Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel

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 sits down with Admittedly's Interim Director of College Counseling and former Senior Admissions Officer at Duke University, Sonam, for a candid look inside how highly selective admissions offices actually evaluate applications.
Sonam reviewed more than 10,000 applications during her time in admissions. She holds degrees from Duke and an MBA from Rice, and she has worked across nearly every side of the process — inside a top university admissions office, in high schools, and in community-based organizations. In short: she understands both how decisions are made and how students should prepare.
Together, Thomas and Sonam pull back the curtain on how admissions officers are trained, how institutional priorities shape decisions, and why the process is far more nuanced than most families realize. They discuss the return of standardized testing, what transcripts really signal, how committee rooms actually function, and why trying to "reverse engineer" a school's priorities is often a mistake.
The conversation also dives deep into extracurricular strategy — what meaningful involvement looks like, how admissions officers spot inconsistencies, and why students don't need ten perfectly aligned activities to be compelling. From late bloomers to school list strategy to regional admissions nuances, this episode gives families a rare insider perspective grounded in real experience.
This is especially valuable for parents and students aiming at highly selective colleges who want clarity about how decisions are made — and how to position themselves with intention rather than guesswork.
Key Takeaways:
• Admissions officers are trained — extensively — to evaluate applications within institutional priorities. • The supplemental essays often reveal more about what a school values than the personal statement. • Standardized testing is returning as a tool to combat grade inflation and assess academic readiness. • Admissions decisions are not pure meritocracies — they are shaped by institutional needs and shifting applicant pools. • Extracurriculars should demonstrate action and authenticity, not just alignment with a proposed major. • Changing direction mid-high school is acceptable — if it's explained thoughtfully and reflects genuine growth. • Students should build school lists based on fit, not assumptions about what a college "wants."
Listeners can continue the conversation by following @admittedlyco on Instagram and TikTok, where Thomas and the Admittedly team answer real admissions questions weekly. Free resources, guides, and webinars are available at admittedly.co.
If your family is ready for strategic, experience-driven guidance, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at admittedly.co/apply.

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 steps away from tactical admissions advice to share the story behind Admittedly — how it started, why it exists, and where it's headed next.
With nearly two decades inside selective admissions, including leading MBA Admissions and Financial Aid at Wharton, Thomas reflects on the experiences that shaped his philosophy as an educator, advisor, and parent. He talks candidly about his own path through boarding school, Penn, entrepreneurship, business school, and admissions leadership — and how working with thousands of families ultimately led him to build an education-first company focused on clarity, strategy, and integrity.
Thomas also explains why Admittedly has grown so quickly: families are exhausted by hacks, shortcuts, and resume-stuffing advice — and are looking instead for honest guidance grounded in real admissions experience. From launching the podcast and free resources to building Early Edge Plus and Early Edge Premium, this episode lays out the long-term vision for how Admittedly supports students not just to get into college, but to become confident, independent, resilient adults.
This episode is especially valuable for new listeners, parents considering professional guidance, and families who want to understand what truly differentiates Admittedly from traditional college consulting.
Key Takeaways:
Admissions outcomes are driven by strategy and intention, not checklists or hacks.

Experience inside elite admissions offices fundamentally changes how guidance should be delivered.

Education sits at the core of Admittedly's mission.

Group learning, multiple admissions perspectives, and intentional planning create stronger outcomes.

The goal isn't just college admission, but building confident, capable young adults.



Listeners can continue the conversation by following @admittedlyco on Instagram and TikTok, where Thomas shares weekly guidance and answers real family questions. Free downloads, webinars, and additional resources are available at admittedly.co.
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 sits down with Kathy Yellen, Senior Program Consultant at Advantage Testing, to pull back the curtain on what most families misunderstand about tutoring and test prep. With 16 years at Advantage Testing and a background spanning early childhood education, classroom teaching, and performance, Kathy explains what her role actually looks like: listening to families, building a roadmap, and "matchmaking" students with the right tutors so the relationship works, not just the schedule.
Together, Thomas and Kathy unpack the real concerns parents bring to the table when they're navigating SAT/ACT prep or academic tutoring for the first time, including confusion, misinformation, and the fear that "we're behind." 
Key Topics:
What Advantage Testing "program consulting" actually is, and why the student-tutor match matters as much as expertise

How families should approach test prep and academic tutoring when they don't know where to start

Why there is no "only way" to prep and how to tune out conflicting opinions and social media noise

What tutoring is (and is not): scaffolding, mentorship, and confidence-building, not replacement or shortcutting

