Feeling overwhelmed by the college search process? Whether you're a student beginning your journey or a parent looking to support it, this webinar will help you make informed, confident decisions about which schools belong on your list—and why.
What to Expect
Join our webinar to learn how to create a thoughtful, personalized college list that reflects your goals, interests, and strengths. We’ll walk you through how to research schools effectively, balance reach, match, and safety options, and move beyond rankings to focus on true fit. Plus, gain expert insights and get your questions answered in a live Q&A session!
Build a College List That Sets You Up for Success
Expertise, guidance, discovery
& success
Expertise
Learn from admissions experts how to approach the college search with clarity, strategy, and purpose.
Guidance
Get step-by-step advice on how to build a well-balanced college list tailored to your academic goals, interests, and future aspirations.
Explore how to research schools beyond rankings—considering campus culture, academic fit, support systems, and long-term outcomes.
Discovery
Walk away with a clear, personalized list of colleges that align with your goals and maximize your chances of admission and success beyond high school.
Success
about our speaker
Ford has more than 5 years of experience in the admissions office of Johns Hopkins University. In his time at JHU, Ford helped more than 1,200 students each year from the Pacific Northwest and Canada in their applications. As a member of the admissions committee for three years and Assistant Director for three years, Ford helped implement a new reading process and oversaw both scholarship selection and the implementation of a new Humanities Overnight Program. Ford holds a BA in Theater from the University of Mary Washington. Specializing in STEM and CS subjects, he has helped students gain admittance to NYU, Boston College, Emory University, University of Notre Dame, Johns Hopkins University, University of Michigan, Georgetown University, Duke University, the UCs, and more.
Meet Ford
Register for our FREE webinar today!
What You Will Learn
How to Create a Balanced College List
Understand how to categorize schools into reach, match, and safety tiers for a smart application strategy.
Learn how to evaluate schools based on academic programs, campus culture, support services, and long-term fit.
Discover tools, resources, and methods to explore schools and gather the information that matters most.
Learn how to select colleges that reflect your interests, strengths, and future aspirations.
Get expert advice on what to avoid when building your list, from applying too narrowly to overlooking hidden-fit schools.
Ask your questions and receive personalized guidance on building a college list that positions you for success.
What Does Empowerly Offer?
OUR FEATURES
Empowerly Score®
Our proprietary calculator is backed by data from thousands of Empowerly student experiences to construct a highly accurate applicant profile for you, giving you a competitive advantage. Identify areas of improvement and strengths to highlight for an in-depth look at your current college application readiness.
1:1 college counseling
Based on your goals and preferences, you’ll be matched with one of our top-rated counselors who is dedicated to ensuring your academic standing and extracurriculars align with your long-term passions and goals. And when it’s time to officially start applying, your counselor will be there for comprehensive 1:1 support through every essay, application review, interview, and more to ensure you’re on track to reach your goals.
Advice & planning
Whether your college prep journey begins in middle school or senior year of high school, Empowerly’s holistic approach ensures you’re right where you need to be. From interest discovery to summer programming, to AP course selection, our research team and robust community of resources and expert advice are ready when you need them.
Essay editing
On average, students write at least 20 essays when applying to colleges, including common app essays, supplemental essays, and those for scholarships or special programs. Our experienced essay editors can review your essays within 24 hours, ensuring each one highlights your strengths and unique story.
Admissions Committee Review (AdCom)
With Empowerly, you can submit your completed application to our review committee before actually applying. Our committee members consist of former admissions officers with direct experience at top schools who know the dos and don’ts for the schools you want to get into. You’ll receive detailed, constructive feedback that gives you enough time to perfect your application before you hit submit.
SPECIALIZED PROGRAMS
In addition to our standard features, we offer specialized programs unique to your interests and specific needs:
GOALS academic support
Our GOALS program empowers neurodivergent students with skills for success at top schools and beyond.
Our test prep program helps students achieve top results, with expert tutors guiding them to success.
Test prep
Our passion project program helps students turn ideas into impactful projects for their college applications.
Passion projects
AI Scholar Program
Our AI Scholar program helps students create impactful projects using AI and machine learning.
Our Research Scholar Program pairs students with PhD mentors on impactful independent research projects.
Research Scholar Program
Startup internships offer real-world experience, helping students explore careers and boost college applications.
Startup internships
Want to learn more about Empowerly? Check out what parents and students are saying about us!
2024 Top Schools Data
Admission rates at top U.S. universities are fiercely competitive. For example, Stanford University and MIT have acceptance rates of approximately 4%, and Caltech is even more selective with an admit rate around 3.9%.
Highly Competitive
Top Non-Ivy Colleges
Popular and highly competitive non-Ivy institutions include Stanford University, MIT, Duke University, University of Chicago, Vanderbilt University,
and Rice University.
Top U.S. Colleges:
Applicants and Admit Rates
Navigating admissions at U.S. universities like Stanford, MIT, and Johns Hopkins is incredibly challenging, with acceptance rates as low as 3%. You don’t have to do it alone—our expert team is here to guide you through every step of the process.
Seeking Personalized Guidance?
Skip the Webinar
Want to skip the webinar and get your child’s readiness for elite university applications reviewed by an expert? Book a consultation today!
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Contact Info
Location & Hours
MON-FRI/ 7AM - 8PM
2261 Market St #4555
San Francisco, CA 94114
