A Roadmap to College Admissions with Bradley Solomon

Bradley Solomon is an Independent College Counselor and founder of Solomon College Advising, a San Francisco-based college counseling service dedicated to guiding students and families through the college admissions process. Students work closely with Bradley on pre-college planning, from building a college resume, creating a college list, writing college essays, to completing admission apps. After a successful career as a trial attorney with the California Attorney General's Office, Bradley decided to focus on guiding families through the college application process. He graduated with honors from the UCLA College Counseling Certificate Program and interned at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory High School and with private counselors at College Admission Coach.

Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:

• [02:37] Bradley Solomon talks about his journey from attorney to college admissions counselor
• [05:11] What parents wish they had known earlier about college admissions
• [07:38] When is the right time for families to start planning for college?
• [12:45] Mistakes students and parents may make during high school and how to avoid them
• [15:39] Tips for balancing academics, extracurriculars, and personal passions in high school
• [18:22] How to identify what makes a college a great fit 
• [23:04] Why families consider hiring private college counselors and when to do it
• [24:50] Bradley explains his process for guiding students through the college planning journey
• [30:32] Bradley’s advice for first-year high school students, sophomores, juniors, and seniors

In this episode…

The college admissions journey can be overwhelming, especially for families looking at highly selective and competitive colleges. Families often wonder when it’s the right time to start planning and how students can differentiate and position themselves in the best way. With acceptance rates shrinking and competition rising, how will students and parents navigate this high-stakes process without losing balance?

According to Bradley Solomon, a private college counselor guiding families through the competitive landscape, the best time to start planning is the first day of high school. But it's better late than never, so start planning as soon as possible. Bradley highlights that every decision — from class selection to summer activities — can significantly impact a student's acceptance. Critical strategies are building good organization skills, teacher relationships, taking on meaningful extracurriculars, and maintaining focus on a few key activities rather than overloading themselves or spreading themselves thin. These choices, combined with early college visits, not only enhance applications but also inspire students to strive for their best while staying organized and focused.

In this episode of the Pillar6 Podcast, Roman Polnar sits down with Bradley Solomon, Independent College Counselor at Solomon College Advising, to discuss how families can be successful in the college planning process and increase their probability of success. They explore practical advice for each high school year, strategies for creating a strong application, and the importance of a well-balanced college list. Bradley also shares tips for reducing stress, maintaining balance, and finding the best college fit for every student.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Roman M. Polnar on LinkedIn
• Pillar6 Advisors
• Bradley Solomon on LinkedIn
• Solomon College Advising: Website | Free Consultation
• College Confidential
• The College Tour
• Forbes America’s Top Colleges
• College Kickstart
• CollegePlannerPro

Quotable Moments

• "It's important to have a couple of activities that you're really passionate about and take on a leadership role in those."
• "From the first day of high school, everything counts, and you need to think about the ramifications of everything that goes on."
• "Start visiting colleges early on. It has a couple of benefits: education and motivation for the kids."
• "You should know everything that's going on; there should never be a time when your kid's report card comes and you're shocked."
• "All you can do is build a background that makes you a viable applicant, and then you'll just see what happens."

Action Steps

1. Start early with planning: Early planning allows students and families to make informed decisions about courses, extracurricular activities, and summer programs, which can significantly impact college admission outcomes.
2. Engage in passionate extracurricular activities: Admission committees value depth over breadth, and passionate engagement in activities demonstrates commitment and leadership potential.
3. Prioritize academic performance and teacher relationships: Maintain a rigorous yet manageable course load and promptly address any academic challenges by consulting with teachers.
4. Visit colleges to gain insight and motivation: College visits can provide motivation and help students better understand what they are looking for in a college experience, which can guide their application choices.
5. Utilize available resources and seek expert guidance: Leverage online resources to stay informed about college admission trends and hire a private college counselor if possible.

Sponsor for this episode

This episode is brought to you by Pillar6. Pillar6 is a wealth advisory firm for successful individuals and families with active lifestyles.

Our clients appreciate having clarity and control over their finances and the peace of mind in knowing that their financial decisions are aligned with their core values, goals, and priorities. We provide financial planning services and wealth management services.

Schedule your complimentary discovery call to talk to us.

To learn more, go to www.pillar6.com or you can email us at hello@pillar6.com.