Application Nation - Class of 2026 is launching in January! Join the waitlist now to get 20% off your first month.  JOIN THE WAITLIST

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.
Find me on:

Recent Posts

7 Important Things to Do Before the School Year Ends

The school year is coming to a close and summer is just weeks away.

Before students empty out their[...]

Why Summer is the Best Time to Start Prepping for Standardized Tests

Recently I gave a workshop for 9th and 10th grade families titled, “Demystifying Standardized[...]

Need Teacher Recommendation Letters? Here's How to Get Them

Spring is the perfect time for high school juniors to take stock and identify which teachers they[...]

Everything You Need to Know About Taking a Gap Year

Thank you, Malia Obama, for making the gap year cool.

For decades, college admissions deans and[...]

How to Decide Which College is Right for You

Over the past week, I’ve had more students ask for help in deciding where to attend college than[...]