Every student has a compelling story worth telling. 

Let me help you uncover yours.

I’m Dr. Elisabeth Hahn and I love college admissions.

I also love the social, psychological, and cognitive growth that happens as teens develop independence and their sense of self. 

My Philosophy

I founded Hahn Admissions to provide tailored services at a scale that allows for meaningful interactions with my clients so I can help them reflect on who they are, what they have to offer, and get into college!

I am a proud Duke alum and was an Undergraduate Admissions Officer at Duke for two years. I recruited students from a six-state region, read thousands of applications, and recommended decisions on all of them. I also spent many hours in Chicago traffic on recruiting trips. This work affirmed my interest in higher education and motivated me to pursue a masters and doctorate at Harvard. 

While finishing my dissertation, I worked as a college counselor and discovered that I enjoyed this even more than being an admissions officer. The reason was simple - I thrived on getting to know my students and working with them over a sustained period of time. 

I returned to college counseling after nearly five years at Deloitte supporting Defense clients on work related to military families and readiness. Although a departure from college admissions, this work was especially meaningful because of my family’s history of military service. It also cemented my commitment to delivering excellence and making an impact that matters.

Tips and tales from my time as an admissions officer.

Insider Insights

    1. Calling a waitlisted student one May with the best news!

    2. Presenting applications from my region during committee and knowing the ins/outs of each applicant like the back of my hand.

    3. Sharing a small office with my friend, Emily, a Duke classmate and fellow admissions officer.

  • Write the Common App Personal Statement before 12th grade starts!

    1. Attempting to stand out as a bright well-rounded student. It’s virtually impossible!

    2. Waiting for Early Decision results before starting other supplemental essays.

    3. Approaching the process based on what you think admissions officers want to hear.

  • Foster your child’s love of reading! Encourage them to read as much as possible and make it joyful. Model this by having a book in your own hands as often as you can!

About Me

I’m a native of McLean, Virginia – graduating from Langley School and Maret many moons ago. While at Duke, I majored in English and led several peer education initiatives on campus and — yes — watched a lot of basketball! I received my masters and doctorate from Harvard where I was a Presidential Scholar and worked with faculty at the Graduate School of Education and Harvard Business School. After living in Colorado, Massachusetts, and Germany, my husband, Seth, and we have returned to Northern Virginia to raise our family.

In our rare moments of free time, Seth and I love being outside with our kids, Grace and David, and attempting to teach our dog, Bailey, to fetch a tennis ball.