{"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":"S5E13: Why Passion Projects, Research, and \"Founder\" Titles Are Failing Students (And What Admissions Officers Actually Value)","slug":"s5e13-why-passion-projects-research-and-founder-titles-are-failing-students-and-what-admissions-officers-actually-value","published_at":"2026-05-15T22:57:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/s5e13-why-passion-projects-research-and-founder-titles-are-failing-students-and-what-admissions-officers-actually-value","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707","url":"https://0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12.libsyn.com/s5e13-why-passion-projects-research-and-founder-titles-are-failing-students-and-what-admissions-officers-actually-value","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12/FINAL_AUDIO_Ratings_Reply_5.10__-_51526_11.11AM.mp3?dest-id=3894051","summary":"To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 h ttps://admittedly.co/path-to-admissions/?utm_source=instagram&utm_medium=organic-social&utm_campaign=&utm_contentid= In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down one of the most misunderstood trends in modern college admissions: passion projects. From student-founded nonprofits to performative research projects, Thomas explains why many of these activities fail to stand out — and why admissions officers are becoming increasingly skeptical of formulaic extracurricular strategies. Instead of chasing impressive-sounding titles or copying what other applicants are doing, Thomas argues that students should focus on authentic engagement, meaningful contribution, and real-world responsibility. He also explains why jobs, family responsibilities, and sustained involvement in existing organizations often carry more weight than students realize. Key Takeaways • Most \"passion projects\" today are highly performative and rarely differentiate applicants. • Admissions officers care more about authenticity and impact than flashy titles. • Starting a nonprofit or business is extremely difficult — and most student projects never gain traction. • Students often waste valuable time pursuing activities they think will \"look good.\" • Meaningful involvement in an existing organization can be more powerful than founding something new. • Jobs, caregiving responsibilities, and real-world work experience demonstrate maturity, grit, and resilience. • Strong extracurriculars should reflect genuine curiosity and sustained commitment — not admissions trends. Conclusion The strongest applications are not built around manufactured passion projects or i…","meta_description":"To speak with an advisor and build a smarter college admissions strategy, book a Complimentary Strategy Call at: 👉 h ttps://admittedly.co/path-to-admissio…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1438,"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/s5e13-why-passion-projects-research-and-founder-titles-are-failing-students-and-what-admissions-officers-actually-value/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/s5e13-why-passion-projects-research-and-founder-titles-are-failing-students-and-what-admissions-officers-actually-value.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}