{"podcast":{"title":"Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel","slug":"admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707","podcast_index_feed_id":6069707,"rss_url":"https://feeds.libsyn.com/461571/rss","website_url":"https://sites.libsyn.com/461571","image_url":"https://static.libsyn.com/p/assets/7/0/7/9/70790ea0084cb796a04421dee9605cbd/AP_cover_art.png","author":"Thomas Caleel","episode_count":136,"summary":"Does thinking about applying to college, grad school, or prep school make your head spin? The Admittedly Podcast is for both parents and students preparing for or navigating school admissions. We aim to demystify the admissions process and share with you what you really need to know to succeed. Our host, Thomas Caleel, former director of MBA admissions and financial aid for the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, is here to help. He is a lifelong entrepreneur and CEO of a global admissions consulting agency where he works with families worldwide to help them achieve their educational goals. New episodes go live every Tuesday and Thursday. Learn from our guest speakers, live coaching sessions, and weekly solo episodes. Have admissions questions you'd like answered on the show? Apply to be coached by Thomas himself on one of our upcoming recordings. In this podcast, we don't promise easy answers or quick fixes. But with decades of experience under his belt, Thomas will address the practical aspects of applying to school and how to think like an admissions officer to improve your college or prep school application.","last_synced_at":null,"page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707"},"episode":{"title":"S4E37: The 3 Biggest Mistakes Students Make in High School (And How to Fix Them Before Senior Year)","slug":"s4e37-the-3-biggest-mistakes-students-make-in-high-school-and-how-to-fix-them-before-senior-year","published_at":"2025-10-28T21:27:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/s4e37-the-3-biggest-mistakes-students-make-in-high-school-and-how-to-fix-them-before-senior-year","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707","url":"https://0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12.libsyn.com/s4e37-the-3-biggest-mistakes-students-make-in-high-school-and-how-to-fix-them-before-senior-year","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12/PODCAST_3_Mistakes_10.19_-_102825_2.24PM.mp3?dest-id=3894051","summary":"In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel breaks down the three most common mistakes he sees students make year after year in the college admissions process — and how to correct them before it's too late. Drawing on more than two decades of admissions experience, including his time as Director of MBA Admissions at UPenn's Wharton School, Thomas explains why the strongest applicants aren't just the ones with high GPAs or perfect test scores. They're the ones who build a compelling story, act strategically, and take ownership of their journey. Whether your student is just starting high school or in the middle of the application process, this episode offers practical advice on how to stand out in today's hyper-competitive admissions landscape. Key Takeaways 1. No Story Top students don't just collect activities — they craft a clear narrative. Admissions officers want to understand who you are, what drives you, and how your choices connect. Story-building starts earlier than most families think, and it requires intentional reflection. 2. No Strategy Doing everything is not a strategy. Students who spread themselves too thin dilute their impact. Thomas shares how to audit your commitments, focus on meaningful pursuits, and show depth over breadth — the key to a memorable application. 3. No Ownership Parents, counselors, and peers can offer support, but the most powerful applications come from students who take charge of their journey. True ownership builds voice, maturity, and self-awareness — qualities that can't be faked in essays or interviews. Even in a world of rising selectivity and grade inflation, students who approach the process with story, strategy, and ownership stand out. Visit www.admittedly.co for free resources and guidance on college adm…","meta_description":"In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel breaks down the three most common mistakes he sees students make year after year in the coll…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":969,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/episodes/s4e37-the-3-biggest-mistakes-students-make-in-high-school-and-how-to-fix-them-before-senior-year/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/s4e37-the-3-biggest-mistakes-students-make-in-high-school-and-how-to-fix-them-before-senior-year.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}