Dynamic admissions advising — without the fear-mongering.
Launched by Channing K. in 2012, Admissions Underground centers the college admissions process around, well, you: students and families. We see applying to college not as a scary, cut-throat competition, but as a meaningful rite of passage. That’s why it’s important for us to cut all the B.S. — the fear-mongering, grooming, and click bait — out of the process. You’re going to get into college. A great college. And we’re here to help.
In fact, we’re willing to bet we have the secret equation to remove 75% of admissions season stress and replace it with at least a little bit of fun and excitement.*
*We’re also good at cutting down on those dreaded dinner-table arguments that seem to rear their ugly heads around JR and SR year.
Contact
➤ LOCATION
NYC * LA * REMOTE
☎ CONTACT
channing@admissionsunderground.com
Core Services
Personal branding for academia
It’s 2024. I know you know what a personal brand is. Colleges are looking for the authentic you, and Admissions Underground is here to encourage some soul searching and hype you up bc, um, you’re, like, really cool.
interpersonal communications
Demystifying the wild world of admissions + teaching you (student and family) how to communicate with each other, the school counselor, teachers, individual college admissions officers, and other recommenders is a hugely important step in the Admissions Underground process.
It’s an emotionally charged time. We’ll be your sounding board. We’ll help you communicate + build stronger relationships (even/especially if your school counselor already made you cry).
project management
IDK if you know this but the college admissions timeline can go anywhere from four months to one to two to even three years. That’s a big ask if you’re on your own, but with the help of a very soothing project timeline, season-long check-list, and personalized plan, your shoulders will relax and you’ll take a deep breath. Promise.*
*And yeah, we’re not above texting you lovingly annoying reminders.
school list STRATEGY
Not to gender this, but where my dad’s at? Yes, we can talk statistics and thoughtfully informed odds + smart/safe strategy for making that school list. We will also analyze the information coming from within your school + make informed decisions that take school-specific trends into account. That said, the school list (and even the stats) are weirdly more subjective and student-specific than you think: we can help with that.
the personal essay + supplements
Before Admissions Underground, Channing taught literary personal essay workshops for undergrads and summer high school students at Columbia University in NYC [that’s also where she did her grad degree in Nonfiction Writing]. The essays are deeply tied to your brand + your core identity. We’ll supplement the soul-searching with example essay packets, mini-lessons on tone/structure/syntax. You’re going to apply with an essay you actually love.
stress mitigation
It’s a wild time to be alive — let alone apply to college. We are here to untangle all of your anxiety spirals, debunk the rumors floating around the school hallways, explain what happened with your second cousin’s friend’s sister’s application. We’ve seen it all, and we are ONE HUNDRED percent sure you’re going to make it out alive, dressed head-to-toe in the school colors of a college you are really stoked about attending.
“College apps don’t have to suck.”
Let's Chat.
An old school email is the fastest path from inquiry to call: channing@admissionsunderground.com
For new families, we’d love to get you on the phone with Channing K. ASAP to learn more about your student and explain our approach to college advising + available services.
For job opportunities, please email us your resume. Must love teens and grammar.