top of page



*!@# is a 4-Letter Word in College Admissions ðŸ¤
If you want to give your application a fighting chance, you should be aware of the 4-letter word that college application reviewers put...

Lilana Slater
Oct 72 min read


It's NOT a Sprint: The High School Years
Ask anyone who has graduated high school how fast those years flew by, and they'll probably respond with "In the blink of an eye." When...

Lilana Slater
Oct 24 min read


🚫 Colleges I've STOPPED Recommending to My Ohio Clients
You'll need this to wipe away the tears. 😠I've been "in the biz" of college admissions for over two decades now. I say two decades...

Lilana Slater
Aug 285 min read


✋STOP! The Most Important, FREE, High School Resource You'll Ever Download!
A college tour is the BEST, FUNNEST, and most EFFECTIVE way to not only begin your college search, but also to increase your chances of...

Lilana Slater
Aug 201 min read


The 5 T's of the Common Application
This post isn't only for the seniors working on their college applications. This post is for anyone who plans to apply to college in the...

Lilana Slater
Aug 182 min read


Rising Juniors (and some Sophomores), Take the Summer ACT (It's a smart move!)
I know, I know; you're thinking you just got finished with sophomore year and you just started enjoying summer vacation. Who's thinking...

Lilana Slater
May 274 min read


Don't Waste This Summer
Calling every high school student who is NOT about to graduate. Heed this warning: DO NOT WASTE THIS SUMMER! You may have heard the...

Lilana Slater
May 164 min read


Time's Up: Today is the Day!
May 1—College Decision Day. It's time to make your choice. By 11:59 p.m. tonight, you'll have decided where you'll begin your college...

Lilana Slater
May 12 min read


How to Break Up with Your Accepted Colleges
Seniors, you've received several acceptances, and one college rose to the top. It's the one that longed for you, and you longed for it....

Lilana Slater
Apr 282 min read


Before Accepting Your College Admission, Ask For More Money
Don't click that "I ACCEPT my offer of admission" option UNTIL you have evaluated ALL of your acceptance offers. Sure, you know this is...

Lilana Slater
Apr 243 min read


Ivy Decision Day 2025
Hundreds of thousands of applicant portals around the world will be logged into today at 7:00 pm EDT. Sweating palms and fluttering...

Lilana Slater
Mar 272 min read


Dealing With Your College Admission Decisions
Accepted? Denied? Deferred? Waitlisted? Whether it went your way or not, your college admission decision is not a reflection of who you...

Lilana Slater
Mar 194 min read


The Waitlisted Admission Decision: what it REALLY means
Oh! the month of March - it's a BIG one in the world of college admissions. It's the final inning, the 2-minute warning, the rolling of...

Lilana Slater
Mar 62 min read


College Fair Time - Let's Go!
The big one is coming to Cleveland! The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) is hosting its HUGE college fair...

Lilana Slater
Feb 173 min read


The College Rigor Sniff Test
For all you seniors out there, you've got some pretty big decisions to make soon - where are you going to college in the fall? There's a...

Lilana Slater
Feb 122 min read


Know Your End Game
It's that time of year when you are scheduled to meet with your high school counselor to discuss next year's class schedule. It always...

Lilana Slater
Jan 244 min read


It's Nothing Personal, Dear College Applicant: When You Don't Get In
I know. You feel a bit deflated, dejected, and confused. You put your whole self and soul into that college application. When your...

Lilana Slater
Jan 163 min read


Where Have You Been?
That's a good question. Thank you if you've been wondering. My last blog post was February 7, 2024. What gives? Let's put it this way:...

Lilana Slater
Jan 82 min read


College Fair Time - Let's Go!
The big one is coming to Cleveland! The National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) is hosting its huge college fair...

Lilana Slater
Feb 7, 20241 min read


Welcome the Struggle, If You Can Find It
As owner and primary consultant of College Driven LLC for over 18 years, I've witnessed changes with each generation of students. I began...

Lilana Slater
Jan 24, 20243 min read
bottom of page
