The Public Ivy College Playbook: How to Get In
FREE LIVE WEBINAR FOR PARENTS OF 9TH - 11TH GRADERS
November 19, 2026 | 5 PM PT
Brennan Bowen
Former Admissions Officer at UC Berkeley
10+ years in selective college admissions
If Public Ivies like UC Berkeley, UCLA, Michigan, UNC Chapel Hill, UT Austin, or UVA are on your child's list, learn what it takes to stand out in this free webinar.
Brennan B.
Former UC Berkeley Admissions Officer
10+ years in college admissions
of our recent students gained acceptance to a top 100 school
satisfaction rating from 400+ reviews on TrustPilot
students and parents served with admissions guidance
Public Ivies like UC Berkeley, UCLA, and the University of Michigan offer world-class education, but getting in can be just as competitive as admission to many private universities. With acceptance rates varying by residency, major, and school, families need to understand what actually makes an applicant stand out.
Drawing on his experience as a former UC Berkeley admissions reader and Stanford external reader, Brennan will break down how top public universities evaluate applicants and share real examples of students who earned admission.
Understand what top Public Ivies look for
Learn the four key signals admissions readers look for and how your child can demonstrate them throughout their application.
Navigate competition by major and residency
See how in-state versus out-of-state status, intended major, and school-specific admissions priorities can affect your child's chances.
Learn from real students who got in
Explore eight real Empowerly student success stories and the strategies that helped them earn admission to competitive public universities.
College Counselor
Former UC Berkeley Admissions Officer | 10+ Years in College Admissions
Brennan B.
Meet Your Host
Brennan is a college admissions counselor with over a decade of experience in selective admissions and international education. He has reviewed thousands of applications as a former admissions reader for the University of California, Berkeley, and an external reader for Stanford. Brennan founded the college counseling department at an international school in Shanghai and has helped students gain admission to top universities worldwide.
In this session, Brennan will break down how top Public Ivies evaluate applicants and why residency, intended major, and application strategy matter. You'll leave with insights from eight real student success stories and a clearer understanding of how to help your child stand out at competitive public universities.
College Counselor
Former UC Berkeley Admissions Officer
10+ years in college admissions
Register anyway and we'll send a recording. The live Q&A is for attendees only.
About 60 minutes, including the live Q&A.
