(Editor’s Note: If you want to get into a top-tier US or UK university, you have to be strategic about it, says college admissions consultant Jennifer Um. A graduate of Cornell, and a long-time Philippine resident, Um recently went through the gruelling admissions process with her own son, Daniel, who will be going to Harvard in September. She shares what she’s learned.)
“Start early, as early as freshman year. Call me a tiger mom, but I began plotting at 8th Grade what services my kids would do, what extra-curriculars, what publications they could be involved in. Think of it as a portfolio for your children. You have to diversify.
This holds true for US colleges, which, let’s face it, are still considered The Holy Grail when it comes to education. Harvard, Yale, Princeton… the Ivy League schools are often seen as the ultimate.
The best way to start is to prioritize with a checklist: Grade. Testing. Extra-curriculars. Service. Within the extra-curriculars, you have the recognitions in school, the awards, for leadership, service, arts, the student council… So you can see where your child’s interests lie. That’s not difficult, really, but it does mean being active in whatever the chosen activity is.
Admittedly, most international schools are geared towards that, but students from local schools also have an excellent chance of getting into a top US college. They have to have the grades, of course, and they have to do well in the standardized tests (SAT or ACT), but they also have to have that passion – music, sports or a service – and they have to build on it from freshman year on to show the continuity.
The actual application process should begin in the summer of junior year. That’s when you should start downloading the Common App – the form that all the US colleges use – and go through it. Then there’s the essay to prepare, perhaps the single most intimidating feature of the Common App.
The essay is a really significant part of the process, and this is where a lot of kids need help. This is what gets your foot in the door. Everyone has top scores, everyone has achievements, so how else are you going to stand out? Your essay has to be your voice. It’s the one thing that gives a college admissions committee an insight into your character, your personality, your background, which they can’t see from a standardized test, or your grades, or even letters of recommendation, although they do help a lot.
Universities in the UK, however, are not as focused on the essay and achievements other than academic. UK applications, by the way, are also centralized. UCAS is their version of the Common App. Instead of an essay, students are required to draft a personal statement, which reveals, more than anything, the passion they have for the subject they intend to major in. But that’s also not that easy to write, and again, that’s where a consultant comes in, to help streamline and guide the process. You might be talking about something academic, but YOU – your essence – still has to be communicated.
It’s not cheap, I know, to hire a consultant. It’s cheaper here than in the US, where fees can run up to $20,000. Fees are considerably more reasonable here, and it’s not a frivolous thing to get a consultant. The value-add of a consultant comes in most importantly in the essay stage, helping to shape and edit it for each and every college applied to. The consultant understands what colleges are looking for, and also understands the structure of the application process.
It’s a lot of money, but it could be a worthwhile investment, especially if the end result is your child getting into a top international university.”
Jennifer Um can be reached at 0917-8882400 or via email at [email protected]