The Journey with AdmissionPrep

AdmissionPrep

Every success story begins with an education journey. Hosted by AdmissionPrep, The Journey explores how ambitious people chose their programs, navigated student life, and built careers from those early decisions. Each episode dives into the real choices, challenges, and turning points that shaped their path. Whether you’re a student planning your next steps, a parent guiding the way, or simply curious about the stories behind success, The Journey is your front-row seat to candid conversations about education, opportunity, and growth.

  1. How to handle grade inflation, prepare for grade 12, and deal with difficult teachers

    2D AGO

    How to handle grade inflation, prepare for grade 12, and deal with difficult teachers

    The busy season is over — and the lessons are real. In this episode, Jason and Arry unpack what they learned from helping students navigate the final push of university applications, why grade inflation is reshaping admissions across Canada, and what every Grade 11 student needs to be doing right now before the window closes. From fixing bad marks to building extracurriculars that actually matter, this is the episode that separates students who hope they get in from those who plan to. Plus — a UBC economics story that perfectly explains why hard things make you better. If you're a Grade 11 student or a parent watching the clock tick, this one's for you. SHOW NOTES 🎓 AdmissionPrep Podcast | Season 2 Episode — Back from Busy Season Jason Yee and Arry return from their busiest admissions season yet with tactical advice, honest truths, and a reminder: we're called AdmissionPrep, not AdmissionReact. ⏱ Timestamps [0:00] — Welcome back: Lessons from busy season and why starting early is everything [1:08] — The emotional weight of hitting "submit" — even with all the prep in the world [2:21] — Can you fix a bad Grade 11 mark? Breaking it down by school (Ontario, UBC, Waterloo, U of T) [4:06] — What happens if you took the wrong prerequisites — and what your options actually are [4:53] — Grade inflation: The data that went viral (hundreds of thousands of views) and what it means for your admissions chances [5:52] — Arry's honest advice: What students CAN control — and why "work harder" isn't as unpopular as it sounds [7:21] — The student who wanted to retake a course he was getting a 93 in [8:12] — Why unfair marking in high school is actually great preparation for university [9:15] — Jason's story: The med school coach, "gunners," and the reality of elite career paths [11:09] — Strategy: How to research teachers and courses ahead of time [12:31] — The UBC Economics professor who stumped everyone — and what Jason did differently [17:29] — The Grade 11 Game Plan: How to win busy season before it starts [18:00] — Why your essays should be done before September 1st — and how to do it without having the questions yet [19:55] — The key experiences students keep recycling (and how to diversify your story bank) [21:57] — The 15-minute daily writing habit that will make you a better writer and applicant [24:21] — Community presentations: What questions students keep asking (spoiler: "Is student council good enough?") [26:49] — Why starting NOW in Grade 11 matters more than you think — the UBC rubric breakdown [28:55] — Don't just "do something" — build on what you already have [30:30] — "What if no one comes to my club?" — the try-try-again mindset [32:31] — The student building a wildfire-sensing robot: How he actually got there (it started with tutoring) [33:41] — Never pad your resume. Here's why it doesn't even work. [34:13] — References verify everything. You can't fake it. [35:41] — What it looks like when a school actually selects for the right values (UBC Sauder example) [36:45] — What's coming this spring and summer: student stories, med school acceptances, and more tactical content [37:53] — Where to follow AdmissionPrep + how to suggest future topics

    38 min

  2. 11/27/2025

    McGill to Masters - How Catherine turned her passion into her studies

    What if your obsession with The Lord of the Rings could become your master’s… and maybe even your PhD? 📚✨ In this episode, Jason sits down with Catherine — AdmissionPrep’s lead essay editor, writing coach, and advisor — to unpack how she: Went from health science in Cégep to English literature at McGill Fought through COVID disruptions and a housing crisis to complete a master’s in Fantasy Literature at the University of Glasgow Turned a childhood love of Tolkien into serious academic research (including fan fiction and dwarves!) Dealt with “the void” of not knowing what to do after changing paths Learned to trust her gut, even with a practical-minded family voice in the background If you’ve ever wondered, “Can I turn what I love into real research… and maybe a graduate degree?” this conversation will give you a ton of reassurance, ideas, and next steps. Want someone like Catherine to help you tell your own story in applications? Learn more at admissionprep.com.

