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Sara Harberson

Sara Harberson is the founder of Application Nation™, which provides personalized advice to college applicants and their families. In her book, SOUNDBITE: The Admissions Secret that Gets You Into College and Beyond, Sara reveals the secrets of her signature college admissions tool, the "Soundbite," and shares tried-and-tested exercises that have helped thousands of students gain admission to their school of choice. She is the former associate dean of admissions at the University of Pennsylvania and the former dean of admissions and financial aid at Franklin & Marshall College. Sara’s philosophy is that every kid applying to college deserves the best advice.
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Recent Posts

A Call to End Mixed Messages from College Admissions Offices

I am pro-student, pro-parent, and pro-transparency. So when one of my Application Nation families[...]

Is a College's Reputation More Important Than Finding the Right Fit?

It was 8:00 pm on Tuesday night when I took a call from a mom of a high school senior. I was[...]

Should You Take Subject Tests?

I am of the opinion that high school students are already under so much pressure that it is[...]

What Colleges Don't Tell You About the Waitlist

Just imagine if you were the Dean of Admissions at the University of Southern California right now.[...]

Facebook Live Recap: Planning for Summer

Prepping for college admissions doesn't stop once the summer hits. In fact, there's no time like[...]