Welcome to the hub for all things AdmissionsMom.
Born on Reddit as u/admissionsmom on the subreddit ApplyingToCollege, I have guided thousands of stressed high school students—from every corner of the globe—through the college admissions process. My mission? To demystify, debunk, and most importantly, de-stress your college admissions journey. Let’s find the best colleges for YOU.
Peace of mind in the admissions journey
Choosing a college is a big decision—perhaps the biggest decision you’ve ever made. But it doesn’t need to be a painful one.
If you’re wondering, “Why is college admissions so stressful and competitive?” you’re not alone. I wondered that myself. And that’s why I started helping students like you navigate the college admissions process with an unconventional approach.
You shouldn’t feel overwhelmed and confused. You shouldn’t feel pressure to hit targets, chase prestige, or find a “dream” school. The college admissions process should be filled with excitement while you find your direction in life. I’m here to reduce the anxiety and frustration from your admissions journey.
There are thousands of excellent colleges out there looking for students like you. When you incorporate self-discovery and awareness into your admissions journey, you’ll realize how capable and full of potential you truly are. You can focus your attention away from rankings and toward enjoying the college admissions experience.
Together we can find the right colleges for you. I’ll help you write college application essays that sound like you and showcase how unique you are. I’ll teach you to use mindfulness to tune out the outside pressures of the college admissions process.
Are you ready for a little peace of mind? Looking for mindful guidance as you enter the college admissions process?
Join me on Reddit (u/admissionsmom), Instagram, Twitter, or shoot me a message. I’m here to answer all your college application questions.
Blog
Badass College Apps Youtube Channel
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by college admissions — and life, come join my live stream, Badass College Apps, where we talk about college admissions, and then we stop… and take a breath. It’s more kind of a combo Support Group/Office Hours, where we use mindfulness in college admissions and help you become the badass you already are! Come hang out, chat with friends, and be part of a group of people who are eager to learn more about college admissions in a supported, mindful, intentional way.
Hey Admissions Mom: Real Talk From Reddit
Want a recap of all the advice and experience shared on the subreddit, r/ApplyingToCollege? In Hey AdmissionsMom: Real Talk from Reddit, I’ve combined my knowledge with the perspectives of 70 of the hundreds of thousands of students in our community who’ve just gone through the college admissions process themselves. You can find my book at your favorite online bookstore or linked here for free!
College Vizzy
Feeling a bit lost about college visits? Not sure what to do, what to ask, where to focus? And after a few visits, all the colleges blur together. I get it! College visits are overwhelming. That’s why I created the College Vizzy — to guide you mindfully through a college visit and intentionally focus your attention. Plus, all your photos, thoughts, and ideas get stored in a single place. Problem solved!
Testimonials
u/admissionsmom is a brilliant mentor and advisor to hundreds of prospective college students. She brings a personal and calming perspective and a professional tailored approach to the frenzied arms race of college admissions. Her expertise and understanding are especially valuable for students who feel stressed, overwhelmed, and lost (so, all of them) when they consider the daunting task of applying to college.
Thank you for reading my essay and suggesting improvements, thank you for making me realize that it’s not about college as much as it is about finding myself and my true passion. Every single aspect of my application (my new essay and my supplement, my activities and my additional info) was directly influenced by your advice on the sub one way or another. (And I really mean this).
Admissionsmom was really very nice and willing to help me with my essay. The advice she gave and the edits she made were more than just grammar or syntax mistakes; they gave me a direction on how I should change my college essay.
Rarely do I see a person who is as selfless as AdmissionsMom. She brainstormed ideas, read multiple essays, proofread my work, and gave me emotional support without even knowing my name… She is as caring as a mother.
I just love our a2c mom and all her inspirational, encouraging, and helpful work to this community! There isn’t anyone better fit for the job!
What I will say about admissions mom is that she is, without a doubt, the most caring person I have met on the journey through the maze that are college applications. She always lent a listening ear, especially when I thought no one could possibly understand the weird, overly complex subtleties of this godforsaken process…
I want to thank you for all the help that you provide on /r/ApplyingToCollege! I have been on this sub since last year and really appreciate the help and encouragement that you give to us. You probably forgotten, but you wrote a very thoughtful and supporting comment on a post that I made last year describing what I thought was an extremely devastating moment in my life.
Admissionsmom was there for me at a time when I needed support and reassurance from someone who could tell me I was doing the right thing, and I can’t express in words how much better I felt– not just about my application–but also about myself! She’s been a tremendous source of information and help throughout the stressful admissions process, all the way from proofreading essays to giving me a regular dose of much-needed motivation — she’s the (admissions)mom none of us deserve :D
u/admissionsmom is a brilliant mentor and advisor to hundreds of prospective college students. She brings a personal and calming perspective and a professional tailored approach to the frenzied arms race of college admissions. Her expertise and understanding are especially valuable for students who feel stressed, overwhelmed, and lost (so, all of them) when they consider the daunting task of applying to college.
Carolyn Allison Caplan, aka Admissions Mom, was a phenomenal addition to my podcast. I enjoyed our conversation and could have spoken with her for hours. Anyone who has as much Reddit karma as she does is a treasure. She provided my listeners with great advice for high school extracurriculars and life.
I look forward to collaborating again with Carolyn!
Admissionsmom is pretty much A2C’s saving grace. In a subreddit filled with hyper-competitive, hormonal, pressure-packed teens, AdmissionsMom offers heartfelt advice that separates itself from typical college banter. She read my main common app essay, something I didn’t totally feel comfortable sharing with peers, and helped me polish it off. She’s there for the freak outs, the dreams, the rejections, and the acceptances. She’s there for more than results. She’s there for you.
You’ve basically been one of the most helpful people during both the application and waiting periods. I’ve listened to your advice whether it was general or personal from dealing with college rejections to writing my LOCI to emailing colleges about an important update (which I received some positive replies for from the colleges) to even adding books to my spring reading list. Your comments have taught me so much about the college process and I honestly couldn’t be any more thankful!
Admissionsmom has been nothing but a help in the college admissions process– even pro bono, she provided quality advice with a smile.
Admissions mom has been a MASSIVE help throughout this process. Regardless of how many questions she gets asked, she always answers to the best of her ability. As a community, we are lucky to have her as someone who we can turn to for help no matter how small or big the matter is. We have benefited from her presence in the community.
I just wanted to thank you for your help with my essay, on the day it was due no less. You had nothing but constructive criticism and helpful recommendations, which I hugely appreciated. I was just recently accepted to my ED dream school, Northeastern, and I know that you were a huge help in that. (Northeastern)
Admissions mom has been a MASSIVE help throughout this process. Regardless of how many questions she gets asked, she always answers to the best of her ability. As a community, we are lucky to have her as someone who we can turn to for help no matter how small or big the matter is. We have benefited from her presence in the community.
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Who is AdmissionsMom?
The right school for you might be a school you hadn’t even thought to consider. That’s where I come in.
Using mindfulness and honesty, I’ve helped loads of students and their parents rethink the traditional “college process” and let go of all the social pressures and stress associated with it. I help students learn to understand themselves and what they actually want, not what someone else has told them they should want. Only by reaching this level of understanding can we then start to explore the schools that actually make the most sense for you. And guess what? When you’re doing it for you, all that stress and pressure starts to fall away and the college admissions process actually becomes enjoyable. Imagine that!
