Inside the Admissions Office: Advice from Former Admissions Officers

Can You Get Away With Using AI on College Essays?

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE.

"  Eventually AI will be good enough that it should be able to mimic that voice. I expect essays will become meaningless and either abolished completely or they just won't have a significant impact on the admissions process."

Joel Butterly, CEO of InGenius Prep, discusses the current landscape of college application essay writing. The conversation explores how artificial intelligence (AI) is changing the writing process, how colleges are adapting their evaluation methods, and what students need to understand to stand out in an increasingly AI-influenced admissions landscape.

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We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog. 

Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com.

To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

133. Part 3: How to Answer Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay Prompt for 2025-2026

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE.

Shannon and Titania are back—this time tackling the Johns Hopkins supplemental essay. With Hopkins celebrating its 150th anniversary, this year’s prompt sounds poetic, reflective, and… a little overwhelming. But what are admissions officers actually asking for?

PART 1: How to answer Every Harvard Supplemental Essay Prompts! [WATCH IT HERE]

PART 2: How to answer Yale Supplemental Essay + Short Answer Prompts! [WATCH IT HERE]

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Register for our upcoming webinars.

We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog. 

Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com.

To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

132. Part 2: How to Answer Every Yale Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2025-2026

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE.

Shannon and Titania return to break down every Harvard supplemental essay prompt, sharing how successful applicants actually approach each question, what admissions officers are really listening for, and the common mistakes that quietly hurt otherwise strong candidates.

PART 1: How to answer Every Harvard Supplemental Essay Prompts! [WATCH IT HERE]

PART 3 COMING UP NEXT: How to answer Johns Hopkins Supplemental Essay Prompt!

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Register for our upcoming webinars.

We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog. 

Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com.

To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

131. Part 1: How to Answer Every Harvard Supplemental Essay Prompts for 2025-2026

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE.

Shannon and Titania return to break down every Harvard supplemental essay prompt, sharing how successful applicants actually approach each question, what admissions officers are really listening for, and the common mistakes that quietly hurt otherwise strong candidates. PART 2 COMING UP NEXT: How to answer Every Yale Supplemental Essay Prompts!

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Register for our upcoming webinars.

We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog. 

Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com.

To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

130. Colleges Won’t Tell You This: What the Numbers Say About Your Child’s Chances

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE.

Explore real admissions insights on the InGenius Journal: https://hubs.ly/Q03XXVX80

We use real data and trends to help students make clear, confident decisions about navigating college admissions. In this episode, Lindsey Kundel, Editor-in-Chief of the InGenius Journal, shows how we turn years of international and domestic admissions insights into strategies that actually work. Whether your student is aiming for a top 10, 20, or 30 school, the right approach and real data can make all the difference.

Any feedback is welcome! If you have suggestions for topics you’d like Lindsey to cover in future InGenius Journal entries, send us an email at jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com

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Register for our upcoming webinars.

We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog. 

Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com.

To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

129. What U.S. Admissions Officers Really Look For in International Applicants

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE.

Applying to U.S. universities as an international student? This episode breaks down exactly what you need to know. Former Admissions Officer Kevin (MIT, Brown, UChicago, Cornell) explains:

✅ How international students can highlight their cultural identity authentically

✅ What U.S. admissions officers really look for across different regions

✅ How to present local achievements in a way that resonates with American colleges

✅ Why personal essay storytelling matters more than “trauma dumping”

✅ What international student-athletes must know about recruitment

✅ The biggest global admissions trends affecting applicants right now

Whether you’re applying from Asia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, or anywhere else, this episode gives you insider clarity you won’t find on Google—and helps parents understand exactly how to guide their student through the U.S. admissions process.

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Register for our upcoming webinars.

We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog. 

Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com.

To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

128. Is Homeschooling the Right Path for Aspiring College Athletes?

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE.

In today’s shorter episode, Zak, a former Senior Assistant Director and Multicultural Recruiting Coordinator at Johns Hopkins University, responds to an email from a parent who’s considering homeschooling and trying to find the best path for a student-athlete with big basketball goals. Zak talks about common challenges homeschoolers face, like proving academic readiness, finding social opportunities, and building strong recommendations and activities outside the home. He also explains why getting an honest evaluation from a private coach matters when it comes to understanding athletic potential.

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Register for our upcoming webinars.

We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog. 

Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com.

To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

127. How She Made Yale Say ‘Yes!’ — Her Story, Her Strategy, and Her Advice for You

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE.

Yale graduate and InGenius Prep counselor Titania shares how she got into Yale and the exact strategies that helped her stand out in the admissions process. She talks about what made Yale the right fit, how she approached Yale essays and interviews, and the parts of the experience that students rarely hear about. 

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Register for our upcoming webinars.

We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog. 

Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com.

To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

126. I Worked at WashU Admissions—Here’s What Really Gets You In

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE.

In today’s episode, we’re diving deep into Washington University in St. Louis (WashU)—often called a “hidden Ivy” for its exceptional academics, selective admissions, and unique student experience. 🎯 Pro Tip: Don’t get caught up in rankings—academic stats matter, but your personality, story, and fit can make all the difference.

In this episode, Ariel shares:

➜ What makes WashU’s campus and community feel like a true “fit”

➜ The most memorable applications and essays she’s ever seen

➜ Insider tips on interviews, letters of recommendation, and application strategy

➜ How to find your perfect college fit beyond rankings

➜ Fun WashU traditions like Moonlight Breakfast (yes, pancakes at midnight!)

➜ Her top 3 actionable tips for students prepping EA/ED applications.

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Register for our upcoming webinars.

We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog. 

Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com.

To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.

125. The Future of College Admissions: RED FLAGS That Could Ruin Your Application

Want personalized help with your application strategy? Book a free 1:1 call with one of our Former Admissions Officers here: CLICK HERE.

In this episode, we delve into key takeaways from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Conference. Our experts, Katherine—Director of Undergraduate Services, and Pia—Director of Counselor Management at InGenius Prep, share their firsthand experiences and valuable insights from attending the event. Tune in to get up-to-date on the latest trends and developments in college admissions.

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Register for our upcoming webinars.

We also offer tons of free resources on our website/blog. 

Questions, comments, or topic requests? Email jilian.yong@ingeniusprep.com.

To learn more about InGenius Prep, visit us at ingeniusprep.com.