Starting Early to Stand Out: A Strategic Roadmap to Highly Selective Colleges

January 8, 2026 at 8:00 PM ET

Success in college admissions doesn’t happen by accident- it’s built over time through thoughtful planning and informed decisions. In this webinar, former Rice University Admissions Officer Brandon Mack will walk NSHSS students and families through how high-achieving applicants can begin preparing early and strategically for the college admissions process.

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What you'll learn:

Students will learn how colleges evaluate students over multiple years, what matters most beyond grades and test scores, and how early choices in coursework, activities, and academic focus can strengthen a student's overall profile. The session will also highlight common missteps students make when they wait too long and how starting earlier can create more options and flexibility down the road.

Designed for motivated students who want to make the most of their high school years, this webinar offers a clear, grounded approach to building a competitive application with confidence and purpose.

Click to register

Meet the speaker:

Brandon Mack

Former Admissions Officer at Rice University

I hold a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology and Political Science from Rice University. I also hold a Masters in Education from the University of Houston in Higher Education Administration and Supervision. I am currently working on a Doctorate in Higher Education Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Houston.

I started my career in college admissions at Rice University in 2009. I worked my way up from an Admission Counselor to Associate Director of Admission. I have over 12 years of experience in advising students through the college admission process. While I represented Rice University, I have always viewed my job as being a representative of higher education. Therefore, I have assisted students in their college admissions journey whether their final destination was Rice or any other college or university. I have also conducted workshops on highly selective admission practices, essay writing, and mock admission committee case studies. I served as an admission committee chair for all areas of study including international student admissions and transfer admissions. I have served at the national level as part of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) Anti-Racism Institute Faculty and the Guiding the Way to Inclusion Conference Faculty

My approach is to serve as a guide and a coach. The college admission process should be an amazing time in your life in which you get to dream big and think about the environment you want to spend your time in. My job is to help guide you to places that will help fulfill your dreams, places that will provide the environment where you will feel happy, healthy, and supported, and places that will open you to new opportunities/possibilities. This process can seem daunting, but it truly isn't. Together we will put together your best application, hit submit, and take a deep breath as you watch the admission doors open.