{"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":"S5E7: Why I Built Admittedly After 20 Years in College Admissions — and Where We're Going Next","slug":"s5e7-why-i-built-admittedly-after-20-years-in-college-admissions-and-where-we-re-going-next","published_at":"2026-02-11T14:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707/s5e7-why-i-built-admittedly-after-20-years-in-college-admissions-and-where-we-re-going-next","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/admittedly-college-admissions-with-thomas-caleel-6069707","url":"https://0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12.libsyn.com/s5e7-why-i-built-admittedly-after-20-years-in-college-admissions-and-where-were-going-next","audio_url":"https://traffic.libsyn.com/secure/0d82b450-fcc2-4086-b871-7e76ac366a12/S5E7-_Why_I_Built_Admittedly_After_20_Years_in_College_Admissions__and_Where_Were_Going_Next_.mp3?dest-id=3894051","summary":"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…","meta_description":"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 Admitted…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":1402,"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/s5e7-why-i-built-admittedly-after-20-years-in-college-admissions-and-where-we-re-going-next/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/s5e7-why-i-built-admittedly-after-20-years-in-college-admissions-and-where-we-re-going-next.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}