Free Webinar
Decoding US Admissions Decisions – How Research Influences Outcomes
For students in grades 9–12 and their parents!
Join Eileen Dougherty, former University of Pennsylvania admissions officer, for an exclusive session on how admissions decisions are made, and how research is evaluated in today’s competitive US college admissions landscape. She will explain how admissions officers assess academic readiness, where research fits into holistic review, and why it has become an increasingly important signal for students applying to top US colleges. Don’t miss the opportunity to hear directly from someone who has been on the admissions side of the table.
Register Now
Register Now
4th February 2026 (Wednesday)
8 PM ET
Zoom
Research your way into the Ivy League colleges!
Don’t miss this rare opportunity to hear from a former Princeton Admissions Officer and gain expert insights on navigating the US college admissions process!
You Will Learn:
01
Key US college admissions trends for 2024-2025 and early admissions trends from 2025-2026
02
What Ivy League and top US schools prioritize in applicants.
03
Why research is a game-changer for standing out in the admissions process.
04
How to highlight research in your Common App.
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Eileen Dougherty
Former UPenn Admissions Officer
Eileen Dougherty is a former US admissions officer with nearly a decade of experience reviewing applications at three universities, most recently at the University of Pennsylvania. She evaluated thousands of applications, interviewed prospective students, and assessed academic and extracurricular fit. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Journalism from The Pennsylvania State University.
With over five years of experience as an admissions consultant, Eileen has guided students to successful outcomes at selective US institutions, including USC, Vanderbilt, the University of Michigan, Tufts, NYU, and UC Santa Barbara.
With over five years of experience as an admissions consultant, Eileen has guided students to successful outcomes at selective US institutions, including USC, Vanderbilt, the University of Michigan, Tufts, NYU, and UC Santa Barbara.
Chris Haley
Senior Strategist and Academic Advisor, Indigo Research
Chris Haley is a Harvard University graduate with over five years of experience as a professional college counsellor. He has guided students through hundreds of successful applications to top U.S. universities, including the Ivy League, MIT, Northwestern, UC Berkeley, UCLA, and USC. Chris also has a strong track record of helping students gain admission to elite summer and research programs such as USC SHINE, LaunchX, UCIxGATI BEAM, and COSMOS. In addition, he has mentored students preparing for prestigious STEM competitions like the AMC10 and the USA Computing Olympiad (USACO).
How Indigo Research Works
Indigo Research mentors high school students to produce exceptional, publishable research. With a curriculum designed by Harvard and Oxford graduates, students work with top university faculty or PhD fellows, building intellectual depth and boosting their academic profile.
Our students achieve real outcomes – journal publications, competition wins, and admissions to the world’s leading universities. Indigo students have a 15% Ivy League acceptance rate – over three times the global average – and a 24% acceptance rate to Oxford and Cambridge.
