ACT My Journey
Are you wondering how to help your teenager navigate the college admissions process? Whether your student is in their first year of high school or preparing for senior year, now is the perfect time to start planning. Join college admissions counseling experts, Collegewise for College Knowledge Night, a must-attend webinar designed to give parents the essential tools, strategies, and insights needed to support their students on the path to college.
During this webinar, you'll learn:
✔ The impact of shifting admission rates and how to approach the process with confidence.
✔ How to Build a Strong Academic & Extracurricular Profile – Understand what colleges are really looking for and how your student can stand out.
✔ Key Timelines & Milestones – Get a clear roadmap for what students should be focusing on each year of high school.
✔ The Role of Standardized Testing – Learn the latest updates on the ACT/SAT, test-optional policies, and how testing fits into the admissions process.
✔ Smart College Planning Strategies – Discover how to research colleges, build a balanced college list, and avoid common pitfalls.
Empower yourself with the knowledge to guide your student through this exciting journey. College admissions may feel overwhelming, but with the right plan, it doesn’t have to be. Join us for this informative session and leave with actionable steps to help your student succeed.
Meet the Presenters
Hanifa Abdul Sabur, Collegewise College Admissions Counselor
Hanifa Abdul Sabur brings over 15 years of college counseling experience, having worked with students ranging from high schoolers to undergraduates at prestigious universities. A graduate of Swarthmore College and Columbia University, Hanifa’s career has taken her from teaching at Columbia and George Washington University to guiding students through the admissions process.
Hanifa’s strengths-based approach helps students discover and express the best versions of themselves, leading them to colleges that are the right fit for their talents and aspirations. She has supported students in gaining admission to top universities like the University of Pennsylvania, UCLA, Cornell University, and the University of Oxford.
Outside of Collegewise? Hanifa enjoys spending time with her four kids, testing out online personality quizzes with friends, and watching Netflix reality shows.

Hanifa Abdul Sabur
Collegewise College Admissions Counselor
Kevin McMullin, Collegewise Founder & Chief Education Officer
In 1999, Kevin started Collegewise with the core belief that students should be at the center of their college application process. He knew that with the support and guidance of a trusted advisor, students could have a less stressful and ultimately more successful experience. Where did he meet his first few students? His little kitchen table in Orange County, California. Since his humble beginnings, he has grown Collegewise into the nation’s most trusted provider of college admission counseling, helping over 28,000 students. Kevin is currently the Chief Education Officer of Collegewise, overseeing our counseling and tutoring programs.
At Collegewise, Jared helps students approach the admissions process with strategy, confidence, and a clear sense of fit. His students don’t just apply to college—they make informed, thoughtful decisions about where they’ll thrive. His counseling style is warm, honest, and approachable—more like a trusted older sibling than a taskmaster—yet always backed by serious admissions expertise. Whether he's guiding first-time college applicants or supporting recruited athletes through the nuanced world of athletic admissions, Jared knows how to help students tell their stories in ways that resonate with admissions readers.
For more than 25 years, Kevin has reached hundreds of thousands of people as a trusted admissions speaker and author on the topic of smarter, saner college planning. He wrote and published the admissions book “If the U Fits: Expert Advice on Finding the Right College and Getting Accepted.” Kevin graduated from UC Irvine with majors in English and history and has a college admissions counseling certificate from UCLA. Kevin admits that while he knows a lot about how to parent teens during the college admissions process, he seems to be significantly less knowledgeable about how to parent his own 7- and 5-year-old boys!

Kevin McMullin
Collegewise Founder & Chief Education Officer
2025 My Journey Event Schedule
February 12: Spring Forward: Strategic Planning for College Success
April 16: Building Skills in Middle School for Success in High School, College, and Beyond
July 8: Highly Selective College Admissions
August 27: College Knowledge Night for Parents of 9th-11th Graders
September 9: College for Students with Learning Differences
September 16: Crafting Your Creative Future: College Admissions for Artists & Performers
September 17: Game Plan for Success: The College Admissions Playbook for Student-Athletes
October 15: College Admissions 101: Your Ultimate College Roadmap to Success

Closed captions are available by hovering over each video and clicking the CC icon in the lower-right corner.

Building Skills for Success in High School, College, and Beyond
Led by Collegewise’s Director of Instruction and former instructor at Temple University, Michael Cohen, and Former Vanderbilt Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions and Collegewise Counselor, Kaila Brown, this webinar will give you expert insights and practical tips to help your student succeed now and in the future.
Join college admissions counseling experts, Collegewise, and ACT for this must-attend webinar to learn:
- How middle and high school students can develop key academic and life skills.
- The best ways to explore interests and build meaningful experiences.
- How to balance school, extracurriculars, and social life without feeling overwhelmed.
- What changes in college admissions mean for today’s students.

Spring Forward: Strategic Planning for College and Career Success from Junior to Senior Year
In this webinar, Collegewise admission experts share top tips to help you navigate the process. While you may not have everything figured out yet, now is the perfect time to explore potential college majors and career paths that align with your strengths and interests.
In this webinar, you’ll discover:
- The steps to start building your college application profile now.
- Understanding the college application timeline and key deadlines.
- How to explore and narrow down your college major based on your interests.

Finding Your Fit: Researching & Choosing the Right College
In this webinar, Collegewise admission experts share top tips on how to effectively conduct college research and solidify a well-rounded list of schools. We want every student to be thrilled about their options.
College research doesn't have to be so complicated, and with Collegewise expert advice, you'll be all set to approach it with a greater sense of confidence.

College Admissions 101: Keep Calm and Ace Your Application Process
Join us to take a deep dive into what admission officers are really looking for. Our expert speakers will guide you through every step of the college admissions journey, from making the most of high school to researching universities and ultimately crafting successful applications, all while maintaining your sanity.

The Roadmap to Success: Preparing Early for Your Best College Experience
Feeling a whirlwind of emotions as you think about navigating the leap from high school to college? Don’t panic! Preparing for college starts with developing beneficial habits and strategically planning your high school journey. In this webinar, Collegewise admission experts will give you tips to effectively prepare for a fulfilling and successful college experience from day one. Whether you’re a freshman, a senior, or somewhere in between, you should feel confident and equipped to set yourself up for an exceptional college adventure.

Invest in Your Future: Expert Tips on Scholarships, Financial Aid, and Paying for College
Tune in as Collegewise experts share key tips to help you make sense of the confusing and challenging process that is financial aid and paying for college. Discover the key strategies that will unlock the doors to higher education without breaking the bank. From need-based aid to scholarships, Collegewise’s expert panelists will demystify the complex world of financial aid, offering practical tips to help you navigate the application process with confidence.

College Admissions from A to Z: Ace Your Application Process (And Stay Stress Free)
Navigating college admissions can be overwhelming and full of questions, but we’ve got answers! From making the most of your high school experience to researching colleges and ultimately crafting your best application, watch as Collegewise’s expert college application counselors (some of whom are former admission officers) guide you through every step of the college admissions journey - all while keeping you feeling confident and stress-free through the process.
View More from My Journey
My Journey Youtube Playlist
Check out more content from previous My Journey events and get insights from recent graduates and admissions experts about preparing for college and career.