Webinars

College tuition is a marketplace like any other: prices are negotiable. Yet many parents believe they must pay sticker price if they don’t qualify for need-based aid. As a result, they miss their opportunity to negotiate and end up overpaying for their child’s education.

Featuring special guest Joel Peck, a New York CPA who has saved families over $1M in college tuition, this webinar explores the little-known world of college tuition negotiation and explains why everyone should negotiate to secure a discount on their tuition bill.

We discuss:

• Which colleges negotiate tuition
• Who is eligible for tuition reductions
• How much families can save
• How to approach negotiation and tips for success

Joining Joel is your host Chris Ajemian, CATES CEO and education consultant.

Want to reduce your tuition bill? Webinar attendees are eligible for a free 30-minute negotiation strategy consult with Joel. To get started, please email joel@joelpeckcpa.com.

Colleges across the U.S. have released their Early Decision and Early Action results for the Class of 2026.

This webinar dives into the early admission stats at top schools, comparing them to last year’s numbers to help you understand what to expect at Regular Decision.

We also discuss:

• How many spots are already filled at top schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Yale
• How SAT/ACT scores, diversity, and legacy status influenced the results
• What to do if you were deferred at ED/EA

Guiding you through the data is CATES CEO and expert admissions consultant Chris Ajemian. He is joined by Michael Muska, the director of Relativity College Consulting and a former admissions officer at Brown and Cornell.

Need guidance on ED/EA deferral? Book your two-hour admissions strategy session now. Webinar attendees save 50% with code EDGE50. To get started, please get in touch.

As teens get stuck into a brand new year of high school, we know that families are full of questions on what their students can do to set themselves up for success.

In the webinar, we provide insights on how students can take advantage of everything high school has to offer—not only with respect to preparing a successful college application, but also in terms of developing the skills and personal qualities that set the stage for a fulfilling life and career.

Topics include:

• Developing executive functioning, critical thinking, and interpersonal skills
• Building character and “grit”
• Establishing relationships with teachers and guidance counselors
• Discovering new interests and building an extracurricular profile
• Ensuring that high school is a happy, healthy, and productive experience

Guiding you through the webinar is CATES CEO and education consultant Chris Ajemian. He will be joined by Michael Muska, the director of Relativity College Consulting and a former admissions officer at Brown and Cornell.

Looking for help with your high school class strategy? Wondering how to maximize your high school experience in order to boost your college applications? Book your high school strategy session now. Webinar attendees save 50% with code EDGE50. To get started, please get in touch.

As students gear up for a new school year, we’re diving into a topic on the minds of many parents and students as the school year begins: high school classes—and how to choose the right ones.

In the webinar, we provide key insights on choosing classes and dig into real students’ transcripts to address top questions about course selection, including:

• What do colleges look for in terms of rigor, balance, and skills?
• When and how should families start planning high school course schedules?
• How should families factor in the impact of remote learning?
• What is recommended for honors, AP, and IB courses? Is more always better?
• Do class choices need to be fully aligned with college and career goals? Is there room for exploration?

Looking for help with your high school class strategy? Wondering how to maximize your high school experience in order to boost your college applications? Book your high school strategy session now. Webinar attendees save 50% with code EDGE50. To get started, please get in touch.

Accepted, rejected, or waitlisted? It’s the moment of truth for high school seniors as Class of 2025 college decisions roll in. After this historic and highly unusual year in college admissions, this webinar unpacks the admissions data and asks the big question: will college admissions ever be the same?

In a cycle that saw applications soar at elite schools, test-optional become the norm, and admissions officers adopt new means of assessing students, what do the results tell us about the real impact of the pandemic for this year’s students—and those in the future?

To discuss these questions and much more, college admissions expert Chris Ajemian is joined by regular guest Michael Muska, a former admissions director at Brown and Cornell.

