Public Ivies and Top 50 Schools: How to Stand Out
October 23rd - 5pm PT
Standing out at top public universities takes more than strong grades. In this webinar, you’ll learn what schools like UCLA, Michigan, and UNC value most—academic depth, leadership, and real-world impact. Gain practical steps to refine your profile, elevate your achievements, and present an application that stands out among the nation’s top 50 schools.
What to Expect
Join our webinar for a focused look at what it takes to stand out at elite public schools. Learn how to balance academic excellence with leadership and impact. This session will show you how to highlight your strengths, avoid common pitfalls, and position your application for success.
Proven Strategies to Stand Out at Top Public Universities
Expertise, guidance, discovery
& success
Expertise
Learn directly from admissions experts who understand what top public universities value most. Get clear insight into how these schools evaluate applicants beyond academics.
Guidance
Receive practical direction on how to showcase leadership, initiative, and impact in ways that align with what elite public institutions seek.
Understand the differences between top public schools and private universities, and uncover what makes certain applicants stand out in each.
Discovery
Walk away with a defined strategy to strengthen your profile and present an application that rises above the competition.
Success
about our speaker
Meet Jermaine
Jermaine is a Lead Counselor at Empowerly and former Senior Admissions Officer at Columbia University. He holds a B.S. from Connecticut College and has extensive experience in college admissions and scholarships, including roles at Johns Hopkins SAIS.
Jermaine specializes in humanities, STEM, social science research, merit scholarships, and performing arts. A former professional vocalist, he helps students with interview prep, essay editing, and leadership development—and loves working with driven students ready to reach their goals.
Register for our FREE webinar today!
What You Will Learn
How Top Public Universities Evaluate Applicants
Understand the factors schools like UCLA, Michigan, and Virginia prioritize when reviewing applications, from academics to personal impact.
Learn how to communicate leadership, initiative, and intellectual curiosity in ways that resonate with admissions officers.
Identify the right balance between course rigor, extracurricular engagement, and community impact to build a strong overall profile.
Recognize the pitfalls students make when applying to top public schools and how to avoid weakening your application.
Walk away with defined next steps to elevate your application before deadlines and present yourself as a standout candidate.
Where you can ask all your questions!
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!
Menu
Contact Info
Location & Hours
MON-FRI/ 7AM - 8PM
2261 Market St #4555
San Francisco, CA 94114
