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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

5 Demands From Trump’s Compact for Excellence in Higher Education

This week we heard about President Trump's Compact for Excellence in Higher Education. Nine[...]

How To Order Your Activities on Common App for the Biggest Impact

Yesterday, I met with one of my Application Nation - Class of 2026 students to review their[...]

Don't Apply to Elite Colleges This Year. Here's Why.

Elite institutions have been the dream destination for many college-bound students for centuries—so[...]

Facebook Live Recap: Ask America's College Counselor (9.17.25)

For my Facebook Live Q&A in September, I answered questions from high school students and parents[...]

My Tips for the 5 Trickiest Sections To Get Right on the Common App

My favorite thing to do after 26 years in the industry is read applications. I still get to do that[...]

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