Thinque Prep

Mar 13

Lately, we’ve seen rumors about "portal astrology" aka hacking student portals to predict admissions decisions. See this screenshot of the UCSD portal which was updated in response to some off-kilter behavior that has impacted their website. Students are actually withdrawing their applications to ha...Read more

Lately, we’ve seen rumors about "portal astrology" aka hacking student portals to predict admissions decisions. See this screenshot of the UCSD portal which was updated in response to some off-kilter behavior that has impacted their website. Students are actually withdrawing their applications to hack the system and see if they've been accepted. Here is the reality! 1. The team reading your application (Admissions) is entirely separate from the team coding the website (Systems). 2. Changes in your portal, like a disappearing button or a shift in layout. are technical updates, not "secret signals" of a decision. (At least from UCI and UCSD) 3. Please do not take drastic actions, like withdrawing your application, based on social media rumors. In an age of AI and digital noise, exercise critical thinking. Don’t fall prey to unfounded rumors. If it isn’t an official notification, it isn’t a decision. Our advice: Stay off the forums, take a breath, and wait for the official word. #UCSD #UCI #PortalAstrology #UCAdmissions

Nov 26 2025

Having spent more than fifteen years reading and reviewing thousands of college applications, I sometimes forget how overwhelming the UC application can feel for families. So many of you are staring at the screen wondering if every single checkbox has the power to shift an admissions decision. ... ...Read more

Having spent more than fifteen years reading and reviewing thousands of college applications, I sometimes forget how overwhelming the UC application can feel for families. So many of you are staring at the screen wondering if every single checkbox has the power to shift an admissions decision. ... What do they want here? .... Why is this phrased like that? ......Is this going to hurt my kid if we answer it wrong? Tonight, I’m doing a full walkthrough of the UC application to help you cut through the confusion. I will open a copy of the application and explain each section clearly, focusing on the fields that repeatedly trip students up. I’ll show you what has worked for my students in the past and which choices have created unnecessary problems. My goal is simple: reduce the stress around the UC application by giving you familiarity, clarity and a sense of control as the deadline approaches. Date: Today Time: 5 PM Pacific and 8 PM Eastern Where: Live in my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/highschool2college Perfect for students in the Class of 2026 and beyond who want to make sure nothing gets missed. #thinqueprep #UCadmissions #UCPIQ #UCLA #CollegeApps #UCApps

Nov 24 2025

Having spent more than fifteen years reading and reviewing thousands of college applications, I sometimes forget how overwhelming the UC application can feel for families. So many of you are staring at the screen wondering if every single checkbox has the power to shift an admissions decision. ... ...Read more

Having spent more than fifteen years reading and reviewing thousands of college applications, I sometimes forget how overwhelming the UC application can feel for families. So many of you are staring at the screen wondering if every single checkbox has the power to shift an admissions decision. ... What do they want here? .... Why is this phrased like that? ......Is this going to hurt my kid if we answer it wrong? Tonight, I’m doing a full walk through of the UC application to help you cut through the confusion. I will open a copy of the application and explain each section clearly, focusing on the fields that repeatedly trip students up. I’ll show you what has worked for my students in the past and which choices have created unnecessary problems. My goal is simple: reduce the stress around the UC application by giving you familiarity, clarity and a sense of control as the deadline approaches. Date: Today Time: 5 PM Pacific // 8 PM Eastern Where: Live in my Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/highschool2college Perfect for families with students who want to make sure nothing gets missed in their UC apps! #thinqueprep #UCadmissions #UCPIQ #UCLA #CollegeApps #UCApps

Nov 17 2025

I’ve only just started reviewing UC applications (officially!), and it’s already interesting to see how this first batch is shaping up. There are so many fascinating components to the evaluation process, some of which still pique my interest even after reading thousands of applications. One clear ...Read more

I’ve only just started reviewing UC applications (officially!), and it’s already interesting to see how this first batch is shaping up. There are so many fascinating components to the evaluation process, some of which still pique my interest even after reading thousands of applications. One clear theme that repeats itself, though, is that some students really do need more guidance. In this first group of apps, I am seeing a lot of mistakes and missed opportunities. Some mistakes might seem superficial, but they are significant enough that they may prevent a student from being admissible. If they had only had some expert feedback to fix their apps. My goal for today’s training is to highlight some of these mistakes so you can approach your educational journey feeling informed and empowered by real-life insight into how the UC system actually works. I will also share concrete takeaways for families with students in the Class of 2026 and beyond, so you can avoid these pitfalls early. Join me today at 5:00 pm Pacific / 8:00 pm Eastern as I share the biggest mistakes I see students making on their UC applications and what you can do differently. Date: Today Time: 5:00 pm Pacific / 8:00 pm Eastern Where: Live in this Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/highschool2college #thinqueprep #UCadmissions #UCPIQ #UCLA #CollegeApps #UCApps

Apr 23 2025

📈 Being in IB or AP isn’t enough—colleges want to see that you’re excelling in those programs. To stay competitive for schools like SDSU, you’ve got to push your GPA as close to a 5.0 as possible. 💡 Rigor matters—but so do the results. Let’s talk about what makes IB shine in the eyes of admission...Read more

📈 Being in IB or AP isn’t enough—colleges want to see that you’re excelling in those programs. To stay competitive for schools like SDSU, you’ve got to push your GPA as close to a 5.0 as possible. 💡 Rigor matters—but so do the results. Let’s talk about what makes IB shine in the eyes of admissions officers. 🎓✨ #ThinquePrep #SDSU #IBStudent #IBProgram #GPA #CollegeAdmissions #CollegeApps #CollegeRejection #CSUAdmissions #CollegeBound #Classof2029 #AdmissionsAdvice #StudySmart #AcademicSuccess