Topics include:

• How did the pandemic influence admit rates at Top 20 schools?
• What impact did test-optional have—and is it here to stay?
• Did the increase in applications create a more diverse entering class?
• What should you do if you’ve been waitlisted?
• What can current sophomores and juniors learn from the results?

Waitlisted and not sure what to do next? Looking for advice on your college application profile or school list? Book your two-hour admissions strategy session now. Webinar attendees save 50% with code EDGE50. To get started, please get in touch.

Understanding the PSAT and knowing how to interpret your student’s scores are important first steps in the standardized testing process. Not only does the PSAT serve as the qualifying test for National Merit scholarships, but preparing for and taking the PSAT can set your child up for success on the SAT or ACT and, in turn, boost their college admissions chances.

In this webinar, we:

• Provide an overview of PSAT and its role in standardized testing and college admissions
• Review a PSAT report in detail and explain what all of the numbers mean
• Explain how to compare your child’s PSAT score to scores of other students in the state
• Discuss National Merit opportunities and whether you should take the PSAT twice
• Outline how to build on your PSAT results to earn an excellent score on SAT or ACT

If you have any questions about your PSAT scores or would like guidance on SAT/ACT test prep, please get in touch to arrange a free consultation.

As mid-December rolls around, colleges across the country start to release Early Decision and Early Action results. Even if you aren’t expecting results in the Early round, the admissions data provide an insight into how admissions are playing out in this cycle, as well as how to refine your strategy for ED2 and Regular Decision: should you apply ED2…or not?

In this webinar, we take a look at the early admissions stats for the Class of 2025 at over 20 top colleges and compare them to last year’s numbers. We’ll discuss:

• How many spots are already filled at top schools like Chicago, Stanford, and Yale
• How last year’s high deferral rates due to COVID-19 (such as an unprecedented 20% at Harvard) affected the Early pool this year—and what this means for your chances at Regular
• How colleges’ admit rates differ between the Early and Regular rounds
• How can you use this information to make a decision on ED2 and maximize your chances at Regular

Guiding you through the data is CATES CEO and expert admissions consultant Chris Ajemian. He is joined by Michael Muska, the director of Relativity College Consulting and a former admissions officer at Brown and Cornell.

Looking for a post-mortem on your ED apps? Book your two-hour admissions strategy session now. Webinar attendees save 50% with code EDGE50. To get started, please get in touch.

Get ready to dive into test prep as we explore parents’ and students’ top questions about the SAT and ACT. The first in a two-part series, this webinar focuses mainly on the questions to consider at the beginning of your test prep process. During the webinar, you’ll learn about:

• When to start preparation (and how long it takes)
• Choosing between the SAT and ACT
• How scoring works and expected results
• Building a prep regimen and working with a tutor
• Test cancellations, test optional, and long-term effects of the pandemic

Leading the webinar are Michael Muska, a former Ivy League admissions officer, and CATES CEO Chris Ajemian, an internationally recognized SAT/ACT tutor who has nearly two decades of experience working with families, high schools, and college admissions offices. Chris has been interviewed and featured in outlets including The Sunday Times, The New York Observer, TES, and “The Test & The Art of Thinking,” a 2018 documentary film.

Need help choosing between the SAT and ACT? Our free SAT vs. ACT diagnostic can help you determine which test is a stronger fit. To get started, please get in touch.

We get it: next summer seems awfully far away. But if your high schooler is considering a summer program, the time to start planning is right now.

Summer programs of all kinds have grown in popularity in recent years. Despite the hefty price tags associated with some of these programs, however, not all of them provide a real boost to students’ college admissions profiles.

In this webinar, we explain:

• What types of summer programs are available (and how to get in)
• How to create your own summer opportunities
• Which summer activities make a real difference in admissions
• When to apply

Helping you to make sense of it all are seasoned admissions consultant Chris Ajemian and Michael Muska, the director of Relativity College Consulting and a former admissions officer at Brown and Cornell.