    35 min

  3. 11/07/2025

    10 Lessons from 10 Students: The Truth About Top Schools in North America

    In this special episode of The Journey, host Jason Yee distills the top 10 insights from his recent student interviews - offering a candid look at what life is really like at North America’s most competitive universities. From the “U of Tears” reputation at U of T to the entrepreneurial edge at Waterloo, the social heartbeat of Queen’s Engineering, and the hidden interdisciplinary gems like McMaster’s iBioMed, Jason connects the dots between student experiences, academic culture, and the evolving state of higher education. You’ll hear stories of resilience, ambition, and self-awareness—from Ivy League admits and scholarship winners to students building startups in their dorm rooms. Whether you’re a parent, educator, or student plotting your own journey, this episode reveals what separates the good from the great—and how to navigate the modern admissions maze with clarity and confidence. 🎧 Highlights include: The myth vs. reality of “U of Tears” What makes Ivy admits meticulous How Waterloo became an “entrepreneur factory” The social DNA of Queen’s Engineering Western Ivey’s unique “dual-degree edge” Type 1 vs. Type 2 fun: how students frame hardship and growth

    18 min

  4. 10/30/2025

    Queen’s Smith School of Business: Costly or Crucial? Matthew’s Road to PepsiCo

    Would you double your university costs and move across the country if it meant a bigger future?Matthew Tran did exactly that — leaving Vancouver for Queen’s Smith School of Business in Kingston. In this episode, he breaks down how he made Queen’s affordable (hello, scholarship stacking), why the club ecosystem + alumni network were game-changers, and how internships (including AdmissionPrep, Vancouver Canucks, and PepsiCo) led to a coveted full-time offer. We also dig into Matthew’s high-school playbook: a 4.0 GPA, leadership-heavy extracurriculars (volleyball, band, student council, a homelessness awareness initiative), and his underrated strategy of contacting academic/career advisors before choosing a school. If you’re weighing UBC/SFU vs. Queen’s - or just want a practical blueprint for turning university into ROI - this one’s for you. Need guidance like Matthew had? Get a plan, scholarships, and application support at admissionprep.com. Topics & Highlights 01:24 Breakfast of champions: more yogurt 02:50 Where Matthew is now - Marketing at PepsiCo (competitive return offer) 03:47 When career thinking started; early pull toward marketing 04:55 High-school activities: volleyball, band (tenor sax!), leadership, Hot Potato Initiative 08:54 GPA & the online-class “hacks” during COVID (4.0) 10:33 Work ethic: modeled by parents; using peers as motivation, not comparison 12:19 Starting uni prep; discovering scholarships; joining AdmissionPrep 13:41 Offers: UBC Sauder, SFU Beedie, Queen’s Commerce - why Queen’s won 16:32 Any regrets? None. Community, exchange (Singapore), and outcomes 17:34 What Queen’s does uniquely well (clubs, smaller classes, college-town density) 19:27 Alumni engine: recurring recruiter visits; open-door mentorship 22:14 Cost talk: scholarships, grants, TA, summer courses; making Smith affordable 26:01 Internship ladder to PepsiCo (including the Thailand interview saga) 33:55 Advice to 15–16-year-old Matthew: slow down and reach out early

    35 min

  5. 10/23/2025

    From Language Barriers to Law School: Victoria’s Journey to U of T and Beyond

    We sit down with Victoria - a future lawyer, Terry Fox Humanitarian Scholar, and AdmissionPrep Advisor - to explore her incredible journey from moving to Canada in Grade 10 with a language barrier to graduating from high school with a 99% average. Victoria shares how she built her community through service, earned one of Canada’s most competitive awards, and found her path to law school through reflection and self-discovery - including her year working in Tanzania with Global Affairs Canada. We discuss the truth about U of T’s reputation (is it really that hard?), how to thrive as an ambitious student, and why taking a gap year might be the smartest move you can make. 🎧 Tune in to hear: How Victoria overcame challenges as a newcomer and became a national scholarship winner What it’s really like to study at U of T — the rigor, resources, and reality Insights on preparing for law school and finding your purpose along the way 💡 Whether you’re a student, parent, or educator, Victoria’s story is proof that resilience and curiosity are still the superpowers of the next generation. 👉 Learn more about how AdmissionPrep helps ambitious students like Victoria reach their goals at admissionprep.com

