The Game: A Guide to Elite College Admissions
This podcast series breaks down the complex game of elite college admissions, covering strategies and pitfalls for students aiming for top US colleges. Hosted by Sam Hassell, a published scientist and former neuroscience researcher at Columbia University, the show is produced by Great Minds Advising, a premium college consulting service based in the New York Metropolitan Area. The podcast offers deep strategic insight into the application review process, drawing on the company's track record of helping students gain admission to Ivy League and other top-choice schools.
Episodes
Evaluating A Senior’s Application To Top Colleges [Case Study, Part I]
In Part I of this case study, we assess a current senior’s candidacy for highly selective colleges, from a 1540 SAT and strong AP record to the transcript nuances and course selection choices that shape their academic profile.We then examine the student’s climate, energy, and environmental-policy positioning: a clear through-line with relevant leadership, but limited niche differentiation, scale,
Should You “Start An Organization” For Elite College Admissions?
Starting a business or organization may sound like an obvious way to stand out at top colleges, but merely founding something is very different from building something successful enough to matter.In this episode, we examine nine often-overlooked downsides of student-run ventures, from low risk-adjusted returns and predictable applicant positioning to parental involvement, weak execution, and the “
6 Admissions Truths That Sound Completely Wrong
In elite college admissions, intuition can work against you—because the most logical moves are often the ones everyone else is making.In this episode, we unpack six counterintuitive admissions truths, from why colleges that are better “fits” are harder to get into to why elite admissions can punish the very pre-professional ambition that attracts students to top colleges in the first place. We exp
The Truth About Sports & Elite College Admissions
While high school sports may provide many non-admissions benefits, for the vast majority of students, they do very little to improve the odds of admission to top colleges.In this episode, we explain why sports are often highly common, non-differentiating, and irrelevant to most students’ case for admission—while also being extremely costly in terms of time. We cover some notable exceptions (e.g. n
5 Principles That Build Elite Applicants
In this episode, we distill five recurring principles that separate elite applicants from the many high-achieving students who blend into the applicant pools at top colleges.——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell and brought to you by Great Minds Advising.Great Minds Advising’s unique, hands-on mentorship program and its deep strategic insight into the application review process have earned the com
3 Teacher Rec Traps Top Applicants Miss
Teacher recommendation letters are among the most important—yet also most overlooked—components of applications to highly selective colleges, with very few students thinking strategically about the type of information they provide their teachers.In this episode, we examine three common questions found on teacher recommendation questionnaires that can unintentionally weaken an otherwise strong appl
How Elite Colleges Actually Track Students
In this episode, we answer an audience member question related to AI in admissions, specifically its use to pull student and parent data in order to forecast an applicant’s likelihood to “yield,” or enroll at a given college.While AI has given more firepower to the process of tracking demonstrated interest and predicting enrollment, we reveal how colleges have long since been building “yield” mode
Why Elite Admissions Rewards Focus
Top colleges do not reward smart and talented students; they reward students who have harnessed their abilities toward impact in a specific area.In this episode, using two student examples, we reveal the costs of operating without a plan—from constant jumping between interests and activities to allowing outside influences to dictate actions that are misaligned with a student’s admissions goals.Ult
The Summer Mindset Hurting Your Candidacy
For many students targeting top colleges, summer has become synonymous with college admissions. Summer programs, summer internships, and summer research are treated as though they are the key to building a competitive candidacy.In this episode, we challenge this common view and explain why students, parents, and the college admissions industry at large dramatically overestimate the importance of s
Refining A Junior’s Profile For Top Colleges
In this case study episode, we analyze the profile of a high-achieving junior interested in political science, public policy, and pre-law. Despite a 4.0 GPA, top 1% class rank, strong course rigor, and a 34 ACT, the student’s extracurricular profile currently lacks the type of focused depth and differentiation required to stand out among applicants targeting highly selective colleges.We break down
The Niche Strategy Behind A Harvard & Stanford Admit