Looking for extra summer program advice? Webinar attendees save 50% on a two-hour education planning session. To get started, please get in touch and mention code EDGE50.

As students across the US return to school, they and their parents are striving to adjust to a new normal.

In our latest webinar, CATES CEO Chris Ajemian talks to Limor Weinstein, a leading NYC psychotherapist and family wellness expert, about what families can do to maintain students’ mental health and academic progress in this uncertain environment.

In their conversation, Chris and Limor:

• • dive into the challenges teens are facing right now,
  • discuss best practices for creating a positive learning environment, both at school and in the home, and
  • explore how Limor’s practice has informed her response to the pandemic.

Resources:

• Sample Interviewer Worksheet
• Sample Interview Questions

As students worldwide gear up for college interviews over the coming months, this webinar covers everything you need to know about the interview process.

We give you the lowdown on what to research and which talking points to prepare, what’s changed in light of COVID-19, and why the interview may be more important than ever before.

Helping you to make sense of it all is CATES CEO and seasoned admissions consultant Chris Ajemian. He is joined by Michael Muska, the director of Relativity College Consulting and a former admissions officer at Brown and Cornell.

Attendees also participated in a live Q&A with Chris and Michael.

Want to practice your interviewing skills and get expert feedback? For a limited time, book your mock interview with CATES and save 25%. To get started, please get in touch and mention code EDGE50.

In this webinar, learn how to tackle school-specific supplemental essays on the Common App. Discussing the topic are two admissions experts: CATES CEO Chris Ajemian and guest Michael Muska, the director of Relativity College Consulting and a former admissions officer at Brown.

There’s more to the Common App than your personal essay and activities list. To apply to many colleges, students are also required to complete a separate, school-specific portion of the application known as the “supplement.” The supplement varies significantly between schools, but it usually involves at least one longer writing assignment as well as some additional short answer questions.

Tune in to learn more about school-specific supplements and how to make yours stand out. Admissions experts Chris Ajemian and Michael Muska will introduce the types of questions and essay prompts that appear most frequently on supplements and provide you with insider tips on how best to answer them.

Attendees also participated in a live Q&A with Chris and Michael.

Want to work on your application with Chris, Michael, or another member of the CATES team? For a limited time, book your two-hour admissions strategy session at 50% off. To get started, please get in touch and mention code EDGE50.

Tune in to hear from two college admissions experts on the secrets to writing a stand-out college essay. The webinar features insights from CATES CEO Chris Ajemian and guest Michael Muska, the director of Relativity College Consulting and a former admissions officer at Brown.

With transcripts and test scores disrupted for many rising seniors, the college essay will play a substantial role in admissions this fall. In fact, the essay is perhaps high schoolers’ best chance to show colleges the qualities that make them unique candidates for admission amidst a sea of qualified applicants.

But how can students use the essay to distinguish themselves? It starts with finding the right story—and figuring out how to tell it effectively in 650 words. In this webinar, Chris and Michael will address the following questions and many more:

• What purpose does the essay serve in college admissions?
• What do admissions officers look for in the college essay?
• How do I choose the right topic (and which topics should I avoid)?
• How should the essay be structured? What about style?
• What are the secrets to writing an essay that will really stand out?

Attendees also participated in a live Q&A with Chris and Michael.

Want to work on your application with Chris, Michael, or another member of the CATES team? For a limited time, book your two-hour admissions strategy session at 50% off. To get started, please get in touch and mention code EDGE50.

Tune in to learn about the importance of building your college application narrative throughout high school—and how to get started. This webinar features expert insights from CEO Chris Ajemian and guest Michael Muska, the director of Relativity College Consulting and a former admissions officer at Brown.

Students who earn great outcomes in the college admissions process don’t just have excellent grades and top test scores; their applications tell a cohesive story about who they are and how they would contribute to a college community.