When to consider tutoring, including support, remediation, and enrichment, and why timing depends on the student

Why practice test scores often fluctuate and how to evaluate progress using trendlines, not single data points

How to handle mid-process stress and what to do if the match isn't working (and why course correction should happen early)

Guest:
Kathy Yellen: Senior Program Consultant at Advantage Testing with 16 years of experience supporting families through academic tutoring and test preparation. Kathy holds a BA in English from Tufts University and an MST in Early Childhood Education from Fordham University, and has worked as a teacher, tutor, actor, and singer before joining Advantage Testing.
Learn more about Admittedly's partnership with Advantage Testing: admittedly.co/programs

Follow Admittedly: Instagram and TikTok: @admittedlyco
Follow Advantage Testing: Instagram: @advantagetesting

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, apply for a free Family Action Call with us at admittedly.co/apply.
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel explores one of the most powerful but overlooked advantages in college admissions: planning ahead. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in highly selective admissions, he explains why the most successful families don't leave outcomes to chance but instead make thoughtful, flexible decisions early so students can build academic rigor, explore interests, and stay positioned for competitive opportunities.
Thomas breaks down the difference between healthy planning and overplanning, showing how early decisions around math placement, course rigor, summer strategy, and extracurricular focus can either expand or limit future options. He emphasizes that students don't need every step mapped out, but they do need direction, awareness, and intentional choices that evolve over time, reducing anxiety while strengthening admissions outcomes.
Through real examples, Thomas illustrates how missed opportunities in early academic tracking and last-minute decision-making can quietly close doors to selective programs. He also explains how planning ahead allows students to explore interests with confidence while still staying aligned with long-term academic goals.
Key Takeaways:
• Planning ahead creates opportunity; waiting limits options.
• Early academic choices — especially math track — can significantly impact future admissions paths.
• Rigor matters, and students must position themselves early to access advanced coursework.
• Summers should build on academic interests, not be left to chance.
• Sophomore year difficulty increases — preparation prevents unnecessary stress.
• Conversations about interests should be exploratory, not pressure-driven.
• Junior year planning is urgent; competitive opportunities require early action.
• Momentum matters more than perfection — starting now is always better than waiting.
This episode is especially valuable for parents of middle schoolers, freshmen, sophomores, and juniors who want to approach admissions with clarity instead of panic. Thomas offers practical guidance on starting conversations early, helping students identify genuine interests, and maintaining flexibility while moving forward with intention.
Listeners can continue the conversation by following @admittedlyco on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, where Thomas answers questions and shares weekly admissions guidance. Additional free tools and downloads designed to help families plan with confidence are available at admittedly.co.
To speak with an advisor and develop a personalized roadmap for your student, visit admittedly.co/apply for a free Family Action Call.

To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, apply for a free Family Action Call with us at admittedly.co/apply.
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel takes on one of the most misunderstood parts of college preparation: extracurricular activities. Parents often worry their students aren't doing enough, while students feel overwhelmed trying to "keep up" with friends who seem to be involved in everything. Drawing on nearly two decades of work in selective admissions, Thomas explains why the real problem isn't a lack of activities — it's a lack of intention.
He breaks down what extracurriculars actually signal to admissions officers, why a long list of clubs rarely helps, and how students can create impact by going deeper on the things they genuinely care about. Thomas outlines a clear framework for freshmen, sophomores, and juniors, showing how each year plays a different role in forming a student's academic identity and demonstrating curiosity, leadership, and growth. Through real examples of admitted students — from future engineers to artists to first-gen leaders — listeners learn how meaningful contributions often come from everyday opportunities like jobs, family commitments, summer projects, and community involvement.
This episode is especially valuable for families navigating burnout, confusion, or pressure around extracurriculars, as well as students aiming for highly selective colleges where depth, impact, and authenticity matter far more than checking boxes.
Key Takeaways:
• Extracurriculars are about revealing who you are — not proving how busy you can be.
• Depth and impact matter more than the number of activities on a list.
• Freshmen should explore widely; sophomores should curate; juniors should deepen and lead.
• Summers are a major opportunity to show academic interest through real experiences.
• Jobs, family responsibilities, and community work carry significant weight in admissions.
• The fastest way to fall behind is copying what other students do instead of following your own curiosity.
Listeners can continue the conversation by following @admittedlyco on Instagram and TikTok, where Thomas answers questions and shares weekly admissions guidance. Additional tools, guides, and free resources to help your family approach this process with clarity and confidence can be found at admittedly.co.
To speak with an advisor and map out your student's next steps, visit admittedly.co/apply for a free Family Action Call.