In this episode, we break down a viral parent forum post from the family of a student allegedly admitted to Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, and MIT. The post argues that in today’s admissions landscape, even a traditional “spike” or hook––such as a student specialized in computer science, politics, or healthcare––is no longer specific or compelling enough for the most selective colleges.Using
Taking A Top Student’s Profile To The Next Level [Case Study]
In this case study, we walk through how to take a high-performing STEM student and strategically refine her profile to stand out at top colleges. We analyze academics, testing, awards, and extracurriculars—highlighting not just strengths but also subtle inefficiencies like gaps in core coursework, suboptimal testing strategy, and time spent on lower-ROI activities.We next move on to identify and b
Avoiding Course Selection Red Flags At Top Colleges
In this episode, we break down how to think about high school course selection when different admissions “rules” seem to conflict. Using the case of an actual student, we explain why many students who are particularly strong in one area (e.g. STEM vs. humanities/social sciences) often create subtle red flags to admissions officers. Finally, we discuss the problems with the typical framing of “X vs
Admissions Q&A: Hard Truths the Internet Won’t Tell You (Part 2)
In this episode, we answer five different college admissions questions from students and families, including how class rank affects students’ candidacies at top colleges and whether to drop a junior year AP class in which a student has a B average.——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell and brought to you by Great Minds Advising.Great Minds Advising’s unique, hands-on mentorship program and its deep
Admissions Q&A: Hard Truths the Internet Won’t Tell You
In this episode, we answer four different college admissions questions from students and families, ranging from self-studying for AP exams to why so many college counselors continue to recommend summer programs that fail to impress top colleges.——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell and brought to you by Great Minds Advising.Great Minds Advising’s unique, hands-on mentorship program and its deep st
2026 Acceptances at America’s Top High School
In this episode, we analyze 2025–26 early admissions data at arguably America’s most famous high school, Phillips Exeter Academy. Drawing upon the Exeter data, we reveal the hidden advantages that actually drive top college acceptances, from demographic scarcity to unique academic positioning and narratives.While many families targeting top colleges often attribute acceptances to students’ core pr
5 Rules Of The Elite Admissions Game
In this episode, we reveal five “rules of the game” of elite college admissions and why the process is fundamentally different from almost every other performance domain students—and their parents—are used to.The core idea is simple: admissions outcomes can be modeled like a points-based competition, where the students with the highest “candidacy point totals” earn admission. Points come from obvi
Avoid This Hidden Course Selection Trap
Course selection has arrived for many students and is just around the corner for many others. In this episode, we shed light on a particular “hidden trap” that many students fall into when beginning their selected courses, causing them to remain in classes that jeopardize their transcript, and ultimately, their candidacy at top colleges.——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell and brought to you by G
Why Hobbies Are Admissions Cheat Codes
Many applicants to top colleges obsess over “activities” and significantly overlook the value of more informal pursuits such as hobbies. In this episode, we break down seven major advantages of a student’s hobbies––from piggybacking on existing uses of a student's discretionary time to signaling high degrees of intrinsic motivation and coming across to admissions officers as potentially “less
5 Admissions Worries That Waste Time
Many students and families waste time solving the wrong “problems” or worrying about the wrong things in admissions.In this episode, we debunk five common anxieties that don’t meaningfully move outcomes, from overthinking a student’s number of SAT/ACT sittings to visiting schools that will not play a significant role in a student’s ultimate application strategy.——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassel
The Real Cost of “We Have Plenty of Time” in Elite Admissions
Families with younger students often treat building a college candidacy as a long, low-intensity process simply because the deadline is far away. But, in this episode, we explain why this common mindset destroys one of the most precious competitive advantages––and any hope for differentiation among extremely talented applicants––when it comes to earning admission to elite colleges.We argue, instea
How “School Fit” May Ruin Your Top College Odds
In this episode, we discuss the strategic implications of “school fit” and “college preferences” for students who are specifically aiming for admission to highly selective colleges.When competitiveness and admissions strategy are layered in, many students end up with a highly fragile candidacy and a high risk of striking out on many, if not all, top colleges when their “preferences” end up elimina
The Top College You May Regret Not Visiting
