Command Education in the Media

High school seniors are making bold moves in their college application essays — and it’s paying off. According to college admissions expert Christopher Rim, students who highlight their conservative values and experiences, such as volunteering for political campaigns or joining free speech organizations, are earning spots at Ivy League schools like Harvard, Stanford, and Princeton. By embracing their beliefs and taking risks, these applicants are standing out in an increasingly competitive admissions landscape, proving that authenticity can be a powerful advantage.

The Ivy League’s prestige has been challenged by allegations of bias and free speech issues, prompting many students to look beyond traditional Ivies. Elite universities like NYU, Duke, and Rice, dubbed the “new Ivies,” are gaining prominence with rigorous academics, plummeting acceptance rates, and rising rankings. To secure admission, students must avoid common pitfalls, from weak transcripts to generic extracurriculars and essays.

Planning for college starts earlier than you think. Experts recommend opening a 529 plan, saving gift money, and starting monthly contributions from birth. By middle and high school, encourage kids to save earnings, apply for scholarships, and take AP classes. Transparent family discussions and strategic saving can make higher education more affordable and achievable.

ollege admissions consultant and Command Education CEO Chris Rim thinks anti-Asian bias in the admissions process is still happening.

“Asian students are unable to obscure their racial identity on their applications because of their names —in many cases, top schools can easily determine which students are Asian and continue their practice of unfairly rejecting them in order to manufacture diversity,” he explained.

At Princeton, according to the Class of 2027 Frosh Survey, half of all respondents earning over $500 thousand a year used private assistance in applications, as opposed to roughly 10 percent for those earning under $80 thousand. Even Command’s CEO Christopher Rim acknowledges the “unfair advantage” he offers to the upper class, but justifies it by claiming, “I’m not helping a wealthy client take the spot of a low-income student … [wealthy students are] competing against each other.”