5 Admissions Myths Families Still Believe – And What Actually Matters
July 22nd, 2026 · 8:00 PM ET
Join Erin Cao, former Columbia Admissions Officer, for a clear breakdown of the admissions myths many families still believe. She’ll explain what top US universities actually look for, how admissions officers evaluate student profiles, and why strong grades or a long activities list are not enough on their own. Families will leave with a sharper understanding of what matters now,and how to build a stronger application strategy.
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Discover the admissions myths holding strong applicants back!
Join this exclusive session to learn which admissions myths still shape how families plan, what top US universities actually value, and how students can build a stronger application strategy.
You will learn:
01
What really matters in competitive US admissions today.
02
Which admissions myths lead families to focus on the wrong things.
03
Why are activities judged by depth, impact, and direction, not quantity?
04
How research helps students build a clearer academic hook and a stronger application story.
Learn from
admissions experts
About Elizabeth
Erin Cao, a former Columbia University Admissions Officer who evaluated thousands of applications from Canada, China, and Florida. With over 5 years of experience, she has helped students gain admission to elite universities like Harvard, Columbia, and UPenn. Erin believes every student has a unique story and works closely with them to craft compelling narratives highlighting their strengths. A Columbia alumna with a B.A. in Art History, Erin was deeply involved on campus as a student interviewer and tour guide. She also founded CFLAN, Columbia's first alumni network for first-generation and low-income students.
About Alex
Chris Haley is a Harvard University graduate with over five years of experience as a professional college counsellor. He has guided students through hundreds of successful applications to top U.S. universities, including the Ivy League, MIT, Northwestern, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and USC. Chris also has a strong track record of helping students gain admission to elite summer and research programs such as USC SHINE, LaunchX, UCIxGATI BEAM, and COSMOS. In addition, he has mentored students preparing for prestigious STEM competitions like the AMC10 and the USA Computing Olympiad (USACO).
How Indigo Research works
Indigo Research mentors high school students to produce exceptional, publishable research. With a curriculum designed by Harvard and Oxford graduates, students work with top university faculty or PhD fellows, building intellectual depth and boosting their academic profile.
Our students achieve real outcomes – journal publications, competition wins, and admissions to the world’s leading universities. Indigo students have a 33% Ivy League acceptance rate – over three times the global average – and a 22% acceptance rate to Oxford and Cambridge.
