Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel
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.
- Update frequency
- every 5 days
- Average duration
- 17 minutes
- Episodes
- 106
- Years Active
- 2023 - 2025
S4E27: Complacency or Commitment: The Choice That Defines Ivy+ Outcomes
In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel takes on a recurring theme in his conversations with students and families: complacency. For those aiming at Ivy+ and other highly select…
S4E26: The Joy of Tutoring: Arun Alagappan on Reducing Anxiety and Unlocking Potential
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel sits down with Arun Alagappan, founder and president of Advantage Testing, one of the most respected names in academic tutoring and test prepa…
S4E25: The 2025 Admissions Reality — How Funding Cuts, Student Visas, and Campus Culture Will Shape This Cycle
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel takes a strategic pause to break down the seismic shifts hitting higher education right now—and what they mean for your application this …
S4E24: The Road Starts Early — Middle School Advice With Dr. Peggy Burich Smith
In this special episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel sits down with Dr. Peggy Burich-Smith, a senior counselor at Admittedly and a veteran educator with over 30 years of experience i…
S4E23: The 2025 Common App (What to Know Before You Start)
In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel walks through everything students and families need to prepare as the Common App opens on August 1. From how to set up your account to th…
S4E22: Applying Early to College (When It Helps—and When It Hurts)
In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel dives into one of the most misunderstood parts of the college application process: applying early.
Early Action (EA), Early Decision (ED)…
S4E21: Playing to Win—How Student Athletes Get Admitted
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel addresses student athletes—and the families supporting them. Whether you're competing at the national level or playing for the love of th…
S4E20: The Additional Info Section—What to Say (and What to Skip)
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel dives into one of the most misunderstood parts of the college application: the Additional Information section. With the word count now re…
S4E19: Don’t Write Your Essay Yet (Start Here Instead)
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel takes a step back from structure and word count to focus on what matters most when writing your college essay: the story itself. It’s tha…
S4E18: Sophomore Year Done Right (Q&A for Rising 10th Graders)
You made it through freshman year—now what? In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel tackles the real questions rising sophomores are asking: What should I focus on? How many act…
S4E17: Rising Seniors: Planning, Positioning, and Building Your Edge
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel speaks directly to rising seniors and their families. First, congratulations—junior year is done. Now it’s time to look ahead. The next s…
S4E16: Harvard, International Students, and How We Got Here
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel unpacks the recent controversy surrounding Harvard and the broader implications for international students in the U.S. While Harvard may …
S4E15: The Introvert’s Guide to Standing Out in College Admissions
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel tackles a concern we hear often from families: “What if my kid isn’t the extroverted type who starts clubs or rallies crowds?” What happe…
S4E14: The ‘Passion Project’ Trap (And What Actually Works)
In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel tackles a big question many students have heading into summer: What should I do for my passion project? The truth? Passion projects can e…
S4E13: The Truth About Competitive Admissions: Hard Work Isn’t Optional
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel tackles one of the most important truths in college admissions—and life: Hard things are hard. Whether you’re aiming for a top-tier unive…
S4E12: Admissions Are Changing for International Students: What You Need To Know
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel dives into the challenges international students are facing amid shifting U.S. policies. With visa uncertainty and changes affecting appl…
S4E11: Your Summer Fell Apart… Now What?
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel disrupts the regular schedule to talk about the disruptions hitting students’ summer plans—especially research and enrichment programs at…
S4E10 End-of-Year Check-In: Are You on Track for College?
With the school year winding down, it’s time for a strategic check-in. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel breaks down what students in each grade level — from freshmen to j…
S4E9: Can One Mistake Ruin My College Chances?
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel addresses a question that has been coming up more and more often: “I made a mistake—am I done?” Whether it’s academic dishonesty, a suspe…
S4E8: Real Students, Real Success: How They Beat the Odds in College Admissions
In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel takes a break from the usual admissions talk to share six inspiring success stories that prove there’s no single path to college admissio…