Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia McLaughlin.
Hi Olivia, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Throughout high school and college, I have always had a passion and a real knack for writing exceptional essays. Whether it was subjects like US History and English or college admissions essays (the Common App and UC Prompts), I came to love articulating a stand-out argument and putting my best self on paper.
It might sound a bit odd, but I liked the college admissions process. I capitalized on my love of structure and organization by making spreadsheets with data on schools’ GPA and ACT/SAT requirements. I wrote essays that showcased my variety of passions: from involvement in extracurriculars to developing my own self-run business to working in part-time jobs to my intellectual curiosity that flourished both inside and outside the classroom. On March 30th, I was accepted to UC Berkeley. After committing to Cal, my next goal was to be admitted into UC Berkeley’s Haas School of Business. For me, this would mean another completing another “college application,” having a compelling interview and crafting stand-out admissions essays.
I was driving through Solana Beach with my mom when I opened my business school acceptance letter. Following this acceptance, I began to help girls in my sorority to perfect their business school applications and then helped my brother apply to college. All these services were free of charge, and the thought of launching a business never came to mind. I just wanted my friends and family to feel that same feeling I felt when I opened acceptance letters: the hard work has paid off.
I thought my “admissions writing” endeavors would end there. However, after my summer internship was canceled due to COVID, I was in need of an income and a pastime. Thus, I decided to launch Admitted With Olivia in April 2020.
Fast forward to today – I currently work in public accounting. In my role, I work with a team to perform integrated audits on various clients’ financial statements. I am also pursuing my Certified Public Accounting (CPA) license, which consists of sitting for four different exams in order to earn the certification. Both my career and studies are highly quantitative, mathematical, and analytical. However, I consider myself to be very creative and a skilled writer – which is why I still love spending my free time helping students transform their essays into something they are proud of.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Four years of this business has definitely presented itself with challenges! When I kicked off the business during my senior year of college, my main struggle was juggling students’ busy schedules with my own busy schedule. During spring of my senior year of college, I needed to take 24 units in order to be CPA Exam eligible. I had to balance classwork with the festivities of being a second-semester senior, all while running a part-time business! Meanwhile, seniors I work with are balancing AP classes, extracurriculars, and their own senior festivities. It was certainly hectic, but I made it work. This was my first year in business! After managing this schedule, I knew it would be downhill for the years to come. Sure enough — it has been!
Finally, through my business, I have learned is that every parent parents differently. This presents daily learning experiences. Some parents are very involved in the college admissions process. Other parents want the student or myself to steer the wheel. For this reason, I set up an introduction call with the parent and student when we first get started. This way, I can learn how the parent operates and the degree of involvement they seek to have in their child’s college process. Then, I adjust my approach accordingly to meet the needs of the family.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar, what can you tell them about what you do?
I have been working in college admissions officially for four years now and unofficially for two years prior.
Here is what sets me apart:
1) My Age
Being 23 years old, I possess the age and current experience to be able to relate to any college senior! Having recently graduated college, I can easily answer any pressing questions about the college experience ranging from classes, campus sizes, your major, dorms, activities, clubs — you name it!
2) My Network
Further, being on the younger side for college admissions counselors is also an advantage as I possess connections at college campuses across the nation. My network of friends and close contacts at over 30 universities is an asset to every admission process. One mother noted: “Olivia is up to date on the college process and has a big network of college students to tap into to find answers fast.” If the student desires, we can always send a TCU essay to a current TCU student, a Penn State essay to a Penn State alumni – you get the idea. This gives us that gold-standard guarantee that the student’s essay is good to go!
I recently had my best friend, who graduated USC (class of 2021), read over one of my students’ essays who was applying to USC. She offered some unique feedback – things only a USC alum would know! That year, USC acceptance rates went from 13% to 5%, and I am proud to say my student was accepted!
3) My Lasting Relationship with Students and Families
My relationship with the student does not end after the admissions process. I have helped my now college students with everything from offering suggestions on their resume, helping them prepare for interviews, or even connecting these students with my close contacts on their campus.
4) My Commitment to Exceed My Client Expectations.
My business model is by referral only. I do not advertise in emails, on social media, in pamphlets — nothing! I seek to ensure that my clients are comfortable referring me because I have the skills, competence, and training that exceeded their initial expectations. My ultimate goal is to make my students and their parents so outrageously happy with the service I provide that they will gladly introduce me to another friend or family member who is in need of my help.
5) And, of course, my skills!
I had one of my favorite high school teachers, Mr. Sicliano, write a quote for my website. He noted: “Of the hundreds of students I’ve had come through my classroom, Olivia stands out as one of the top five writers I’ve ever had the privilege of teaching.” Last summer, I underwent an IQ test and scored within the 98th percentile for creative writing. The test administrator was shocked to hear I am pursuing a career in accounting! Thankfully, Admitted With Olivia has served as the platform for me to pursue my passion and mentoring and exercise my talents in writing.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
Defining success? That’s easy. By Referral Only.
Growing up, these three words circled the McLaughlin Household. Whether my mom was in a meeting or talking about her latest business seminar, she could always be overheard describing that her real estate business was “By Referral Only.”
Despite the fact that these three words played a profound role on what may have been my earliest impression of “business,” I did not understand the manner in which they truly define success until I launched Admitted With Olivia in 2020.
Two years later, I understand the value of this business model. I seek to ensure that my clients are comfortable referring me because I have the skills, competence, and training that exceeded their initial expectations. Just like my mom, I can proudly say that my ultimate goal is to make my students and their parents so outrageously happy with the service I provide that they will gladly introduce me to another friend or family member who is in need of my help.
Pricing:
- Meetings with students are $75 an hour
Contact Info:
- Website: admittedwitholivia.com
