Top Tier Admissions is excited to announce the launch of Application Boot Camp® 2027, our signature college application program for current high school sophomores (Class of 2028) who will participate in the summer before their senior year—now offered in both in-person and virtual formats. This immersive, high-touch experience is designed for students who want to enter application season not just prepared, but confident, strategic, and ahead of the curve.
What is Application Boot Camp®?
Application Boot Camp®, celebrating its 23rd year next summer, is an intensive, four-day workshop designed for rising seniors to complete their applications with less stress and more confidence. Over the last 20+ years, hundreds of Boot Camp students have entered college application season feeling more prepared and confident than ever with completed, polished applications and essays. The program combines expert insight, proven strategy, and intensive execution to help students translate years of hard work into compelling, authentic applications.
What’s Included in Application Boot Camp®
Every enrolled student receives a Personalized Admissions Report that outlines testing strategy, academic positioning, extracurricular development, and a tailored application roadmap. We encourage students to use
In the months leading up to Boot Camp, students work collaboratively with our Head of Student and Family Programming to:
- Finalize a strategic college list for early and regular rounds
- Develop and articulate a compelling application narrative
- Utilize exclusive and comprehensive resource guides & webinars
- Refine their Activity Lists
- Begin filling out the Common Application
This pre-work is designed to help students reflect on their academic narratives while simultaneously completing key application components.
During the four-day program, students work closely with Top Tier’s expert counselors to:
- Complete the Common Application components
- Draft, revise, and refine a full suite of college essays, including the Personal Essay and supplements
- Receive admissions-committee-style feedback and insight
- Prepare for interviews
Our approach is never to rush students through the process, but to help them stay ahead of the curve by finishing tasks early as a gift to their future selves. The fall of senior year is an incredibly busy time for students, and we want them to feel confident having completed their applications and essays well before deadlines.
By the end of Boot Camp, students are not only more prepared—they are more self-aware, more focused, and better able to communicate their strengths.
In-Person vs. Virtual: Two Formats, One Proven Experience
We are thrilled to reintroduce an in-person Application Boot Camp® program next summer, taking place August 5-8 in Boston. But we also know that not everyone’s schedule allows them to gather during this time, which is why we’re pleased to also offer a virtual, 1:1 option for students.
- Application Boot Camp®: Taking place from August 5-8 in Boston, this option offers students a group setting where students engage in workshops, presentations, and dedicated writing time with the entire Top Tier Admissions team of Senior Private Counselors.
- Virtual Application Boot Camp®: For students whose schedules do not align with our August dates, we offer a virtual, 1:1 option where students work individually with a Senior Private Counselor according to a schedule that works best for them.
Despite the difference in program delivery, both Boot Camp programs include the same content, presentations, and preparation, including collaborative and detailed work on application components. In both formats, too, students will benefit from admissions committee-style collaboration and insight. No matter the program you choose, all students leave with a completed Common App, essays, and confidence as they enter application season.
The choice between in-person and virtual simply reflects what works best for each family’s schedule and learning style—without compromising quality, depth, or outcomes.
Why Application Boot Camp® Is Intentionally Small
Limited enrollment allows our team to provide individualized attention, deep feedback, and meaningful mentorship to each student. Students are not lost in a crowd; instead, they receive honest guidance, thoughtful challenge, and the space to develop ideas fully. The college search and application process is a deeply personal one, and we believe that the accompanying support should be, too. The virtual 1:1 boot camps are inherently personalized, but students joining us for the small group format in-person benefit just as much from a highly individualized review process.
Who’s a Great Fit for Application Boot Camp®
Application Boot Camp® is ideal for motivated students who want structure, accountability, and expert guidance. It is especially valuable for students aiming to maximize early-round opportunities, clarify their academic story, and reduce stress by completing applications early—without sacrificing quality or authenticity. While the pre-work ramps up in the spring of junior year, students can enroll earlier and will benefit from a longer ramp to explore and shape academic and nonacademic curiosities within the scope of their thoughtful Personalized Application Report roadmap.
For students ready to invest focused time and energy into their applications, Application Boot Camp® offers a transformative, confidence-building start to senior year.
We hope you’ll join us next summer, whether in Boston or virtually. Visit our website to learn more and to claim your spot!
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With years of college counseling experience, Sam has guided students through the admissions process, building trusted relationships as she helped them identify and gain admission to best-fit colleges.
At Top Tier Admissions, Sam leads our annual Application Boot Camp® and our College Planning Retreat program. These curated, high-touch experiences are intentionally crafted to give students and families space for clarity, reflection, and confident decision-making—pairing strategic guidance with a calm, supportive environment that reduces stress and restores perspective during a high-stakes process.
Sam is a nationally recognized thought partner in college admissions strategy. She has presented at the National Association for College Admission Counseling’s Annual Conference and is the author of A Guide to Finding the Best-Fit College for Jewish Students.
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