Posts Tagged: narrative

What Is Holistic Admissions—and Does It Help or Hurt Me?

Each year students with near-perfect test scores and glowing transcripts are rejected from top colleges Meanwhile others with slightly lower scores are admitted If you've ever wondered how that happens the answer lies in a concept called holistic admissions But...

Why You Should Start Your College Personal Statement This Summer

And How Pathways Can Help You Write Your Best Story Yet The personal statement it s just words but it s one of the most powerful parts of your college application This isn t just an essay It s your...

Share Your MCAT Success: Join Pathways as a Peer Advisor

Did you crush the MCAT It's time to pay it forward and get paid for it At Pathways we re building the next-generation advisory platform for students navigating high-stakes milestones like the MCAT BS MD admissions and med school planning...

15 College Admissions Terms Every Parent and Student Should Understand—Explained Simply

The college admissions process is filled with jargon that often sounds like a foreign language to families navigating it for the first time Whether you're a student beginning your college journey or a parent trying to provide guidance understanding these...

What We Learned from the 2025 College Admissions Cycle: Trends Every Family Should Know

As the dust settles on the admissions season a few clear patterns have emerged some familiar others new Whether you're a parent of a rising th grader or a senior preparing to submit applications this fall the lessons from this...

The 25 Most Important Questions Parents Ask on the Road to Elite College Admissions

A guide for families with high-achieving students who want every advantage without the guesswork For parents of high-performing students the high school years aren t just about grades and report cards they re the foundation of a college journey that...

Why the Pathways Model Is Redefining Student Advising

How an Open-Choice Community-Driven Platform is Giving Students Control Over Their Future In the world of academic advising most platforms follow a predictable playbook you re matched with a counselor often through a rigid algorithm or availability matrix and your...

If you get into a BS/MD program, is it objectively better?

The answer depends on fit but let's unpack it data-first BS MD vs Traditional Pre-Med A Data-Driven Pros amp Cons Analysis BS MD Programs Pros AdvantageDetailsGuaranteed SeatYou secure a conditional or guaranteed seat in medical school reducing application stress saving...

How Admissions Officers Review Your Application – Through the Eyes of a Former Admissions Officer

It s a quiet Tuesday morning in early January I ve just poured my third cup of coffee and the admissions portal is blinking unread applications As a former admissions officer at a highly selective university this is what my...

I Used Both a Counselor and Pathways—Here’s How They Worked Together

When I first started the college application process I was completely overwhelmed There were so many decisions to make what schools to apply to what essays to write whether or not I should submit my SAT scores and I was...

The Five Moments When a Peer Consult Can Change Your Application

Anna had always been the straight-A student active in clubs and a competitive athlete On paper she looked like an ideal candidate for the Ivy League But when it came time to write her college essays she froze Her mind...

I Didn’t Know the Rules, But My Peer Coach Knew the Game

By Aditi R not her real name International Student from India Before I even began applying to colleges in the United States I knew I was already behind Not academically I had top grades extracurriculars and awards but behind in...

Helping Students From Underrepresented Backgrounds Means Listening First

By Carla J not her real name College Coach I ve worked with students from all walks of life but the ones who stay with me the longest are the ones who didn t think they belonged in the college...

Turning My Passion for Activism Into a Compelling Application

By Maya Torres Not her real name Future Political Science Major When I started preparing my college applications I had no idea how to turn my passion for activism into something that would set me apart from the countless other...

STEM, Startups, and Summer Programs: Crafting a Story That Stands Out

By Michael Tran Future Engineering Major Applying to college as a high school student is never easy but for those of us passionate about STEM there s an extra layer of complexity You re not just trying to stand out...