In this episode, we discuss one of the most strategic schools every applicant to top colleges should consider adding to their list and that may make or break their candidacy.——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell and brought to you by Great Minds Advising.Great Minds Advising’s unique, hands-on mentorship program and its deep strategic insight into the application review process have earned the com
The Logic of Elite College Decisions
Why do elite colleges consistently reject “strong” applicants with impressive but scattered resumes? In this episode, we explain the strategic framework admissions officers use when evaluating applications—and why focus has become the dominant signal at top colleges.Drawing on admissions psychology and institutional incentives, we outline five reasons focused applicants outperform well-rounded one
Evaluating A Junior’s Profile For Yale
In this case study episode, we analyze the profile of a high-achieving junior targeting Yale and other top colleges, with strong grades, near-perfect test scores, and a deep set of extracurriculars spanning environmental conservation, theater, and ethics.Despite an impressive volume of resume activity, however, the student’s profile currently lacks the level of scarcity and scale required to truly
Crafting An Elite STEM Hook For 10th Grader
In this case study episode, we analyze the profile of a high-achieving 10th grade student targeting top engineering and STEM programs (MIT, Princeton, and Georgia Tech), with strong grades, advanced math/STEM coursework, and some early depth in STEM-relevant activities.Despite a solid foundation, however, the student’s extracurricular profile currently lacks a clear, differentiated through-line, a
Building An Ivy-Caliber Resume For 10th Grader
In this case study episode, we analyze the candidacy of another high-achieving 10th grade student near the top of their class, with 7 AP courses by sophomore year and near-perfect test scores. However, despite their strong metrics, we highlight the biggest constraint in the student’s candidacy: their “hook” and resume-building. We dive deep into the student’s primary passions and academic strength
Fixing A High-Achieving 10th Grader’s Profile
In this case study episode, we break down the profile of an academically high-achieving 10th grader, with excellent “stats”: straight As in highly accelerated and multiple grade-ahead course rigor and a 1550 SAT before beginning sophomore year.Despite this student’s extremely strong metrics, however, their resume significantly lags behind and has the typical characteristics of most rejected profil
The 6 Most Cliché Activities In Elite Admissions
The most selective colleges do not admit normal applicants; they admit exceptional applicants. And in order to be exceptional, students must first be an exception—or not like their other high-achieving peers, the vast majority of whom will be rejected by top colleges.In this episode, we cover six of the most common and cliché activities—sports, music, and more—that continue to fill the resumes of
5 Resume Mistakes That Kill Top College Dreams
Want to have us analyze your current profile for top colleges in an upcoming episode? Email us at info@greatmindsadvising.comUnfortunately, despite possessing excellent grades, course rigor, and test scores, the vast majority of applicants to top colleges lack the type of compelling resume outside the classroom that actually differentiates accepted from rejected students.In this episode, we unveil
How Top Colleges Evaluate Your Application Strategy
Want to have us analyze your current profile for top colleges in an upcoming episode? Email us at info@greatmindsadvising.comEarly decision, or placing a binding commitment, is the strongest possible signal of demonstrated interest at any top college and is often rewarded with a significant increase in a student’s chance of admission. In this episode, however, we consider how colleges at which a s
The Worst Major For Getting Into Top Colleges
Top colleges look to admit students with focused passions or “hooks” that they’ll uniquely contribute as part of the incoming freshman class.However, not all hooks—or the intended college majors they’re associated with—are created equal. And certain hooks/academic areas may even jeopardize students’ ability to earn admission to a top college at all.In this episode, we spotlight what we deem the “w
The Truth About Early Decision & Deferrals
In this episode, we dig into early vs. regular decision acceptance rates, what a deferral in the early round signals about a student’s chance of admission in the regular decision round, and how to understand and correctly analyze deferrals at various top colleges before potentially making other high-stakes decisions.——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell and brought to you by Great Minds Advising.G
Top Colleges Want These 3 Traits
Top colleges fundamentally look to admit future high-impact scholars and leaders. In this episode, we analyze three characteristics or “signals” top colleges aim to identify in their applicants that are highly predictive of future promise. We explain why different components of the application should showcase different traits, and why sending the right signals in the right places can be the differ
How Many Times Should You Take The SAT?
