Dynamic admissions advising — without the fear-mongering.
Launched by Channing K. in 2012, Admissions Underground centers the college admissions process around, well, you: students and families. College prep does not need to be a scary, cut-throat competition. In fact, you’re much more likely to see success if you allow this season to be a meaningful rite of passage. That’s why it’s important for us to cut all the B.S. — the fear-mongering, grooming, and click bait — out of the process. You’re going to get into college. A great college. And Channing can help with that.
With the right planning and sage wisdom, you’ll see a huge reduction in admissions season stress, which will give you the brain space and emotional bandwidth to crush your applications and genuinely get excited about your future!
*College Advising also proven to cut down on dreaded dinner-table arguments. Promise!
Contact
➤ LOCATION
NYC * LA * REMOTE
☎ CONTACT
channing@admissionsunderground.com
Core Services
Personal branding for academia
It’s 2026. I know you know what a personal brand is. Colleges are looking for the authentic you, and Admissions Underground is here to encourage some soul searching and hype you up bc, um, you’re, like, really cool.
interpersonal communications
Communication is a hugely important step in the Admissions Underground process. Together, we will demystify the wild world of admissions + you will learn how to communicate with the school counselor, teachers, individual college admissions officers, and other recommenders.
With better communication, you will build stronger relationships (even/especially if your school counselor already made you cry).
project management
IDK if you know this but the college admissions timeline can go anywhere from four months to one to two to even three years. That’s a big ask if you’re on your own, but with the help of a very soothing project timeline, season-long check-list, and personalized plan, your shoulders will relax and you’ll take a deep breath. Promise.*
*And yeah, definitely not above texting you lovingly annoying reminders.
school list STRATEGY
Not to gender this, but where my dad’s at? Yes, we can talk statistics and thoughtfully informed odds + smart/safe strategy for making that school list. We will also analyze the information coming from within your school + make informed decisions that take school-specific trends into account. That said, the school list (and even the stats) are weirdly more subjective and student-specific than you think. We’ll get into all the juicy details so that your list is equal parts aspirational and well balanced.
the personal essay + supplements
Before Admissions Underground, Channing taught literary personal essay workshops for undergrads and summer high school students at Columbia University in NYC [that’s also where she did her grad degree in Nonfiction Writing]. The essays are deeply tied to your brand + your core identity. We’ll supplement the soul-searching with example essay packets, mini-lessons on tone/structure/syntax. You’re going to apply with essays you actually love (that actually sound like you).
stress mitigation
It’s a wild time to be alive — let alone apply to college. Advising calls are the time to untangle all of your anxiety spirals, debunk the rumors floating around the school hallways, and explain what happened with your second cousin’s friend’s sister’s application.
“College apps don’t have to suck.”
Let's Chat.
An old school email is the fastest path from inquiry to call: channing@admissionsunderground.com
For new families, we’d love to get you on the phone with Channing K. ASAP to learn more about your student and explain our approach to college advising + available services.
For job opportunities, please email us your resume. Must love teens and grammar.