This personal “narrative” is an increasingly important factor in college admissions, especially at Top 50 schools. It is woven together from several threads: students’ academic and testing records certainly play a part, but so too do their personal essays, teacher recommendations, and a resume filled with meaningful experiences and activities.

Crafting a compelling, authentic application narrative starts well before a student enters the college application process. Indeed, it is never too soon for students to start developing their personal identity and vision for the future, and they should begin to take more structured steps in this direction from the first year of high school.

In the webinar, Chris and Michael address the following questions and many more:

• What are the building blocks of an effective application narrative?
• How can students begin to identify their educational and career goals?
• What steps should students take in each year of high school to build their application narrative?
• Which extracurricular activities and experiences are the most valuable?
• How can students thread together the different parts of their application into a cohesive story?

Attendees also participated in a live Q&A with Chris and Michael.

Want to work on your application with Chris, Michael, or another member of the CATES team? For a limited time, book your two-hour admissions strategy session at 50% off. To get started, please get in touch and mention code EDGE50.

Tune in to learn more about how to find a best-fit college and build a rounded school list in the age of COVID-19. This webinar features expert insights from CEO Chris Ajemian and guest Michael Muska, the director of Relativity College Consulting and a former admissions officer at Brown.

As we head into what is likely to be a competitive admissions cycle, both this fall and next, it will be doubly important for students to think carefully and strategically when choosing which colleges to apply to. In this webinar, admissions experts Chris Ajemian and Michael Muska provide a deep dive into the art and science of designing a school list.

Chris and Michael address the following questions and many more:

• What are the main factors I should consider when deciding which colleges to apply to?
• How can my school selections reflect my future goals for education and career?
• How should I balance safety, target, and reach schools to give myself the best chances of admission?
• Beyond academic and vocational fit, how can I choose a school whose cultural environment and support systems will allow me to find happiness and community?
• How should I engage with the schools on my list to demonstrate interest?
• How might COVID-19 impact my choice of schools and my chances of being accepted?

Attendees also participated in a live Q&A with Chris and Michael.

Want to work on your application with Chris, Michael, or another member of the CATES team? For a limited time, book your two-hour admissions strategy session at 50% off. To get started, please get in touch and mention code EDGE50.

Catch up on the latest developments in college admissions and learn how best to navigate the Common Application with expert insights from CATES CEO Chris Ajemian and guest Michael Muska, the director of Relativity College Consulting and a former admissions officer at Brown.

Resources

• Read the Harvard court ruling Chris mentions in the webinar
• Read the Common App’s COVID-19 question guidance

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to upend the education sector, rising high school seniors face a dramatically altered college admissions landscape. One element of the application process that remains largely unchanged, however, is the Common App, the college application portal used by over 800 universities across the United States and beyond.

With summer opportunities thin on the ground and the likelihood of an especially competitive admissions cycle in the fall, there’s no better time for students to come to grips with the Common App system—and to learn how they can use it to stand out from their peers.

What’s more, with many students’ transcripts being disrupted by school closures and dozens of colleges, including the Ivy League, going test optional, crafting a compelling Common App will be doubly important in future admissions cycles.

In this webinar, Chris and Michael address the following questions and many more:

• What is the Common App and how do I get started?
• How do I select schools for my final college list?
• Are the Ivy League schools really test-optional this year?
• How can I develop a personal narrative to make my application stand out?
• How do I use each part of the Common Application to tell my story?
• What is the “COVID-19 question” and how do I answer it?

Attendees also participated in a live Q&A with Chris and Michael.

For a limited time, book your two-hour admissions strategy session at 50% off. To get started, please get in touch and mention code EDGE50.

Faced with countless options and a byzantine application process, many families applying to high school in New York City struggle to know where to begin.

In this webinar for families at Brooklyn Independent Middle School, CATES CEO Chris Ajemian is joined by admissions guru and president of NYC Admissions Solutions Maurice Frumkin. The pair discuss the New York City high school landscape and provide insights and next steps for families embarking on their high school admissions journey.