In this episode, we break down one of the most misunderstood topics in college admissions — how many times you should take the SAT or ACT. We cover the ideal test scores for top colleges, explain why retaking the tests carries virtually no downside, how to think about risk vs. reward, and why one top college’s “submit all scores” policy doesn’t change the strategy for most students.——“The Game” is
The Perfect Activity for Ivy Plus Colleges
For the first time, we reveal the anatomy of a “perfect” activity when applying to top colleges. Using real past examples, we illustrate why this activity is so differentiating and leaves almost every other resume-builder for elite admissions in the dust.——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell and brought to you by Great Minds Advising.Great Minds Advising’s unique, hands-on mentorship program and i
Elite Colleges Don’t Want Well-Rounded Students (Except Here)
Assuming you haven’t been living under a rock since the 90s, you (hopefully) know by now that top colleges no longer want “well-rounded” students. The same old boring applicant admissions officers at top colleges see in droves––the student who plays sports, the violin, is editor of the school newspaper, and class president. The type of profile that makes admissions officers at highly selective col
The Math Trap: What Top Colleges Actually Expect
In this episode, we upack what top colleges actually expect from your math track. While many students targeting top colleges will have similar course rigor, we introduce a simple “two-slider” model to determine more precisely what math and other course levels are optimal.We consider a particularly difficult case study to further illustrate additional constraints on course selection—such as admissi
Why Most Strategy for Top Colleges Is Wrong
In this episode, we dismantle the mythology of overrated concepts in admissions counseling such as “demonstrated interest.” We show why most of what students and families are told when it comes to applying to top colleges barely moves the needle and can even hurt a student’s candidacy by diverting attention from higher-priority concerns. We share a simple two-factor analysis for evaluating admissi
Why “Gifted & Talented” Programs Don’t Stand Out to Top Colleges
Masterclass Registration – Oct 15th @ 7pm ET (Zoom)In this episode, we tackle the question of whether “gifted and talented” programs and designations like Johns Hopkins CTY or Davidson Young Scholar actually matter to top colleges. While these labels may sound impressive, we break down why admissions officers may view them as redundant with other more relevant components of a student’s application
The Hidden Odds Game of Elite Admissions
Masterclass Registration – Oct 15th @ 7pm ET (Zoom)Elite college admissions isn’t just about “getting to apply to Stanford” or “taking your shot at Penn”—it’s about layering every possible decision and advantage so that when the time comes, you’re not playing a lottery like everyone else.In this episode, we challenge students and families to reverse engineer the process from the perspective of a s
App Deep Dive: From Hook to ED Strategy
In this episode, we analyze the application strategy of a high-achieving student preparing to apply Early Decision in the 2025–26 cycle. We evaluate her academic and extracurricular profile, explore how to elevate her thematic positioning around identity, language, and global impact, and cover which colleges offer the best strategic fit for her ED choice.——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell and b
App Teardown for Student Targeting Yale & Stanford
In this episode, we break down the profile and application of a top student deciding between Yale/Stanford for early action in the upcoming 2025-26 application cycle.We analyze both the strengths and weaknesses in her profile, identify admissions hooks that portray the most compelling view of her resume, and overhaul the initial draft of her application, optimizing critical themes and through-line
Most Overrated Aspects of College Admissions
Much of what students and families worry about or hear in college admissions actually matters less than they know. In this episode, we expose the most overrated pieces of the process—and traditional guidance—from the importance of leadership, service, and GPA weighting to launching “passion projects” or communicating with admissions officers.——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell and brought to you
10 Ways To Ruin Your Admission Odds
In this episode, we flip the script and walk through the 10 fastest ways to sabotage your college admissions chances—so you can do the opposite. From staying “well-rounded” to avoiding commitment to a hook, we discuss common traps that smart students fall into. We cover why being passive and waiting for permission or perfection when it comes to resume-building are silent application killers—and ho
Is Legacy A Backdoor To The Ivy League?
