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College Admissions Counselors - egelloC

Ask Coach Tony Anything

📹 Video Information:

Title: Ask Coach Tony Anything
Duration: 44:43

Overview

This video is an interactive Q&A session focused on high school students navigating the college admissions process. The hosts, Coach Tony and Coach Jasmine, respond to live and pre-submitted questions about internships, SAT prep, crafting compelling college essays (especially UC PIQs), holistic vs. non-holistic applications, letters of recommendation, passion projects, and strategies for applicants with lower GPAs. The session features live coaching demonstrations, practical advice, and real-life examples to help students and families optimize their college applications.

Main Topics Covered

  • Finding internships and volunteering opportunities
  • SAT test strategy: who should take it and how to prep
  • Understanding and writing UC Personal Insight Questions (PIQs)
  • Overcoming writer’s block and “reverse engineering” essay prompts
  • Application strategies for Cal State (CSU) vs. University of California (UC) schools
  • Maximizing letters of recommendation
  • Developing and presenting passion/personal projects
  • Addressing lower GPAs and holistic admissions
  • Mindset and fit: balancing academics, activities, and personal development

Key Takeaways & Insights

  • Internships & Volunteering: Start by leveraging school counselors, teachers, and local community connections. If opportunities are scarce, consider creating your own internship or project.
  • SAT Strategy: First, determine if you need to take the SAT based on your college list:
    • UCs and Cal States: Test-blind—do not require or consider SAT scores.
    • Most other schools: Test-optional—submit only strong scores; if your score is not competitive (below the 50th percentile for your target school), it’s better not to submit.
    • Top 25/Ivy League: SAT/ACT often required.
  • Resource Allocation: Weigh the time investment for SAT prep against other impactful activities. Academics alone are not the most important factor in admissions.
  • UC Essays (PIQs): Not every response needs a “transformation” story; focus on distinct aspects of your identity and experiences. Use a “reverse engineering” process: identify significant experiences, dig deep into motivations and outcomes, then select the appropriate prompt.
  • Live Essay Demonstration: Emphasizes storytelling through personal growth and authentic motivation rather than surface-level achievements.
  • Cal State Applications: Non-holistic—primarily consider GPA and coursework. Extracurriculars and essays play little to no role, so focus on academic rigor.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Should provide new insights about you not already evident in your application. Guide recommenders on what to highlight to avoid redundancy.
  • Passion/Personal Projects: Select a topic you genuinely care about and explain your “why.” Start small, aiming for local impact, and document your process—even failed projects can showcase resilience and genuine interest.
  • Lower GPAs: Contextual explanations are critical. Use essays and additional comments to provide background and demonstrate fit and readiness. Admissions readers are trained not to assume—share what’s relevant.
  • Fit & Well-being: College “fit” is more important than prestige. Admissions decisions also consider whether a student will thrive academically and personally at a given institution.

Actionable Strategies

  1. Internships/Volunteering:
  2. Reach out to counselors and teachers for leads.
  3. Explore local nonprofits or organizations online.
  4. Consider initiating your own project or internship if options are limited.

  5. Text “Jasmine” to the provided number for a guide on creating internships.

  6. SAT/ACT:

  7. Research target schools’ testing policies.
  8. Only prep and submit scores if they are at or above the school’s average.

  9. Allocate prep time wisely—don’t sacrifice more impactful activities for marginal score improvements.

  10. UC PIQ Essays:

  11. List all significant activities, experiences, and identities before looking at prompts.
  12. Select the most influential ones and dig into the “why,” “how,” and “who you became.”

  13. Tell stories with depth and self-reflection, not just achievement.

  14. Letters of Recommendation:

  15. Brief your recommenders on two to three unique points to highlight about you.

  16. Ensure each application section adds new information.

  17. Passion Projects:

  18. Identify your true interests and underlying motivations.
  19. Start with small, tangible initiatives and scale up.

  20. Document your process, including setbacks.

  21. GPA Context:

  22. Use essays or additional comments to explain any academic challenges or context.

  23. Highlight activities and personal growth in other application sections.

  24. Application Planning:

  25. For state schools, focus on maximizing academic rigor.
  26. Apply to a diverse range of schools to increase options.

Specific Details & Examples

  • Competitive SAT Score: Aim for at least the 50th percentile of your target school's average (e.g., if the average is 1500 and your practice score is 1110, a 400-point gap may not be worth the effort to close).
  • Personal Project Example: A student tried to get a safety sign installed in their neighborhood. Despite repeated failures, their persistent effort and passion for the cause impressed admissions and aligned with their intended major (city planning).
  • UC PIQ Live Demo: Coach Jasmine’s story about organizing a cultural festival addressed inclusion, tied back to her own struggles with language loss, and demonstrated personal growth and desire to help others.
  • Cal State Application: Consists only of personal information, academics, and courses. Some exceptions (e.g., Cal Poly SLO) may ask extra questions.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Most are generic; the best add new, specific value not found elsewhere in the application.

Warnings & Common Mistakes

  • SAT Submission: Don’t submit scores to test-optional schools unless your score is competitive.
  • Essay Pitfall: Avoid starting essays by focusing on the prompt—instead, start with your story and work backward.
  • Letters of Recommendation: Redundant letters (repeating what’s already in your application) add no value.
  • Parent Involvement: Parents may push students to write about certain topics, which can stifle authenticity and cause writer’s block.
  • Overlapping Essay Topics: Each UC PIQ should cover a unique aspect of the applicant—no double-dipping.
  • GPA Assumptions: Don’t assume admissions readers will understand your GPA context—explicitly provide explanations.

Resources & Next Steps

  • Free 15-Minute Coaching Call: Text “Jasmine” to 949-775-0865 for a complimentary session with an advisor.
  • Internship Creation Training: Text “Jasmine” for access to a guide on establishing your own internship.
  • Essay Workshops: “Kickstart Event” for intensive essay drafting (currently full for this year).
  • Incubator Program: Helps students identify and develop personal/passion projects.
  • Further Questions: Viewers are encouraged to send questions for future sessions.
  • Contact: Various social media/live platforms and direct SMS for guidance and resources.

This summary encapsulates the comprehensive, interactive, and practical approach of the session, focusing on helping students and families make strategic and authentic choices throughout the college admissions process.

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