How to Stand Out in College Admissions: Leadership, Essays & Strategy with Seth Skaff

What actually helps a student stand out in competitive college admissions?

In this episode, Shellee Howard talks with College Ready student Seth Skaff about the strategy behind his successful college application journey. Seth shares how leadership, meaningful extracurriculars, early essay preparation, thoughtful major selection, and a cohesive application story helped him earn acceptances to multiple University of California campuses—including UCLA—as well as Regents Scholarships and honors opportunities.

Seth also shares what he wishes he had started earlier, how College Ready helped him prepare for the admissions process, and how students can use AI responsibly as a tool for brainstorming and feedback without losing their authentic voice.

For parents wondering how to help their teen prepare for college admissions without turning high school into a frantic checklist, this conversation offers a student's perspective on what made the biggest difference.