In this episode, we answer three listener questions on the following topics:how to best strategically position a pre-law studenthow to take college courses that improve your candidacythe role of legacy at top colleges and early application strategy——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell and brought to you by Great Minds Advising.Great Minds Advising’s unique, hands-on mentorship program and its deep
3 Lies Admissions Officers Love to Tell
In this episode, we reveal three common pieces of misinformation that admissions officers often convey to applicants and their families, breeding a false sense of complacency and a dangerously naive view of admissions at top colleges. In particular, we cover:how applications are actually reviewed, with many being discarded long before they are given a “holistic review” as admissions officers purpo
Exposing Top Private HS Matriculation Records
In this episode, we perform a case study analysis on acceptance/matriculation data from one of the top private high schools in the U.S. and a well-known Ivy League “feeder school.” We cover the following:Most Recent Year and 5-Year Ivy League MatriculationsIvy League Acceptance Data for “Unhooked” Students (i.e. non-legacy/donor, recruited athletes, etc)Hooked vs. Unhooked Student Acceptance Rates
Stanford Application Review
In this deep dive episode, we analyze the profile and application of a current high school senior applying to Stanford. We pinpoint critical strategic mistakes affecting the quality of the student’s presentation across both the Common Application and the Stanford supplements––errors that are very often committed by top academic students in general and students targeting Stanford in particular.——“T
“Help With My Vanderbilt Essay!” & Answering Other Student Qs
In this episode, we return to the popular online forum Reddit to answer college admissions Qs from students across the country. In particular, we cover the following topics:Additional Information Section: Good or Bad?Including A Third Teacher or Supplementary RecommendationEarly Action Plans That Prohibit Early Decision To Other CollegesHelp With My Vanderbilt Essay!Strategic Implications Of Paren
Application Strategy With HS Senior
For the first time, we analyze the profile of a current HS senior targeting three top colleges: WashU, Vanderbilt, & Michigan.While the student possesses a strong academic foundation (perfect GPA in 15 APs, 34/36 ACT, ranked #1 in HS class), he significantly lacks the type of extracurricular profile, depth, and admissions “hook” that will differentiate students targeting highly selective insti
10 Ways To Build An Admissions Hook
In this episode, we cover ten primary ways students can build their admissions hooks to differentiate their applications at top colleges, the pros/cons of each activity type, and several common activities that tend to contribute minimally to—and even potentially jeopardize—a student’s odds of acceptance.——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell and brought to you by Great Minds Advising.Great Minds Ad
Episode 16 — Do The PSAT & National Merit Matter?
In this episode, we break down the timeline and significance of the PSAT and various National Merit awards associated with strong PSAT scores:PSAT for students in grades earlier than 11th (e.g. PSAT 8/9 + PSAT 10)The PSAT/NMSQT exam in 11th gradeScore ranges for juniors who might be in play for National Merit awards connected to their PSAT/NMSQT scoresTimeline for PSAT/NMSQT score returnCalculatio
Episode 15 — Should You Contact Admissions Officers?
In this episode, we dive into the many different types of “demonstrated interest” and the particular case of contacting admissions officers:Why “demonstrated interest” is generally overrated and over-discussed compared to other candidacy-building factors for students targeting highly selective colleges“Strong” vs. “weak” demonstrated interest: defining highly strategic forms vs. mere “checkbox” it
Episode 14 — Application Red Flags To Avoid
Admissions MasterclassIn this episode, we cover the much more strategic attitude—versus a purely “instructions-following” mindset—students should take into the application process for each and every piece of information admissions officers will view, including components that might seem like pure “data entry.”We highlight negative perceptions and various red flags that can be associated with varia
Episode 13 — The Truth About Summer Programs
Admissions MasterclassThink college summer programs are helping your case for admission to highly selective schools?Think again. In this episode, we pull back the curtain on the widely popular—and vastly overrated—college summer programs in which so many high school students enroll and why almost all of them fail to actually impress admissions officers at top colleges.We discuss several critical i
Episode 12 — An Extraordinary Applicant?
