Lessons
What you'll learn
Discover the step-by-step blueprint to craft a college-worthy spike that will help your teen stand out in a sea of college applicants. Each day, you'll receive proven lessons and deep insights designed to turn their passions into powerful application assets.
How Colleges Actually Pick Students
Peek behind closed doors to see why colleges reject "perfect" students. Learn what admissions officers actually look for (hint: it's not just grades).
Mistakes Most Students Make That Get Them Rejected
Discover the traps "well-rounded" students fall into. See why spreading too thin backfires and how last-minute resume padding sends the wrong signal.
Unforgettable Applications = Compelling Evidence
Get our Evidence Pyramid that shows which achievements actually matter. Learn to build layers of proof that make applications impossible to ignore.
The 30-Minute Activity Audit That Changes Everything
Use our quick audit tool to spot which activities matter and which waste time. Learn how to transform everyday activities into compelling evidence that wows admission officers.
Real Success Stories: From Ordinary to Extraordinary
See how real students turned everyday interests into jaw-dropping achievements. Get blueprints you can steal for your own child's success story.
What Makes a True Spike (Not Grades or Activities)
Learn the three must-have elements that make colleges notice. Use our Spike Evaluation Tool to quickly score your teen's current activities.
How To Generate Killer Project Ideas
Master our IMPACT Method for turning interests into projects that get results. Break through creativity blocks even if your teen feels stuck.
As parents of a student-athlete, we were so focused on sports that we nearly missed the bigger picture. This course opened our eyes to the importance of developing a spike. The entrepreneurship angle was particularly enlightening. It's added a whole new dimension to her college applications.
Jamal M.
dad of a high school junior
Why This Matters For Your Teen's Future
Every year, college admission officers review thousands of cookie-cutter applications with similar grades, test scores, and extracurriculars. What they rarely see? Students who've actually built something meaningful.
Good grades, some volunteering hours, and joining a few random clubs simply won't cut it anymore. Colleges aren't just looking for good students; they're hunting for innovators and problem-solvers.
What colleges ARE looking for is intellectual commitment, a distinct passion for something, and most importantly, some tangible evidence of that commitment.
So you need a different strategy to capture their attention.
You need a spike.
Throughout this course, you’ll discover powerful strategies and frameworks that turn your child’s passions into positioning that demonstrates leadership, innovation, and real-world impact.
Outcomes
Transform college anxiety into confidence and peace of mind
Get the insider knowledge other parents desperately wish they had
Help your teen turn their everyday interests into application gold
Stop the guesswork with clear frameworks that actually work
Shape how colleges see your kid, rather than leaving it to chance
Eliminate that gut-wrenching "I wish we'd known sooner" feeling
Instructors
We're Hari and Ro, former tech execs who left the boardroom to help teens become world-class changemakers.
Hari is a Stanford MBA who has spent three decades building and exiting automotive companies. Ro is a finance and operations leader, and was Partner at a tech-focused private equity firm.
More importantly, we're parents who survived the crushing anxiety of college app season with our own kids.
We cracked the college apps problem by giving our kids tools that allowed them to follow their curiosity and build their own map, instead of following someone else's.
This mindset is singularly responsible for our own kids earning spots in top colleges, despite them being quite average in academics.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Who is this course for?
This course is tailor-made for parents like you who want to give their high school students a competitive edge in college admissions. Whether your child is a freshman just starting to think about college, or a junior already deep in the process, this course is for you if:
- You're concerned about your child standing out in a sea of applicants
- You want to explore innovative ways to boost your child's college profile
- You're looking for strategies beyond just good grades and test scores
- You want to help your child develop skills that matter both for college and life
What unique insights will I get about college admissions?
This 7-day course will reveal game-changing insights that most parents and students never discover about how to boost your chances of admissions to highly selective colleges. You'll learn how to create a "spike" that grabs admissions officers' attention, what top colleges are really looking for (hint: it's not just grades), and how to frame activities like starting a small business to impress.
This isn't just theory - you'll get practical, actionable advice that you can start implementing immediately. By the end of the course, you'll have a clear roadmap to help your child stand out in the competitive college admissions landscape.
Will I get any personalized guidance during the course?
While this is a free email course, we've designed it to feel personal and tailored to your needs. Each day, you'll receive actionable tips you can immediately apply to your child's situation, reflection questions to help you identify your child's unique strengths, and real-world examples that you can adapt to your circumstances. Plus, you can email us your burning questions that we'll be happy to address.
What will I be able to do after going through this course?
By the end of this 7-day journey, you and your child will be equipped to identify and develop their unique "spike", reframe their existing activities into impressive achievements, have a framework to start thinking about a meaningful project, and build a clear strategic plan to stand out in college apps.
What happens after the 7-day course ends?
This course is just the beginning. After completion, you'll receive our weekly newsletter with the latest college admissions trends and tips, exclusive invitations to live webinars with admissions experts, access to our private group filled with tons of college admissions resources, and special offers and discounts on our more comprehensive programs.
