Ask Dr. Hoffman

07/29/2026

The Common App opens in a few days - are you ready for the fall? Consider my Application Review service, my most popular service to date. I reviewed hundreds of applications last year (Stanford being far and away my most requested review), and I’m ready to assess yours before submitting it to your early or regular decision school.

The earlier review date you pick, the less expensive it’ll be. Sign up at askdrhoffman.com/get-started

07/29/2026

The Common App opens in a few days - are you ready for the fall? Consider my Application Review service, my most popular service to date. I reviewed hundreds of applications last year (Stanford being far and away my most requested review), and I’m ready to assess yours before submitting it to your early or regular decision school.

The earlier date you pick, the less expensive it’ll be. Sign up at askdrhoffman.com/getstarted

parents seniors

07/26/2026

❤️ my clients!

07/16/2026

The One Decision Every College Applicant Has to Make

Learn how to apply to college with this complete guide to the Commo...

07/10/2026

Wondering whether you should apply Early Decision, Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, or Early Decision II? In this 2026 update, I explain the differences between every early application plan, the major policy changes at colleges this year, and how admissions offices actually think about Early Decision behind the scenes.

Wondering whether you should apply Early Decision, Early Action, Re...

07/09/2026

My fall schedule is out! The Application Review service is now live from August 1 to college deadlines through January. The earlier date you pick, the less expensive it is to get my full review, edits, and feedback on your application - before submitting it. Sign up for the service here: https://www.askdrhoffman.com/application-review

07/03/2026

Behind the Scenes of College Admissions Travel

What do admissions officers do during the fall? In this behind-the-scenes look at college admissions travel season, I explain my time on the road for Swarthmore and Vanderbilt and how colleges decide which high schools to visit, how recruitment travel is planned, what admissions officers do on the road, and why college visits still matter in the admissions process. Learn how selective colleges build travel schedules, maintain counselor relationships, recruit students, and manage the admissions funnel long before applications are submitted.

What do admissions officers do during the fall? In this behind-the-...

06/30/2026

Welcome to all of my new followers! I’m Andrew Hoffman. I’ve spent many years in highly selective admissions, learning the ins and outs of how this process works - and now I’m here to pass all of this on to you. Check out my YouTube channel Dr. Andrew Hoffman and my website, askdrhoffman.com, to learn more about my content and services. Thanks!

06/24/2026

Admitted to Swarthmore! Find all of my packages and services at my website: https://www.askdrhoffman.com/get-started

06/19/2026

The 10 Supplemental Essay Themes Every Top College Uses

Most students think they need to write 20–30 completely different supplemental essays for top colleges. That's not true. In this video, I break down the 10 most common supplemental essay themes used by Ivy League and highly selective universities, including Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Stanford, Brown, Penn, Duke, Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Cornell, and more. Learn how to brainstorm smarter, identify your strongest stories, avoid repetitive essays, and tailor your responses without simply copying and pasting. If you're applying to selective colleges, this supplemental essay strategy can save you time and strengthen your application.

Check out my new video here!

Most students think they need to write 20–30 completely different s...