    24 min

  6. 10/16/2025

    From Elite Soccer, to UBC, to AdmissionPrep Founder - Madison Guy's Journey

    How does a varsity athlete become a founder?In this episode, Jason Yee sits down with his co-founder (and wife) Madison to unpack her path from elite soccer to building a company that helps students launch their futures. They dive into what UBC Sauder really teaches you, what it doesn’t, and how the discipline of sport translates into entrepreneurship.You’ll hear how Madison navigated pressure, picked UBC over other offers, and turned business-school lessons into real-world success. If you’re a student, athlete, or aspiring founder, this one’s a masterclass in turning education into action. 00:00 – IntroJason introduces Madison and sets up the conversation about Sauder, athletics, and entrepreneurship. 00:44 – Breakfast & Fasting RoutineMadison shares her scrambled-tofu breakfast and why she fasts until noon. 01:25 – Where She Is TodaySix years into building AdmissionPrep: growth, learning, and impact. 02:47 – Early Education GoalsGrowing up in a family that valued university + soccer as her main path. 03:43 – Choosing UBCDeciding between Trinity Western and UBC — and why potential mattered more than rankings. 05:49 – The Varsity PathwayInside the Canadian development ladder: provincial teams, NTC, and the Whitecaps residency. 07:10 – Academic Reputation & Big-Picture ThinkingHow UBC’s global credibility shaped her decision. 08:46 – Discovering BusinessStarting in Arts, discovering econ, and transferring into Sauder. 10:42 – Most Valuable LessonsThe classes that still pay off today: business writing, career prep, public speaking, and finance. 12:27 – Culture of AmbitionWhy Sauder grads land top jobs — and how internships drive that success. 14:28 – The Hard PartsSecond-year riguor: accounting, finance, econ, stats — and who this program isn’t for. 15:49 – The Social SideUBC’s massive club scene and how varsity sports shape your social experience. 17:13 – Entrepreneurship GapsWhat Sauder missed then (and how it’s evolving now). 19:13 – If Madison Were DeanHer idea: make “Build Your Own Business 101” a required course. 19:58 – Advice to 16-Year-Old Madison“Expect failure — and embrace it.” 21:04 – Jason’s TakeawayWhy Sauder still matters — and how its lessons fuel real-world founders. 💡 Learn more: admissionprep.comFollow @AdmissionPrep for more founder stories & student success insights.

    22 min

  7. 10/09/2025

    Applying to UBC Sauder - Your ultimate guide

    Want to get into UBC Sauder? In this guide, we share why Macleans ranked Sauder as the best business school in Canada. You’ll also find out about what specializations Sauder offers, how to get accepted to the school and how the application process works os you're prepared well in advance. Chapters: 00:00 - What Is This Guide About00:20 - What Are The Topics Covered00:36 - Competitive Standards For Sauder01:23 - Degrees Available At Sauder04:22 - Structure of The Application Process05:49 - The Personal Profile Questions06:50 - Sauder Specific Questions07:52 - Sauder Interview Process Breakdown09:10 - How To Get 1-1 SupportDeadlines: Since the recording of this video, UBC has updated their deadlines for 2025/2026. You can learn about that in this video:    • UBC's 2025/26 New First Review Admissions ...  Interview with BUCS Amazon Employee: https://open.spotify.com/episode/0iH0...Visit us at AdmissionPrep.com if you'd like 1-1 support!

    9 min

  8. 10/02/2025

    Gaining entry to Western Ivey - Is it Canada's top business school?

    Does the business school you choose really make a difference? In this episode, Jason sits down with Linda, a dual-degree student at Western’s Ivey Business School, to explore the Advanced Entry Opportunity, the competitiveness of Ivey admissions, and how the program shapes real-world career paths. From IB to Ivey, Linda shares her journey - and why Ivey stands out as one of the most unique and valuable business programs in Canada. If you want guidance on your journey, let us know by checking out admissionprep.com or sending us an email at programs@admissionprep.com

    21 min
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About

Every success story begins with an education journey. Hosted by AdmissionPrep, The Journey explores how ambitious people chose their programs, navigated student life, and built careers from those early decisions. Each episode dives into the real choices, challenges, and turning points that shaped their path. Whether you’re a student planning your next steps, a parent guiding the way, or simply curious about the stories behind success, The Journey is your front-row seat to candid conversations about education, opportunity, and growth.

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