This Mom Just Revealed What REALLY Got Her Daughter Into USC & Northeastern...

Welcome to College Admission Secrets, your trusted guide in the college admissions journey.

In today’s email:

• Success Story: From Dance to Pre-Med: How One Student's Authentic Journey Led to Multiple Top School Acceptances - Including USC and Northeastern

• What to Do This Week: Actionable next steps for every grade level to stay on track with college prep

• Scholarships: Three more incredible opportunities with upcoming deadlines

• Lesson of the Week: How to Build a College-Worthy Activity List That Stands Out

• Training Replays: Catch the latest expert-led sessions on financial aid, community college transfers, and more

Whether you are just starting to think about college or deep in the process, this week’s insights will help you navigate the journey with greater clarity and confidence.

SUCCESS STORY OF THE WEEK

From Dance to Pre-Med: How One Student's Authentic Journey Led to Multiple Top School Acceptances

Meet one of our students, who just received admissions to USC, Northeastern and many other incredible top colleges & universities.

But this time, we actually interviewed her mom - so you get a parent’s perspective on how we worked with her daughter, Zara in this process.

Building Strong Foundations

While many focus solely on perfect grades, Zara's story demonstrates the power of authentic interests. As a straight-A student with a background in ballet and remarkable artistic abilities, she didn't just follow the typical path. Her interest in sports medicine emerged organically through her dance experience, leading her to explore physiotherapy and her school's sports medicine program.

Turning Passion into Impact

What makes this journey particularly inspiring is how Zara stayed true to herself while exploring new directions. As her mother shared…

Instead of simply joining clubs to "check boxes," Zara focused on meaningful engagement.

Her mother noted…

This authentic approach proved more valuable than trying to pad her resume with superficial activities.

Strategic Academic Choice

By working with egelloC, Zara made strategic decisions about her academic path, including:

• Carefully selected dual enrollment courses

• Thoughtful course selection for senior year

• Focus on building a genuine foundation in her areas of interest

In addition, we also helped with her essays:

• Shape essays that highlighted her unique journey from arts to science

• Present her experiences in a way that showcased both creativity and analytical abilities

• Connect her artistic background with her scientific aspirations

The Results

Zara's authentic approach led to remarkable outcomes:

• Acceptance to USC's competitive human biology program

• Admission to Northeastern's program with co-op opportunities

• Half-ride scholarships at both USF and Santa Clara

• Acceptance into honors programs

• Additional scholarship recognition, including the Getty Scholar program at USF

What makes this success particularly meaningful is that it wasn't about following a predetermined path. As her mother reflected, "I think picking the right colleges and then honing your personal statement and essays really [made the difference]." The process helped Zara find schools that truly matched her unique combination of interests and abilities.

Her story reminds us that college admissions success isn't about conforming to expectations - it's about authentically presenting your journey and finding institutions that value your unique perspective and experiences.

WHAT TO DO THIS WEEK

Week of February 25th

Middle School Families

Start a Personal Pproject Project

• Help your child brainstorm topics they love (STEM, writing, business, music, etc.) and how they can turn them into a project.

• Guide them to research problems or needs in their community that align with their interests.

• Set a simple goal for this week (e.g., draft a project idea, create an action plan, or reach out to a mentor).

9th Grade Families

Research Summer Programs

• Search for programs related to your child’s interests (STEM, arts, leadership, etc.). Some great places to check: local universities, nonprofit organizations, and online courses.

• Make a shortlist of 3-5 programs and check application deadlines. Some have March deadlines!

• Help your student start an application by drafting an essay or requesting a recommendation letter if needed.

10th Grade Families

Plan for SAT/ACT Prep (Even if Test-Optional)

• Take a free practice SAT or ACT test (College Board, ACT website, or Khan Academy) to gauge where they stand.

• Decide which test to focus on based on strengths and preferred test format.

• Create a study plan for the next few months—use a mix of self-study, online resources, or test prep classes.

11th Grade Families

Build a College List

• Research 5-10 schools and note important factors: majors, location, size, and selectivity.

• Check each college’s average GPA & test scores to gauge academic fit.

• Sign up for virtual or in-person campus tours to get a feel for the schools.

12th Grade Families

Prepare for Scholarship & Financial Aid Deadlines

• Confirm FAFSA/CSS Profile submission is complete and check for any missing documents.

