Recorded on September 10, 2026.
The college admissions landscape has changed dramatically, but the most meaningful preparation may have less to do with building the “perfect” application and more to do with helping young people discover who they are.
In this thoughtful conversation, Cresset’s Tara Jones and Rachel Gil welcomed Audrey Wisch, Co-Founder and CEO of Curious Cardinals, to explore how families can approach the path to college with greater clarity and intention. From middle school exploration through senior-year applications, Audrey shared practical guidance for helping students cultivate genuine interests, make thoughtful choices about how they spend their time, and ultimately tell an authentic story about what matters to them.
Key Themes
Curiosity Is the Starting Point: Rather than introducing every experience through the lens of college admissions, Audrey encouraged families to help young people become interested and interesting members of the world. Middle school and early high school can be valuable periods for exploration, experimentation, and even discovering what a student doesn’t enjoy.
Depth Matters More Than Doing Everything: A long list of activities is not necessarily more compelling. Once students begin identifying what genuinely interests them, Audrey encouraged greater focus and sustained commitment. Going deeper in a few areas creates opportunities for meaningful contribution, leadership, growth, and recognition.
Parents Can Be “Passion Excavators”: Not every student immediately knows what they are passionate about. Parents can pay attention to the subjects, experiences, hobbies, and conversations that naturally capture their child’s attention, then help create opportunities to explore those interests without forcing an outcome.
Build the Foundation Early, Then Focus: Ninth grade can be a time to explore widely while establishing strong academics, activities, and time-management habits. By tenth grade, students can begin narrowing their focus. Junior year calls for greater planning and prioritization, while senior year becomes the moment to communicate the story built through the preceding years.
Authenticity Creates a Stronger Narrative: Audrey described a strong application as a “harmonious symphony,” with academics, activities, essays, recommendations, and interests reinforcing a coherent picture of the student. That narrative is strongest when it emerges naturally from experiences and choices rather than being manufactured for admissions.
AI Is Changing What Stands Out: As AI makes it easier to produce essays, websites, code, and other outputs, Audrey believes measurable impact and credible external recognition will become increasingly important. Just as meaningful are qualities that are difficult to manufacture, including curiosity, generosity, character, and the ways a student contributes to a community.
Find the Right School, Not Simply the Highest-Ranked One: College selection should begin with the individual student. Audrey encouraged families to consider the programs, communities, opportunities, and environments where a young person is most likely to thrive, then research schools through the lens of those priorities.