Attendees also participated in a Q&A with Chris, Maurice, and the BKI team.

To book a free consult for high school admissions advising, please get in touch.

From disrupted classes and grades to canceled extracurriculars to stretched parental finances, the many upheavals induced by COVID-19 have added another layer of uncertainty onto the always fraught world of NYC school admissions.

And as thousands of New York families consider the next stage of their child’s education, deciding whether to go private for elementary, middle, or high school will be more challenging than ever before—as will figuring out how to secure a spot at the most competitive institutions.

So how should families think about private education—and find their admissions edge—in these uncharted waters? To find out, tune into this Inside Admissions webinar, where CATES CEO Chris Ajemian is joined by Jennifer Brozost, author of “The NYC Private School Admissions Guide” and co-director at PEAS.

The two experts address the following questions and many more:

• What should parents know about the NYC school system and educational landscape?
• How will COVID-19 impact my child’s chances of admission at a private school?
• How do I choose the “right” school and find a good fit?
• When should we apply and how can I give my child an edge in the application process?
• How does standardized testing factor into the process?

Attendees also participated in a Q&A with Chris and Jennifer.

To book a free consult for online college advising, please get in touch.

As families and educators continue to adjust to the disruptions caused by COVID-19, the familiar drumbeat of the college application cycle has reasserted itself. But what has changed because of the pandemic? What has happened with this year’s waitlist? And what can students, parents, and educators do to find admissions success in this new normal?

To find out, CATES CEO Chris Ajemian welcomes back admissions guru Michael Muska in this Inside Admissions webinar. The two experts discuss the latest on how the coronavirus crisis is impacting college applicants—and what waitlisted students can do to increase their chances.

Chris and Michael address the following topics and many more:

• What has happened to students on the waitlist?
• How have schools changed their deferral policies?
• What has happened to aid packages for current seniors?
• What are College Board and ACT saying about fall tests?
• Which schools have gone test-optional?
• What are schools saying about fall openings?
• What should current juniors be doing?

Attendees also participated in a live Q&A with Chris and Michael.

To book a free consult for online college advising, please get in touch.

For students applying in Fall 2020 and beyond, the college search process will look quite different. With in-person college fairs, campus tours, and information sessions suspended for the foreseeable future, online research will be families’ primary tool as they seek to design a balanced list of colleges with excellent individual fit. And for students seeking to explain why they have chosen a particular school on their college applications, effective online research will be more important than ever.

In this webinar, CATES CEO Chris Ajemian and the founder of Relativity College Consulting, Michael Muska, discuss the right ways to go about online college research, as well as what to avoid.

The two admissions experts address the following themes and many more:

• How to decide if a college is a good fit—without visiting
• Where to look and how to read between the lines on colleges’ websites
• Where to find key admissions facts and figures, including on average test scores and GPAs, admissions rates, and financial aid
• How to get the real picture of academic programs and life on campus
• Who you should contact and the questions you should ask
• How to use online research to make your application stand out

Attendees also participated in a live Q&A with Chris and Michael.

To book a free consult for online college advising, please get in touch.

Taking high-stakes exams can be an intensely emotional journey. For students, learning to manage these emotions is key to earning consistently stronger scores or grades—whether they are taking the ISEE and SHSAT, the SAT and ACT, or APs, GCSEs, and A-Levels.

In this webinar, CATES CEO Chris Ajemian and senior SAT/ACT tutor Nyssa Wilton discuss the importance of emotional self-regulation and how to practice it successfully on test day and throughout the preparation process.

Chris and Nyssa provide students at all levels with tips and practical guidance on how to overcome test anxiety and navigate the emotional experience of testing. The two testing experts address the following issues and many more:

• How to stay focused on the task while you’re testing
• What to do when “nothing’s sinking in”
• What to do when you’re “going blank”
• What to do when you’re “feeling anxious”
• What to do when you’re “slower than usual” or the test feels “fast” or “hard”

Attendees also participated in a live Q&A with Chris and Nyssa.