• Search for scholarships with March deadlines (Fastweb, Scholarships.com, and local organizations).

• Have your student draft one solid scholarship essay that can be repurposed for multiple applications.

SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships of the Week

Each week, we handpick a few scholarships that are currently accepting applications. Here are this week's opportunities:

Unboxing Your Life" Video Scholarship

• Award Amount: $25,000

• Deadline: March 15, 2025

• Eligibility: Must be a high school senior planning to enter college in fall 2025. Must demonstrate critical financial need ($55,000 or lower adjusted gross family income). Must be involved in co-curricular and community service activities. Must maintain a minimum GPA of 2.0. Must be a United States citizen. Must have faced and overcome significant adversity. Learn more about the Horatio Alger National Scholarship!

Make Noise Today Scholarship

• Award Amount: $5,000

• Deadline: April 30, 2025

• Eligibility: Must be a current high school senior, undergraduate, or graduate student enrolled at an accredited US college or university. Must be pursuing a degree in one of the qualifying fields: Audio Engineering, Sound Design, Music Production, Music Technology, Audio Technology, Music Industry, or Commercial Music. Must demonstrate academic achievement with a minimum 3.0 GPA. Must submit a portfolio showcasing your work in music/audio production. Learn more about the Make Noise Today Scholarship!

Science Without Borders Challenge

• Award Amount: $500 - $1,500

• Deadline: March 7, 2025

• Eligibility: Must be a student between the ages of 11-19 years old. Must submit original artwork that illustrates how we can use innovation and technology to help solve ocean issues and conserve marine life. Open to students worldwide. Students do not need to be enrolled in art classes to participate. Multiple award tiers available: 1st Place ($1,500), 2nd Place ($1,000), and 3rd Place ($500). Learn more about the Science Without Borders Challenge!

LESSON OF THE WEEK

How to Build a College-Worthy Activity List (What Admissions Want)

Most students think college applications are all about having the “right” activities, but admissions officers care more about how you describe what you did than the activity itself.

A strong activity list is not just a list. It is a story of impact.

Tactical Tip: Use the “Verb + Context + Impact” Formula

When listing your activities, avoid generic descriptions. Instead, use this three-part formula to highlight leadership and results.

Example 1 - Weak Description
“Volunteered at a food bank.”

Example 2 - Strong Description
"Organized weekly food drives at a local food bank, collecting and distributing 500+ meals to families in need."

Why this works
✅ Verb: Shows initiative (Organized) instead of a passive role (Volunteered).
✅ Context: Adds detail to paint a clear picture.
✅ Impact: Quantifies results and highlights leadership.

This is just one strategy that makes admissions officers stop and take notice.

Want to Learn More?

Join us on Thursday at 6 PM Pacific for a special training on how to build a college-worthy activity list that stands out.

Click the button below and let us know where to send your training.

Tap the Button to register for the live training:

On This Special Training, You Will Discover

Which activities matter most to colleges and how to strategically build a standout extracurricular profile…

How to showcase your achievements in the right way so admissions officers understand the impact of your involvement…

The secret to turning any activity into an impressive story, even if you do not think you have big accomplishments yet…

ADDITIONAL TRAINING VIDEOS

Catch Last Week’s Most Popular Training Replays

Did you know that every week our coaches host live training sessions and share inspiring success stories? Here are two of our most impactful sessions from the last few weeks!

• Community College Pathway 101 with Coach Tony - In this comprehensive training, Coach Tony, a former UC Berkeley admissions reader, breaks down the community college transfer path as an alternative to the traditional 4-year route. He explains how students can save up to $70-80k while still earning the same degree, shares insider tips on transfer admission guarantees, and addresses common concerns about the community college experience. Families found his cost-benefit analysis and strategic planning advice particularly valuable for evaluating all their college options.

• Financial Aid Updates & FAFSA Guide with Coach David - Former college admissions reader and financial aid expert Coach David provides critical updates on recent changes affecting financial aid, including Department of Education funding shifts and new requirements. He walks through the FAFSA filing process step-by-step, debunks common misconceptions, and shares strategic insights for maximizing aid opportunities. This session was especially helpful for families wanting to understand how to navigate the complex financial aid landscape.

Watch these replays to hear real stories and get actionable insights you can apply to your own college preparation journey. Our honest, conversation-style interviews break down the complex college admissions process into clear, relatable experiences.

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