Explore all components of the application process—and innovative methods to streamline your success.

Application Process.
The upgraded way.

Upgraded Application Process
— The Class of 2026 Guide —

  • — The Upgraded Application Approach —

    In this introductory section, explore the
    success-proven Five Application Phases
    designed by our Ivy League Founder and
    more than 300 student success stories!

    These college application content areas
    help students streamline the application
    process through success-shaping frameworks
    and more opportunities for aligned action.

    We are passionate about guiding students
    through our comprehensive start-to-submission
    application approach—because success
    stories require much more than one essay.

    — Preview Sections & Strategies Below —

  • — Five Phases & Ten Components —

    Discover our success-proven
    Five College Application Phases
    and explore all ten essential
    College Application Components

    — Preview The Upgraded Guide —

  • — The Five Upgraded Phases —

    The Five Phases Application Approach was built from Ivy League foundations, education-focused experience, and over a decade of assisting students with the college application process from start to finish. Here, explore the upgraded approach to the application process!

    — Slide To Explore —

  • — The Core —

    ▸ The Comprehensive College Resume
    ▸ The Common Application Activities List

    — 1 of 5 —

  • — The Creative —

    ▸ The 650-Word Personal Statement

    — 2 of 5 —

  • — The Collaborative —

    ▸ The Recommender-Ready Resume
    ▸ Recommender-Requested Materials

    — 3 of 5 —

  • — The Common —

    ▸ Common Application Profile & Family
    ▸ Common App Education & Testing
    ▸ Sending Official Test Score Reports

    — 4 of 5 —

  • — The Curated —

    ▸ College Supplemental Questions
    ▸ College-Specific Supplemental Essays

    — 5 of 5 —

  • — College Application Process —

    The Ten Application Components

    — Class of 2026 Essentials —

  • — Application Component —

    The Comprehensive College Resume

    — 1 of 10 —

  • — Application Component —

    The Common Application Activities List

    — 2 of 10 —

  • — Application Component —

    The 650-Word Personal Statement

    — 3 of 10 —

  • — Application Component —

    The Recommender-Ready Resume

    — 4 of 10 —

  • — Application Component —

    Recommender-Requested Materials

    — 5 of 10 —

  • — Application Component —

    Common App Profile & Family Sections

    — 6 of 10 —

  • — Application Component —

    Common App Education & Testing

    — 7 of 10 —

  • — Application Component —

    Sending Official Test Score Reports

    — 8 of 10 —

  • — Application Component —

    College Supplemental Questions

    — 9 of 10 —

  • — Application Component —

    College-Specific Supplemental Essays

    — 10 of 10 —

  • — Inspiration Throughout This Guide —

    Within the guide sections below, explore
    the Five Phases of the Application Process
    and Accepted Alumni application materials
    that helped our past successful students
    gain admission to their dream colleges:

    Cornell, Harvard, Johns Hopkins,
    Vanderbilt, Tufts, Georgia Tech,
    UNC Chapel Hill, and Dartmouth!

    Even More Student Success Stories: Explore Accepted Alumni Examples

  • — Aligned Inspiration —

    Through our Aligned Inspiration Guides
    for the Class of 2026, explore a curated
    set of alumni examples that align through
    shared curiosities, extracurricular
    experiences, and personal missions.

  • — The Aligned Guides —

    See how all application components unite
    to showcase inspiring student stories—
    for Innovators, for Creatives, for Healers,
    for Leaders, and for Change-Makers.

  • — For Innovators —

    Explore a curated set of alumni
    examples that align through shared
    intellectual curiosities, extracurricular
    experiences, and personal missions.

    See how all application components unite
    to showcase inspiring student stories—
    for Innovators, for Creatives, for Healers,
    for Leaders, and for Change-Makers.

    Envision Your Own Upgraded Future: The Aligned Guide for Innovators

  • — For Creatives —

    Explore a curated set of alumni
    examples that align through shared
    intellectual curiosities, extracurricular
    experiences, and personal missions.

    See how all application components unite
    to showcase inspiring student stories—
    for Innovators, for Creatives, for Healers,
    for Leaders, and for Change-Makers.

    Envision Your Own Upgraded Future: The Aligned Guide for Creatives

  • — For Healers —

    Explore a curated set of alumni
    examples that align through shared
    intellectual curiosities, extracurricular
    experiences, and personal missions.

    See how all application components unite
    to showcase inspiring student stories—
    for Innovators, for Creatives, for Healers,
    for Leaders, and for Change-Makers.

    Envision Your Own Upgraded Future: The Aligned Guide for Healers

  • — For Leaders —

    Explore a curated set of alumni
    examples that align through shared
    intellectual curiosities, extracurricular
    experiences, and personal missions.

    See how all application components unite
    to showcase inspiring student stories—
    for Innovators, for Creatives, for Healers,
    for Leaders, and for Change-Makers.

    Envision Your Own Upgraded Future: The Aligned Guide for Leaders

  • — For Change-Makers —

    Explore a curated set of alumni
    examples that align through shared
    intellectual curiosities, extracurricular
    experiences, and personal missions.

    See how all application components unite
    to showcase inspiring student stories—
    for Innovators, for Creatives, for Healers,
    for Leaders, and for Change-Makers.