To book a free consult for online test prep, please get in touch.

For elementary and middle school students, the past month has been like no other. Separated from their friends and usual routines, younger students are adjusting to working at home, taking classes online—and being locked in the house with mom or dad. Their parents, meanwhile, have been thrust into the role of teacher and taskmaster, often while juggling their own transition into remote working.

So… how is everybody managing? To find out, senior CATES tutor Adam Harrington struck up conversations with parents and younger students across the US, all while supporting families through online tutoring sessions.

In this webinar, join Adam as he reports back on these families’ experiences so far: their high points and low points, the challenges they have faced, and the strategies they have used to cope. In the webinar, Adam shares practical tips on what’s worked for the families he interviewed, including answers to the following questions:

• How can kids stay occupied, motivated, and in good spirits?
• What should parents do with kids who need more supervision/management?
• How can parents help their kids design and stick to a daily routine?
• How have families used this time to go beyond traditional learning?
• How have schools been doing, and how can parents work with schools to support their students?

After Adam’s presentation, we hear from current middle school students in a live kids’ panel, during which the students talk about their experience of homeschooling so far.

Finally, webinar attendees had the opportunity to ask Adam their own questions about the process.

To book a free consult for online homeschool support, please get in touch.

Over the past few weeks, the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on U.S. college admissions: schools across the world have closed; SAT and ACT test centers have been shuttered; many colleges have canceled tours and orientation programs; and some colleges have even waived standardized testing requirements.

What’s more, the biggest disruptions may be still to come. In this webinar, join CATES CEO Chris Ajemian and the chairman of Edvice London, Lisa Montgomery, as they discuss where things stand and what the future holds for students in Years 12 and 13 who are applying to college in the U.S.

Bringing decades of expertise in standardized testing and college admissions to bear, Chris and Lisa address the impact of coronavirus on the following areas and many more:

• Decisions on currently waitlisted international students
• Status of aid packages for current students living abroad
• How to engage with schools during campus closures
• What to expect for the Fall 2020 application cycle
• What Year 12 students should do about standardized testing requirements

Attendees also participated in a Q&A with Chris and Lisa.

To book a free consult for online admissions guidance, please get in touch.

Over the past few weeks, the coronavirus pandemic has wreaked havoc on college admissions: high schools across the U.S. have closed; SAT and ACT test centers have been shuttered; many colleges have canceled tours and orientation programs; and some colleges have even waived standardized testing requirements.

What’s more, the biggest disruptions may be still to come. In this webinar, join CATES CEO Chris Ajemian and the founder of Relativity College Consulting, Michael Muska, as they discuss where things stand and what the future holds for juniors and seniors applying to college.

The two admissions experts address the impact of coronavirus on the following areas and many more:

• Decisions on currently waitlisted students
• Aid packages for current seniors
• Standardized testing requirements for current juniors
• Timelines for recruited athletes
• Fall 2020 application deadlines
• Admissions criteria for students applying in the fall and beyond

Attendees also participated in a Q&A with Chris and Michael.

To book a free consult for online admissions guidance, please get in touch.

As schools across the world switch to an online model, students and parents alike are acquainting themselves with a new and unfamiliar way to learn. In this free webinar, find out more about the brave new world of remote learning and how your family can successfully make the transition.

Presented by Chris Ajemian, an education technology expert and highly sought-after private tutor, the webinar introduces parents and students to best practices for online education and homeschooling. Attendees receive answers to the following questions and many more:

• How much control should we exercise now that we are “the teacher”? What are parents’ roles in this process?
• How can we design an effective routine and work environment?
• How can we manage screen time effectively?
• How can we manage online socializing?
• How can students’ extra time be used productively?

Attendees also participated in a Q&A with Chris.

To book a free online tutoring consult, please get in touch.