College With Mattie

My Central Jersey released an article titled "5 red flags for college admissions officers". This week Mattie and Michelle are reviewing those red flags and providing solutions for students who see them in their applications. https://www.mycentraljersey.com/story/news/education/college/2024/12/08/5-red-flags-for-college-admissions-officers/76798269007/

Applying to college is a lengthy and complicated process. Knowing what to do and when is confusing and overwhelming, so in this episode Mattie and Michelle break down the timeline students need to follow. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/complex-applications-create-barriers-to-college-some-are-trying-to-change-that/

Aside from your education, your high school influences the college you'll go to in other ways. In this week's episode, Mattie introduces Michelle to Polaris List, talks about feeder schools, why they seem to matter, and who your competition really is.  

Rick Singer is out of prison and it's time to revisit the Varsity Blues scandal and how the world of college consulting responded. Mattie and Michelle discuss what Rick Singer is doing now and what you need to look for in a college consultant. Read more about Mattie's thoughts at the time: https://www.collegewithmattie.com/my-take-on-operation-varsity-blues-the-college-admissions-scandal-as-a-fell...

In this week's episode, Mattie breaks down college essay writing and the main elements a successful essay incorporates. These tips can teach you how to craft a compelling essay that resonates with the reader and improve your overall writing.

The Supreme Court banned college admissions based on race and ended affirmative action programs in higher education. Mattie and Michelle discuss how this has changed the landscape of admitted students and how universities are responding to the situation. When is race still relevant? When and how should you bring it up in your application?

One of the basic principles of Mattie's FLL strategy is to back up your major. This helps potential colleges get a clear idea of the place you'd have at their campus. In this episode, Mattie breaks down how this works and how you can use your goals to earn a spot at the college of your choice.  

As California bans legacy admissions, Mattie and Michelle discuss what this means for legacy students and non, as well as how they predict this unfolding. Tune in to see how this affects you and how to adapt your strategy for getting into college.  

Mattie breaks down his method: F*cking Love Learning. FLL forsters intellectual vitality and academic enthusiasm to make your essay stand out and get you into college. How do you apply it? Why does it work?

Michelle and Mattie delve into the impact of AI tools like ChatGPT on college admissions and essay writing. Is it cheating? Is it a tool? Does it do a good job? As students turn to AI tools more and more, the question of how appropriate that is rises.  

Mattie dives into the most common pieces of bad advice students receive when they begin the college admissions process. Learn how to seek out the advice that is best for you and how to recognize the so-called tips that may be holding you back.  

Michelle chooses some essays used by students who got into Harvard and Mattie analyzes the elements that work and the problems they present to surface vital essay writing tips. The essays are found on The Crimson: https://www.thecrimson.com/topic/sponsored-successful-harvard-essays-2024/

Mattie breaks down college essays and the most common reason most of them fail: omniscient narration. Learn to recognize the ways fiction writing can surface in your college essay, why it damages your authenticity, and how to fix it.