    Envision Your Own Upgraded Future: The Aligned Guide for Change-Makers

  • — Successful Student Examples —

    Throughout this Upgraded Guide’s
    Five Sections, explore success-proven
    examples of the Application Components
    from eight of our own Accepted Alumni!

  • — More Accepted Alumni Inspiration —

    Beyond this guide, explore over 300
    success stories—and the inspiring
    application essays that helped our
    Accepted Alumni get accepted to
    more than 50 dream colleges:

    Explore Upgraded Alumni Acceptances

  • — The Core Components —

    Through Phase One of the The Five Phases,
    create the two activities-focused components
    that build your college application framework,
    and start shaping your success story!

    During Phase One, follow success-proven steps
    to build the two Core Components—the
    Comprehensive College Resume and the
    Common Application Activities List.

    Below, explore the components that create
    your college application framework. With our
    success-proven strategies, learn how to build
    successful Core Components—and streamline
    your entire college application process.

    — College Application Phase One —

  • — The Creative Components —

    Upgraded Phase Two is the ideal time for
    a student to begin sharing their unique story—
    through the most well-known component of
    the entire college application process.

    College Application Phase Two includes the
    quintessential application component:
    The 650-Word Personal Statement that serves
    as an applicant’s main college essay.

    Below, explore the central written component that showcases your inspiring story. Utilize our success-proven methods to share your story—and learn our innovative approaches to craft a piece that is memorable and one-of-a-kind.

    — College Application Phase Two —

  • — The Collaborative Components —

    With Upgraded Phase 3—The Collaborative
    Components—prepare detailed materials to share with the adults supporting your application process through letters of recommendation.

    College Application Phase 3 includes two application components—the Recommender-Ready Resume and Recommender-Requested Materials.

    Below, explore the time-sensitive components involving the adults supporting your success. Follow our strategic steps to share information and insights that will stand out to your recommenders—and help you shine to admissions readers.

    — College Application Phase Three —

  • — The Common Components —

    During Phase 4 of the The Upgraded
    Five Phases, begin compiling your submission-ready college application—and learn the highly-specific format of the Common Application.

    Throughout Phase 4, build what we call the Common Components. These are the platform-specific elements of the Common Application that are straightforward yet essential.

    Below, explore the introductory Common Application Sections that start each official application. With our upgraded guidance, prepare your Common Components with approachable steps to success—so you can shine when it’s time to submit.

    — College Application Phase Four —

  • — The Curated Components —

    Upgraded Phase 5 is the time to embark
    on some of the most challenging yet rewarding college application components—the Supplemental Essays essential for most colleges.

    During Application Phase 5, complete both College-Specific Supplemental Questions, and learn to master the process of crafting successful College-Specific Supplemental Essays.

    Below, explore the college-specific components that highlight your missions and more. Embrace our success-proven methods to strategically build your supplemental essays—and find inspiration and innovation to help you at every step.

    — College Application Phase Five —

  • — Streamline Your Success —

    In this section, streamline your entire
    application process with the Five Phases
    designed by our Ivy League Founder and
    more than 300 student success stories!

    These college application content areas
    help students streamline the application
    process through success-shaping frameworks
    and more opportunities for aligned action.

    We are passionate about guiding students
    through our comprehensive start-to-submission
    application approach—because success
    stories require much more than one essay.

    — Explore All Five Phases Below —

  • — The Core —

    During Phase 1 of the The Five Phases, create the two activities-focused components that build your college application framework—and start shaping your success story.

    In Phase 1, follow streamlining steps to build the two Core Components—the Comprehensive College Resume and the Common Application Activities List.

    With our success-proven strategies, build these components in a manner that streamlines your entire college application process.

    Build The Core

  • — The Creative —

    Upgraded Phase 2 is the ideal time for a student to begin sharing their unique story—through the most well-known component of the entire college application process.

    College Application Phase 2 includes the quintessential application component—the 650-Word Personal Statement that serves as a student’s Main College Essay.

    Utilize our success-proven methods to showcase your story—and learn our innovative approaches to craft a piece that is memorable and one-of-a-kind.

    Build The Creative

  • — The Collaborative —

    With Upgraded Phase 3—The Collaborative Components—prepare detailed materials to share with the adults supporting your application process through letters of recommendation.

    College Application Phase 3 includes two application components—the Recommender-Ready Resume and Recommender-Requested Materials.

    Follow our strategic steps to share information and insights that will stand out to your recommenders—and help you shine to admissions readers.

    Build The Collaborative

  • — The Common —

    During Phase 4 of the The Upgraded Five Phases, begin compiling your submission-ready college application—and learn the highly-specific format of the Common Application.

    Throughout Phase 4, build what we call the Common Components. These are the platform-specific elements of the Common Application that are straightforward yet essential.

    With our upgraded guidance, prepare your Common Components with approachable steps to success—so you can shine when it’s time to submit.

    Buiild The Common

  • — The Curated —

    Upgraded Phase 5 is the time to embark on some of the most challenging yet rewarding college application components—the Supplemental Essays essential for most colleges.

    During Application Phase 5, complete both College-Specific Supplemental Questions—and learn to master the process of crafting successful College-Specific Supplemental Essays.

    Embrace our success-proven methods to strategically build your supplemental essays—and find inspiration and innovation to help you at every step.

    Build The Curated