S4E33: Do The SAT and ACT Still Matter? Test Optional Policies and the Ivy League Explained
Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel
Release Date: 09/26/2025
S5E6: What Parents Should Know About Academic Tutoring & Test Prep: Fit, Timing, & Real Progress
Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel
In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel sits down with Kathy Yellen, Senior Program Consultant at Advantage Testing, to pull back the curtain on what most families misunderstand about tutoring and test prep. With 16 years at Advantage Testing and a background spanning early childhood education, classroom teaching, and performance, Kathy explains what her role actually looks like: listening to families, building a roadmap, and “matchmaking” students with the right tutors so the relationship works, not just the schedule. Together, Thomas and Kathy unpack the real concerns...
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S5E5: The Ivy+ Roadmap: How to Plan Ahead for Competitive Admissions (From 8th-11th Grade)
Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel
To speak with an advisor and map out your student’s next steps, apply for a free Family Action Call with us at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel explores one of the most powerful but overlooked advantages in college admissions: planning ahead. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in highly selective admissions, he explains why the most successful families don’t leave outcomes to chance but instead make thoughtful, flexible decisions early so students can build academic rigor, explore interests, and stay positioned for competitive...
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S5E4: Am I Doing Enough? The Right (And Wrong) Way to Approach Extracurricular Activities in Highschool
Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel
To speak with an advisor and map out your student’s next steps, apply for a free Family Action Call with us at admittedly.co/apply. In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel takes on one of the most misunderstood parts of college preparation: extracurricular activities. Parents often worry their students aren’t doing enough, while students feel overwhelmed trying to “keep up” with friends who seem to be involved in everything. Drawing on nearly two decades of work in selective admissions, Thomas explains why the real problem isn’t a lack of activities — it’s a lack...
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S5E3: Raising Resilient Kids: Nature Connections, Mental Health, and College Readiness with Mario Mendez of Wilderness Youth Project (WYP)
Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel
If you're ready to take the next step in your admissions journey, visit to register for a free Family Action Call with one of our advisors. Parents worry about grades, test scores, and résumés. But underneath all of that, what really shapes a student who can thrive in competitive academics and in life? In this episode, Thomas Caleel talks with Mario Mendez, Community Accountability Manager and Senior Program Staff at Wilderness Youth Project (WYP) in Santa Barbara, about how nature, unstructured exploration, and real-world challenge help kids build the resilience, awareness, and...
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S5E2: Junior Year College Admissions Strategy: Balancing Academics, Counselors, and Activity Planning for Success
Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel breaks down why junior year is the most consequential year in the college admissions process. As students are assigned college counselors and admissions timelines become real, he explains what juniors should be focused on right now — and where families often misunderstand how the process actually works. This conversation covers academic rigor, grades, standardized testing, teacher relationships, extracurricular strategy, and junior summer planning, with a clear message throughout: junior year is not the time to drift or wait for...
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S5E1: New Year, New Goals: How to Take Control of College Admissions in 2026
Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel
Happy New Year, listeners! In this Season 5 premiere of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel kicks off the new year by addressing one of the most important questions students and families face: how to take control of the college admissions process instead of leaving outcomes to chance. Drawing on decades of experience in highly selective admissions, Thomas reflects on the lessons of the past admissions cycle and explains why early planning, honest self-assessment, and clear goals matter more than ever in 2026. He breaks down common misconceptions about admissions, the growing...
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S4E43: 10th Grade Check-In: Grades, Extracurriculars, and Planning for Competitive College Admissions
Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel walks sophomores and their families through a critical midyear check-in. With first semester complete and winter break underway, this is the moment to take an honest look at academics, extracurriculars, and overall direction before junior year raises the stakes. Thomas explains why sophomore year often feels harder than expected, how small gaps now can turn into major problems later, and what students should be doing right now to stay competitive for selective college admissions. Freshmen can use this episode to look ahead, and...
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S4E42: Inside the Mind of a Top Tutor: Why Students Struggle and How to Help Them Thrive (With Advantage Testing’s Michelle Chasin)
Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel
In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, Thomas Caleel speaks with Michelle Chasin, Associate Director of Advantage Testing New York and senior tutor with more than 30 years of experience working with high school students. Michelle specializes in tutor development, long-term academic mentorship, and supporting students through test preparation, foundational skill-building, and the emotional challenges of high-pressure academic environments. Together, Thomas and Michelle discuss how students actually learn, why academic anxiety is rising, and how consistent practice and strong process habits...
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S4E41: Freshman Year Check-In: The Essential Guide to Grades, Activities & Summer Planning
Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel
In this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel breaks down what freshmen (and their parents) should be thinking about as they wrap up their first semester of high school. From academic foundations to extracurricular exploration to strategic planning for summer, Thomas explains why the habits students build now will shape their options in junior and senior year — especially if they’re aiming for selective or highly selective colleges. Rather than overwhelming families with long-term predictions, Thomas focuses on practical, immediate steps freshmen can take to stay on track,...
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S4E40: Results Guaranteed? The Real Story Behind Stats, Success Rates, and College Consulting Claims
Admittedly: College Admissions with Thomas Caleel
In this episode of the Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel breaks down one of the most confusing (and often misleading) parts of the college admissions landscape: how to evaluate a college consultant. With firms advertising guaranteed results, inflated acceptance lists, and “proprietary systems,” Thomas explains what families should actually be looking for when choosing an advisor for their high school student. Drawing on his years inside highly selective admissions, he clarifies why true expertise goes far beyond flashy claims, why transparency is non-negotiable, and how the right...
info_outlineIn this episode of The Admittedly Podcast, host Thomas Caleel unpacks one of the most debated topics in college admissions: test optional policies.
Are they really leveling the playing field, or just creating more confusion? Drawing from his decades of admissions experience, Thomas explains how test optional began, what it means for students today, and why the future of standardized testing is shifting once again.
Key Takeaways
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The Origins of Test Optional: COVID-19 accelerated the move away from testing, with schools adopting test optional to expand diversity and boost application numbers.
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Equity and Access: Standardized tests often disadvantage lower-income students due to differences in tutoring access, prep resources, and early exposure to academic vocabulary.
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The Reality vs. PR: Colleges also use test optional strategically: to lower admit rates, attract more applicants, and keep flexibility for admits such as athletes or donor-linked students.
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Why Test Scores Still Matter: Strong SAT/ACT results can offset weaker grades, help combat grade inflation, and provide admissions officers with a clearer measure of academic readiness.
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Who Benefits from Test Optional: Policies may help first-gen, low-income, or students with extenuating circumstances — but for many, not submitting scores can raise red flags.
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The Road Ahead: Elite schools like MIT, Yale, and Dartmouth are reinstating test requirements. For 2025 and beyond, students should treat testing as essential.
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Practical Advice for Students: Start preparing early. Use free tools like Khan Academy, peer tutoring, or paid resources. Build consistency and discipline, because “hope is not a strategy.”
Test optional policies may change, but one thing remains constant: preparation and intentional strategy make all the difference.
Follow us on Instagram and TikTok @admittedlyco for more admissions guidance, and visit www.admittedly.co for free resources, webinars, and expert support as you plan your college journey.