Deadlines, Essays, and GYEL: Your September Survival Guide

We've hit 50,000 downloads and are kicking off a new season focusing on application season strategies for seniors and announcing our partnership with the Global Youth Excellence and Leadership Program. This episode provides practical advice for staying organized and balanced during the college application process while highlighting how leadership development can strengthen applications.

• September is the time for seniors to finalize college lists with balanced reach, target, and safety schools
• Polish personal statements that tell authentic stories and supplemental essays that answer "why us" questions clearly
• Request teacher and counselor recommendations now with supporting materials about your strengths
• Create a calendar tracking early action and early decision deadlines (typically November 1st or 15th)
• Maintain balance with extracurriculars, family time, and self-care during application season
• Our new partnership with UN-affiliated GYEL develops leadership, global awareness, and exposure to emerging fields
• Selective colleges seek future leaders who think globally and take initiative in their communities
• Success in admissions reflects your growth, passions, and potential—not just checking boxes

Share this episode with a student, parent, or friend who might benefit, and subscribe to catch all upcoming episodes this season.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (01:02):
Hello and welcome back to the East Coast College
Admissions Podcast, the showwhere we break down the college
admissions process, sharestrategies for success and give
students and families theclarity they need to approach
this journey with confidence.
I'm your host, lu Patra, andI'm here to be your guide
through the challenges,opportunities and excitement for
preparing for college.
I've missed you all and it'sbeen a little while since our

(01:25):
last episode way back in April.
But we are back and I'm soexcited to kick off a brand new
season with you.
First, I want to take a momentto thank you.
During this break, this podcasthit a major milestone Over
50,000 downloads.
That tells me just how muchthis community values real,

(01:45):
clear and actionable admissionsadvice.
I couldn't be more grateful foryour support.
Now it's September and you knowwhat that means seniors, it's
officially application season.
The essays, the deadlines andrecommendations it's all
happening and I know it can feeloverwhelming, but don't worry.

(02:07):
In today's episode, I'll begiving you practical strategies
for staying on top of theprocess and keeping your sanity
intact.
But that's not all.
I want to also share someexciting news.
Over the summer, east CoastAdmissions officially partnered
with GYEF, the Global YouthExcellence and Leadership

(02:28):
Program.
This is a UN-affiliatedinitiative helping students
build skills not just inacademics, but also in
leadership, global awareness andeven in emerging fields like AI
and technology global awarenessand even emerging fields like
AI and technology.
I will talk about what thatpartnership means for our
students and why I think it'ssuch a powerful addition to the
college prep journey.
So grab a notebook or just sitback and listen, because we've

(02:51):
got a lot to cover today.
Let's start with the class of2026.
Seniors, this is your moment.
The Common App opening onAugust 1st in September is the

(03:17):
time to get serious.
I want to pause here and give aspecial shout out to a couple
of my students who embody thekind of dedication it takes to
get through this process.
First, anwita, who is workingtirelessly on her BSDU
applications.
For those who don't know, bsduprograms are incredibly
competitive, combiningundergraduate studies with a
pathway to medical school.
Anwita has been balancingschool and essays and everything

(03:38):
that it takes to get thisapplication process going, and I
couldn't be more proud of herfocus and resilience.
And then there is Finnegan, whois pursuing a really exciting
combination of majors, urbanplanning and film studies.
It's not every day you seethose two together and it's
exactly the kind ofinterdisciplinary curiosity that
colleges love.

(03:58):
Finnegan is doing the hard workof building a balanced college
list, crafting essays and makingsure every piece of his
application reflects who he is.
To Anwita Finnegan and everysenior listening, keep pushing
forward.
This is the season of details,deadlines and sometimes doubt,
but you are building a storythat matters and, trust me, all

(04:22):
that effort is going to pay off.
Here are the key priorities youshould be focusing on right now
.
Number one finalize yourcollege list by this month.
You want a balanced list ofrich, targeted safety schools.
Make sure your list isn't justbased on rankings but on fit,
academic programs, campusculture and financial aid.

(04:43):
Number two polish your essays.
Your personal statement shouldtell your authentic story and
your supplemental essay shouldanswer the why ask clearly.
Don't just copy and pastegeneric answers.
Admissions officers want to seethat you've done your research
and know how you thrive at theircollege.

