supreme Court has forced colleges to quickly re-evaluate their admissions criteria for the upcoming cycle and beyond. This week, Tyler shares his initial reactions to the decision, thoughts implications for the future, and suggests how students and families can best start …

With the ever increasing cost of college tuition, especially for international students, the question of how to even go about affording a college education is more important than ever. This challenge becomes magnified by the myriad and murky processes surrounding financial aid and scholarships. This week, Tyler dives into some strategies to go abou…

Even if you're only aiming for the very top tier universities, you're probably approaching your college research the wrong way. While many of these top universities are comfortable with their position and aren't really taking risks in terms of innovation, many of the schools immediately behind them are doing their very best to disrupt the status qu…

Some big news to cover this week as Columbia decides to no longer submit data to the U.S. News and World Report College Rankings. What does this mean, and how might it affect rankings going forward? After that, Tyler digs a little bit further into what you actually need to demonstrate in your application to get into a good undergraduate engineering…

With the world of business increasingly adopting AI and machine learning to drive its decision-making, choosing an undergraduate business degree that is best fit for you is critical. Business programs in particular tend to vary the most among bachelor's degrees when it comes to the actual learning experience, so it's essential to go beyond the rank…

As costs of college continue to rise, greater scrutiny has been placed on the general education requirements of universities. Why am I paying so much money for my child - who knows they want to be a computer scientist - to take classes in food science and a physical education? This week, Tyler digs into a recent article from the Chronicle of Higher…

Building on last week's discussion of college application x-factors, Tyler takes some time this week to dive deeper into the essential character building that is inherent in the process of weaving your extracurriculars together. With colleges increasingly looking for mature, thoughtful, impact-oriented young adults, it is more important than ever t…

How can you make sure your college application will stand out among thousands of other applicants, especially when your painstakingly and strategically assembled application is only going to get around 8-10 minutes of an admissions officer's time? This week, Tyler dives into the college "x-factor," the element of your portfolio that makes you memor…

If life is like a box of chocolates, college is like a cup of Starbucks: fully customizable, highly energizing, and a little overpriced. This week, Tyler goes deep into the college menu to offer some tools to explore your college research and list building, identify the factors that are most important to you, and create a more personalized set of s…

When building your college list, it's easy to gravitate towards the biggest names and the highest rankings. But there will always be a difference between the best colleges and the best colleges for you. In this episode, Tyler talks through some examples of his past students who have found greater college and professional success by prioritizing bes…

With the majority of colleges reporting their 2022-23 results, it's time to take a look at the data and start planning ahead. This week, Tyler begins by diving into some of the recent acceptance numbers and predicts what this may mean for upcoming admissions cycles. He then explores how to start strategically seeking out the hidden university gems …

This week, admissions expert Tyler Kusunoki discusses the University of Pennsylvania's recent policy change around legacy admissions and what that means for the admissions landscape for years to come. Join free webinars at www.tokyoacademics.com/events Need help applying to college? Contact us for a free consultation where we'll discuss your streng…

This week, admissions expert Tyler Kusunoki wraps up his series on the Common Application essay prompts with prompt #6: Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more? Tune in to hear Tyler's advice on approaching thi…

This week, admissions expert Tyler Kusunoki continues his series diving into the Common App essay prompts. In this episode, he discusses the essay prompt #5: Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others. Tune in to learn whether or not this prompt is right fo…

This week, Tyler continues his 4-part series on tackling the Common App essay prompts in 2023. This episode focuses on Common App essay prompt #4: "Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?" Tune in to learn whether this prompt is rig…

This week, college admissions expert Tyler Kusunoki continues his 4-part series on the Common App essays. Tune in as he dives into prompt #3: Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome? Join free webinars at www.tokyoacademics.com/events Need help applying to college? Cont…

This week, admissions expert Tyler Kusunoki continues his series on the Common App prompts and discusses #2: Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience? Tune in as Tyler shares how to approach this question and topics students should avoid. Join free webinars at …

This week, Tyler begins the first of a 4-part series delving into the Common App prompts. He discusses common pitfalls, and shares tips and examples that demonstrate the kind of responses colleges are looking for in 2023. Join free webinars at www.tokyoacademics.com/events Need help applying to college? Contact us for a free consultation where we'l…