Top 10 Pro Tips For Getting Into Your Dream College

The latest research indicates that college applications are up dramatically in the 2023-24 admissions cycle. The Common App has seen a stunning 21% increase in number of students applying over 2019-20.

Although only in her second year at Harvard University, Elise Pham already is a full-time content creator, author, certified college admissions counselor, and entrepreneur. She is the founder of Ultimate Ivy League Guide, an organization that offers budget-friendly college admissions counseling services and courses from crafting impactful essays to mastering interviews to excelling at the SATs via its network of experts. Dedicated to providing equitable educational opportunities, Ultimate Ivy League Guide furnishes free and reduced-cost college application materials to students from underprivileged communities.

Here are Pham’s top 10 tips for getting into your dream college:

1. Start early: Begin well ahead of application deadlines by creating a schedule that includes all requirements and important dates. Following a schedule can help you manage your time effectively.
2. Create a college research document: Maintain a document to keep track of notes about each college you’re applying to, such as unique courses or qualities. This also can be used to help write your school-specific essays and prepare for interviews.
3. Plan and outline your essays: Before writing your essays, outline them carefully. Ensure that each paragraph flows seamlessly from the one before it and to the one after. Highlight your personal growth throughout.
4. Craft a clear theme: Develop a theme that runs through your application to provide admissions officers with a cohesive understanding of you.
5. Streamline your personal statement: Keep your personal statement focused on one or two core values or themes that define you.
6. Diversify your supplemental essays: Create core stories for different aspects of your life (extracurriculars, major of interest, cultural background, etc.) to make the most of supplemental essays. Tailor these stories to each specific school.
7. Use quantifiable data: When describing your activities, incorporate numbers to demonstrate your time commitment and impact.
8. Choose recommenders wisely: Select one teacher who can discuss your academic work ethic, and another who can speak to your character in the classroom.
9. Stay authentic: Be true to yourself. Avoid exaggerating achievements or using overly complex language that doesn’t reflect your genuine self.
10. Maintain a positive attitude: Understand that the college application process can be stressful, but stay positive and maintain a growth mindset. Remember that the outcome doesn’t define your worth, especially in the unpredictable world of competitive college admissions.

As the child of an immigrant father and a mother who passed away when she was just 9 years old, Pham grew up in an economically disadvantaged household and community. Not only did she lack access to valuable college admission resources, but also her father was unfamiliar with the American educational system. As a result, Pham had to shoulder all the responsibility for her college applications. She also directly witnessed how scarce resources hindered her fellow students, many of whom did not realize their full academic capabilities.

“Given the absence of guidance on effective standardized test preparation, strategic high school course selection, extracurricular planning, and the intricacies of the application procedure itself, navigating the college preparation process proved immensely daunting,” Pham said in an exclusive interview with me.

That said, Pham feels grateful for how her personal journey has cultivated within her profound empathy for people hailing from analogous backgrounds—those confronting financial hardships or venturing into higher education as pioneers within their families. “This empathy fuels my determination to make college applications accessible to others. Recognizing my calling extends beyond mere coaching, I aspire to empower students to ascend to their utmost potential,” she says.

For Pham, her motivation goes far beyond profit-seeking; it is purpose-driven. She is eager to address a pressing concern within her community. She derives tremendous gratification from receiving countless messages from her student clients. When she reads about their triumphs over personal struggles, their achievements and transformations, she feels fulfilled.

Pham encourages young people looking to align their career with their life purpose to take a moment to articulate their core values and visualize their ideal future. That said, she emphasizes, “Passions are fluid and evolve over time. Should you choose to embark on a fresh career path, your initial step involves cultivating self-trust—belief in your capacity to adeptly navigate any circumstance. Once this self-assurance is in place, take that pivotal first step. Cultivate a commitment to continuous learning. Remember, you possess the power to steer your path. Even as you pivot or pioneer, it is never too late to follow your heart.”