(05:05):
Number three requestrecommendations If you haven't
already ask your teachers andyour counselors right now.
Give them plenty of time andprovide a worksheet or notes to
help them highlight yourstrengths.
Number four keep up withdeadlines.
Early action and early decision.

(05:31):
Deadlines are just around thecorner, usually November 1st or
15th.
Build a calendar so nothingslips through the cracks.
Last but not the least, youhave to stay balanced.
Don't let the applicationprocess consume you.
Continue your extracurriculars,spend time with family and
friends and take care ofyourself.
Admissions officers don't wantbent-out students.
They want balanced ones.
Remember, your application isnot just about test scores and

(05:53):
GPAs.
It's about showing who you are,how you've grown and how you
contribute to the collegecommunity.
Now I want to pivot to somethingI'm really excited about Our
new partnership with GYEL, theGlobal Youth Excellence and
Leadership Program.
For those who don't know, withGYEL, the Global Youth
Excellence and LeadershipProgram.
For those who don't know, gyelis a UN-affiliated initiative

(06:16):
designed for students in grades6 through 12.
What makes it so powerful isthe way it goes beyond
traditional academics.
Yes, it sharpens your academicskills, but it also builds
leadership, global awareness andeven exposure to fields like AI
and emerging technologies.
So I know you are asking whydoes this matter for college

(06:38):
admissions?
I'll tell you why Because EastCoast colleges and really
selective colleges everywherearen't just looking for good
students, they are looking forfuture leaders.
Aren't just looking for goodstudents, they are looking for
future leaders.
They want students who canthink globally, who understand
the big issues of our time andwho have already started to take
initiative in their owncommunities.
Through this partnership, ourstudents will have access to

(07:00):
programs that combine rigorouslearning with opportunities to
lead, innovate and connectglobally.
Imagine being able to show anadmissions officer not just your
grades, but also your role in aUN-affiliated leadership
initiative.
That's the kind of standoutexperience that makes
applications shine.
But, more importantly, programslike GYEL prepare you for life

(07:24):
beyond admissions.
College is just the beginning.
Building confidence, leadershipskills and a global perspective
those are the assets that willserve you long after the
admissions letters arrive.
So I'll be sharing more abouthow we integrate GYEL into our
work with students in upcomingepisodes, so stay tuned for that
.

(07:44):
But let's zoom out for a moment.
Whether you are a seniorapplying this fall, a junior
starting to plan, or even ayounger student listening in,
here is the big picture.
Success in college admissionsisn't just about checking the
boxes.
It's about building a storythat reflects your growth, your
passions and your potential.
That's why programs like GYAOare so meaningful, that's why

(08:07):
mindfulness and balance duringthe application season are so
important, and that's why Iencourage students to think of
admissions not just as an endpoint, but as a launch pad.
So here's my challenge to youthis month For seniors finish
your drafts, finalize your listand stay disciplined with your
timeline.

(08:27):
For juniors use this fall tovisit campuses, explore majors.
Think about what kind of storyyou want to tell next year.
For parents support your child,but don't overwhelm them.
Encourage independence.
This is their journey, notyours.
Above all, remember that youcan do this.
Yes, it's stressful, but withthe right support and a clear
plan, you can come through thisprocess.

(08:48):
Not, it's stressful, but withthe right support and a clear
plan, you can come through thisprocess, not just with
acceptance letters, but with astronger sense of yourself.
As we wrap up today's episode, Iwant to say how glad I am to be
back behind the mic with you.

(09:08):
All the breaks this april giveme time to reset, reflect and
build new partnerships, like theone with gyal, that will make
the season of the podcast richerthan ever.
Season two is going to bebigger, better and more
impactful.
I'll be bringing on expertguests, diving deeper into
specific application strategiesand sharing the kind of insights

(09:29):
that will help you not justsurvive admissions but thrive in
the process.
If you found today's episodehelpful.
Please share it with a student,a parent or a friend who might
benefit, and don't forget tosubscribe so you don't miss any
upcoming episodes this season.
Thanks for listening and, asalways, I'm Cleo Batra, wishing
you confidence, clarity and calmas you navigate the college

(09:52):
search journey.
Until then, I'll see you nexttime.