Finish the core of your college applications before senior year begins — with guidance and direction from a former Director of Admissions.

An intensive August 2026 bootcamp combining:

  • 8 live strategy sessions

  • Step-by-step Common App guidance

  • Essay brainstorming workshops, prompts, and guide

  • Insider admissions advice

  • Asynchronous lessons and exercises

  • Live Q&A with a former highly selective admissions officer

So students start senior year ahead — not overwhelmed.

Sign Up for Bootcamp!

Every fall, students tell themselves they’ll “work on applications once school starts.”

Then senior year happens.

Classes. Activities. Sports. Leadership. Burnout. Supplemental essays. Deadlines.

The students who feel the most confident in the fall are usually the ones who started before August ended.

Who is this Bootcamp designed for?

Students Who:

  • Want to complete most of the Common Application before school begins

  • Feel overwhelmed by where to start

  • Need structure, accountability, and deadlines

  • Want expert guidance without committing to full private consulting

  • Are applying to selective colleges and want to present themselves strategically

  • Keep procrastinating on all-things-app-related

And for parents who want fewer application-related worries (and maybe a few battles) during senior year.

The Reality of Modern College Admissions

When admissions offices review tens of thousands of applications in just a few months (and just a few minutes per application), rushed applications blend together. Students who take the time to prepare intentionally give themselves a meaningful advantage in a highly selective admissions process.

2025 Applications to Top Colleges

Learn from Someone Who Has Actually Reviewed Applications

This bootcamp is led by me - Dr. Andrew Hoffman, former Director of Admissions at Swarthmore College and former Admissions Officer at Vanderbilt University.

After nearly two decades in selective college admissions, I’ve reviewed tens of thousands of applications and understand:

  • what admissions officers notice

  • where students undersell themselves

  • how activities and essays create narrative

  • common mistakes students make

  • how applications are actually evaluated behind closed doors

This is insider guidance from someone who has sat in the admissions committee room and made decisions.

What Students Will Complete

By the end of the Bootcamp, students will have:

  • Completed their Common App profile

  • Developed and refined their Activities section

  • Strategically presented honors and awards

  • Understood how to use the Additional Information sections effectively

  • Brainstormed meaningful essay topics

  • Developed at least a first draft of the Common App essay

  • Learned how admissions officers evaluate applications

  • Built a roadmap for approaching supplemental essays after the course ends

How the Bootcamp Works

By signing up, your student will have access to a course module including live session invitations, recorded videos, worksheets, and other resources. Your student will also be invited to participate in AskDrHoffman’s Discord Community.

    • Weekly live instruction (45 mins of instruction; 15 mins Q&A); held Tuesdays and Fridays in August, 12pm-1pm ET

    • Real-time walkthroughs of application sections

    • Strategic guidance from an experienced former admissions officer

    • Built-in Q&A during every session

  • Some parts of the process are better completed independently.

    Students will receive:

    • guided exercises

    • brainstorming worksheets

    • asynchronous lessons

    • examples and templates

    So they can complete sections between live sessions at their own pace.

  • Students will also receive access to a private Discord community where they can:

    • ask questions between sessions

    • stay accountable

    • connect with other students completing applications

    • receive ongoing guidance throughout the month

  • Can’t attend every live session? Every session will be recorded and available afterward.

Live + Asynchronous Format

Get Started

What Parents Say

  • “I just want my student to get started.”

  • “I don’t want October to become a disaster. They'll have so much going on senior year.”

  • “My student works better with accountability from someone other than me.”

  • "We don't know where to begin. What does an AO want to see? Are we listing things correctly? We definitely need help."

Frequently Asked Questions

  • No. Students can still benefit from completing the core application components and learning application strategy before finalizing a college list. If your student wants comprehensive feedback on their college list, contact me.

  • We’ll discuss supplemental essay strategy and how colleges use supplements, but the course will focus primarily on completing the Common Application itself. If your student would like assistance with the editing process, I offer additional services (including hourly consultation).

  • No problem! All sessions will be recorded and available afterward and throughout the entire course duration.

  • No. The course is designed for any student using the Common Application who wants structure, strategy, and accountability.

  • Students will receive brainstorming guidance and instruction designed to help them develop a strong first draft. For further assistance with and editing of personal statements, supplemental essays, scholarship essays, and others, please see my additional services.

  • First, it’s uniquely led by me, a former director of admissions at Swarthmore and former AO at Vanderbilt. Most other “bootcamp” style classes are led by professionals without formal college app reading experience. Second, it’s cohort-based - meaning your student will be able to interact with others in the course - as they all complete their Common App.

The Investment.

The Common App Bootcamp

Starting at

$950

Includes 10+ hours of live/recorded content + Q&A sessions. All to get your Common App completed.

Sign Up

The Bootcamp

Are you ready to get started? Complete the form below for next steps and additional information related to The AO-Approved Common App Bootcamp in August 2026.

*The AO-Approved Common App Bootcamp is a paid service (starting at $950 USD). AskDrHoffman.com LLC cannot guarantee admission or financial aid/scholarships at any college or university.