Is College Actually Worth It For Your Kids? (The Seventh Grade Math Test to Decide) featuring Thomas Caleel

In this episode, I sit down with Thomas Caleel — former Director of MBA Admissions at the Wharton School, founder of Admittedly, and one of the most clear-eyed voices in the college admissions space. This one is personal — I've got an 18-year-old headed to University of Arkansas in four months, and a sixth grader whose decisions today will quietly shape where he ends up ten years from now. Thomas opens the black box of college admissions and explains what's actually changed, what most parents are getting wrong, and what admissions officers are really looking for. The shift from well-rounded candidates to "vertical spikes" of deep passion and genuine interest is one of those things that sounds simple but changes everything about how you should be thinking about your kid's path right now. We talk about the right time to start, why the seventh-grade math assessment quietly matters more than most parents realize, how doing fewer things with real intentionality is more powerful than stacking clubs and activities, and why your child's college essay should tell their story — not yours. We also get into the financial reality most parents aren't prepared for — new federal loan caps, how to negotiate financial aid after admission, what Juno is and why it matters, and why sending your kid to a low-tier private college that costs $50,000 a year is something Thomas calls criminal. And he gives a refreshingly honest answer to whether college is actually worth it. Timeline Summary [0:00] Introduction to the Dad Edge mission and the movement to raise leaders of families and communities [1:02] Larry's 18-year-old is leaving for University of Arkansas — and Thomas's son is heading to NYU [2:45] When change goes according to plan — and why it hits harder than you expect [4:45] What most parents are missing — the pressure cooker, the doom race, and why more is not always more [5:56] Why admissions is a black box — and why bad information fills that vacuum [7:23] Thomas's background — former Director of MBA Admissions at Wharton, 20 years shaping admissions strategy globally [9:05] How college admissions has changed — from well-rounded candidates to vertical spikes of deep passion [10:49] Why schools now prioritize socioeconomic diversity — and what full ride programs actually look like [11:37] What the internet did to admissions — 50,000 applicants where there used to be 8,000, and rates under 3% at Yale [12:00] Do fewer things intentionally and well — the sneakerhead who got into Stanford [15:18] Why volunteering doesn't help anymore if your kid doesn't actually care about it [17:31] How grit, initiative, and unglamorous jobs stand out just as much as expensive summer programs [19:29] The most common question Thomas hears — when should we start? [19:51] The seventh-grade math assessment that quietly determines whether your kid can pursue STEM majors [22:41] Middle school is for exploration — you don't need to pick a direction, just stay warm on the fundamentals [24:11] What universities are really asking — not what do you want to do with your life, but what are you curious about right now [24:47] Why your kid won't tell you the truth — and why a neutral third party changes everything [29:47] How to have a real conversation with your kid about what they actually want [30:36] Listening without judgment — the parent who almost killed their child's essay by refusing to let them tell their real story [33:06] How to handle the "I want to study dance" conversation — without crushing them [35:45] Is college a scam? Thomas's honest, nuanced answer — and why the lottery ticket mentality is dangerous [37:20] Why low-tier private colleges charging $50,000 a year are, in his words, criminal [40:38] What's changed in the political arena — new federal loan caps and what they mean for families [41:51] Why the ROI conversation has to happen before you commit to a school [44:08] How to negotiate financial aid after you've been admitted — and why schools will sometimes find money [45:03] Juno — the collective bargaining platform that negotiates lower interest rates on student loans [48:01] What Admittedly is — former admissions officers, group coaching, weekly office hours, and accessible pricing Five Key Takeaways 1. Admissions has shifted from well-rounded to deeply interesting. A kid who does one thing with real passion and depth will stand out over a kid who stacks clubs and activities to check boxes. 2. The seventh-grade math assessment quietly shapes whether your kid can pursue the majors they want. Start paying attention earlier than you think you need to. 3. Your child's essay needs to tell their story — not your version of their story. Listen without judgment and let them lead. 4. The financial conversation has to happen early and honestly. With new federal loan caps and rising tuition, the ROI of each school choice matters more than ever. 5. College is not a binary decision. It can be great, but it's not the right path for everyone. Know your child, know their goals, and help them build the path that actually fits — not the one that looks right from the outside. Links & Resources • Dad Edge Business Boardroom: https://thedadedge.com/boardroom • Admittedly website: https://admittedly.co • Admittedly on Instagram and TikTok: @admittedly.co • Juno student loan platform: https://joinjuno.com • Episode Link & Resources (Episode 1467): https://thedadedge.com/1467 Closing If there's one message from this episode that stands out, it's this: the decisions your kid makes in middle school are already shaping where they'll end up — and most parents don't find that out until it's too late to do anything about it. Thomas Caleel has sat inside the room where these decisions get made. He knows what gets someone in and what gets them passed over. And the good news is that none of it requires privilege, expensive programs, or a perfect resume. It requires knowing your kid, helping them tell their real story, and starting the right conversations while there's still time to matter. If your kid is anywhere from sixth grade to senior year, this episode is required listening. Go out and live legendary.