Admissions MasterclassIn this episode, we dissect the candidacy of a student from the Wall Street Journal piece, "To Get Into The Ivy League, Extraordinary Isn't Always Enough These Days."The piece spotlights Kaitlyn Younger, a Texas high school senior with a 3.95/4.0 unweighted GPA in 11 AP courses, 1550/1600 SAT, top marks on AP exams, and a rank of #23/668 (top-3%) in her graduat
Episode 11 — “What Are My College Chances?” & Other Student Qs
In this episode, we respond to questions in the popular online forum Reddit from students across the country. In particular, we cover answers to the following:Which letters of recommendation do I send?How important is course rigor freshman and sophomore year?How do you come up with your college essay topic?Which GPA do colleges use?What are my college chances?——“The Game” is hosted by Sam Hassell
Episode 10 – How To (Actually) Interpret Acceptance Data
Many students and families heavily rely on the college acceptance data (GPA/test scores vs. college outcomes) of past applicants from their high school to make high-stakes decisions about their school list, selection of early decision colleges, and likely overall college outcomes. In this episode, we break down how past college acceptance data is reported at many high schools, and the significant
Episode 9 — Rejected Premed Case Study
In this episode, we review the profile and applications of a premed student who was rejected from both of their early decision schools, roughly top-25 to top-35 national universities. This student attended a top-1% US high school, possessed a 3.9 unweighted GPA, 99th percentile test scores, took 15 AP/honors courses, and had what many would consider an excellent resume filled with many “leadership
Episode 8 — School List Mistakes & Myths
In this episode, we cover many factors—including costly mistakes, myths, and traps—related to students’ school selection. In particular, we address the following:School VisitsWhy it doesn’t make sense to visit highly selective colleges before mid-11th gradePrioritization of best and best-fit colleges for visits, especially schools that offer binding/restrictive early plans (such as Early Decision)
Episode 7 — Building An Admissions “Hook”
In prior episodes, we’ve determined that top colleges seek not only students with excellent grades, course rigor, and test scores but also students with compelling admissions “stories” or “hooks” related to their academic/intellectual passions and how they will contribute to their future college—and hopefully, the world—in some specific, unique way. However, just as with students’ “metrics” (grade
Episode 6 — Rejected Valedictorian Essay Analysis
She was the Valedictorian of her high school. Perfect GPA in over twenty advanced classes, taking Calculus BC by 10th grade and college math courses by 11th grade. All perfect/near-perfect test scores, tennis captain, multiple leadership positions, a scholarship to a prestigious math program, and state math champion. To boot, as a female applying for math/engineering, she was an underrepresented a
Episode 5 — The Biggest College Essay Mistake
Summer is upon us, and many rising seniors—if they haven’t already—are turning their attention to college applications. Among the most important components they will be tackling is the Common Application “Personal Essay”, often simply called “the college essay.” For almost all students, this will be the most important essay colleges read, and for some, it may even be the only one they read.But the
Episode 4 — What Top Colleges Look For & How To Build It
College admissions has never been more competitive: high GPAs, strong test scores, and a well-rounded resume—once sufficient for an acceptance—are now common features of most applications to highly selective colleges. In this episode, we reveal what top colleges nowadays seek: students with compelling admissions stories centered around a focused academic passion, or “hook.” Using the process we’ve
Episode 3 — Why College Outcomes Vary
When many parents applied to college around three decades ago, college lists and outcomes assumed a fairly predictable, linear order. You had your “safeties,” schools to which you were almost certain to be admitted, your “targets,” schools to which you could reasonably expect to be admitted, and “reaches,” schools to which you would most likely not be admitted.Nowadays, however, college outcomes s
Episode 2 — Breaking Down Single-Choice & Restrictive Early Action
You’ve probably heard of Early Action, but do you know what Single-Choice and Restrictive Early Action are? Seven of the top colleges (Stanford, Harvard, Yale, Princeton, CalTech, Georgetown, and Notre Dame) offer one of these unique sub-types of Early Action that place significant restrictions on the other colleges to which students under these plans may apply.In this episode, we analyze what the
Episode 1 — One Thing Every Junior Must Do Now
While many students and parents are caught up with AP exams, senior course selection, college visits, college essays, requesting teacher letters of recommendation, in this episode, we reveal the one thing that absolutely every high school junior must do right now if they want to ensure they are on the path to admissions success at top colleges.And spoiler alert: you’re probably not doing it.Admiss
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