Harvard, Yale, MIT: What Highly Selective Colleges Really Look For

Join us on Monday, March 16 at 4:00 PM PT / 7:00 PM ET to gain insight from former admissions leaders on how selective colleges actually evaluate applicants and what helps students rise to the top.

 

Ideal for parents with teens in grades 7-11.

Top Grades. Perfect Test Scores. Strong Activities. Why Would Selective Colleges Still Say No?

Your teen is working hard. They have an impressive resume and multiple noteworthy awards. But for all top students, the pressure of selective admissions is constantly building because all of their peers have these same accolades.

So, what does it really take for your student to stand out at the most competitive universities?

That’s exactly why we’re hosting this event: to give parents a clear understanding of how selective admissions decisions are actually made today, and what students should focus on in order to give themselves their best chance of acceptance.

The students who stand out are the ones who pursue interests that are truly meaningful, not just impressive. They show curiosity. They take initiative. They choose experiences because they are genuinely invested in them.

Join our admissions experts, Rahsaan Burroughs and Scott Steinberg, as they reveal what really happens behind the scenes inside admissions committee rooms at highly selective colleges.

You'll discover:

  • Why equally accomplished students can have dramatically different admissions outcomes
  • How to identify the traits that consistently help applicants stand out at the most selective colleges
  • Ways to guide your student as they make decisions about academics, activities, and leadership in a thoughtful and purposeful way

 

Register now to better understand the decisions that shape highly selective admissions and how to help your teen stand out for the right reasons!

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Your Speakers

Scott Steinberg bubble

Scott Steinberg

Former Director of Admission, Columbia Graduate & Rhodes Scholarship Semifinalist

During his more than 30 years in college admissions, Scott has evaluated over 20,000 applications at four highly regarded institutions, including Bates College, Bowdoin College, the University of Southern Maine, and the University of New England. He has held senior leadership roles including Director of Admission at Bates College and Director of Admission Operations at Bowdoin College, where he managed admissions committees and recruitment operations. Most recently, as Dean and Associate Vice President of Undergraduate Marketing and Recruitment at the University of New England, Scott led the strategic development and implementation of test-optional (2019) and test-blind (2022) policies that expanded access and equity while maintaining academic excellence. His deep experience in holistic review and admissions leadership gives him valuable insight into how colleges evaluate applicants and build their incoming classes.

Rahsaan Burroughs bubble

Rahsaan Burroughs

Former Associate Director of Admission and Highly Selective College Counselor

Rahsaan’s career in admissions began at his alma mater, The College of William & Mary, where he served as an admissions intern. Since then, he has spent over 15 years evaluating more than 17,000 applications during his tenure at The George Washington University. As the Associate Director of Admissions at George Washington, Rahsaan served as co-chair of the admissions committee, conducted thousands of interviews, spoke nationally about how student athletes can balance athletic recruitment with the admissions process, conducted financial aid workshops, and managed and trained more than 20 admissions directors.



About Collegewise

Since 1999, our team of 100+ counselors has dedicated their expertise to creating a worry-free, effortless college application process for students of all levels. 

Collegewise empowers students academically and relieves parents of their project management duties through our personalized counseling and tutoring programs. 

Say goodbye to application stress and welcome a new, streamlined experience with Collegewise. 

26+ years of college admissions experience