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Free Webinar & Live Q&A
Sunday August 23, 2026 · 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 PM ET

What Colleges Are Actually

Looking For in 2026: Signal vs. Noise

The internet is overflowing with college admissions advice—what students “need” to do, what colleges supposedly want, and which strategies are said to make the difference. But what’s actually true? Cut through the noise with two former Ivy League admissions officers and get a clear, expert perspective on what top colleges are really looking for in 2026, and what deserves your time, energy, and attention.

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What You'll Learn

The college admissions landscape is filled with noise, anxiety, and bad advice. In this session, Thomas and Devery cut through the confusion to show you exactly what selective colleges are looking for right now.

✓ 1.Signal vs. Noise in 2026: How to filter out the overwhelming amount of conflicting advice and focus on the few things that actually move the needle in highly selective admissions.
✓ 2.What Top Colleges Actually Value: A breakdown of how admissions committees read applications today, moving beyond grades and test scores to evaluate character, impact, and intellectual curiosity.
✓ 3.Building an Authentic Narrative: Why students who lead with identity, voice, and values stand out more than those who try to build a "perfect" but generic résumé.
✓ 4.The Myths That Are Costing Students Admission: The most common admissions misconceptions families believe — from "you need a non-profit" to "test scores don't matter anymore", and what the data actually shows.

The internet is full of college admissions advice, opinions, and “must-do´s.”
Register below to join us live on Sunday, August 23 at 1:00 PM PT / 4:00 PM ET and hear directly from former Ivy League admissions officers about what actually matters in 2026, and where your student should focus their time and energy.

 

About the Presenters

Thomas Caleel

Founder, Admittedly; Former Director of MBA Admissions & Financial Aid, The Wharton School, UPenn

Devery Doran

Admissions Strategist; Former Senior Admissions Officer, Harvard University; MBA, UT Austin

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Thomas Caleel

Before founding Admittedly, Thomas spent more than 20 years shaping admissions strategy at the highest levels of education. As the former Director of MBA Admissions at Wharton, he reviewed tens of thousands of applications and made final admissions decisions for one of the world's most selective schools.

Devery

Devery brings unmatched admissions expertise with nearly 20 years in selective admissions and 25,000+ college essays reviewed. As a former Senior Admissions Officer at Harvard and application reader for UC Berkeley, she has evaluated thousands of applications and advised students admitted to every top 100 college in the U.S.