The first thing any college counselor will tell you is that no one college is right for everyone, so why should one college admissions process be one size fits all? At An Education Abroad, we offer an alternative to the holistic approach used by elite colleges around the US, instead focusing almost exclusively on academic performance. As a result, decisions are far from transparent, and factors like legacy and athletic ability matter more than a desire to learn.
Even at those places here in the US where academics supposedly matter most, endless supplements to personal statements, machinations about demonstrated interest, and questions of affordability quickly turn the entire process into one of migraine-inducing anxiety.
We think that academics and a desire to learn are the most important factors when it comes to whether someone should get in to a given program or not. Of course, not everyone feels that way, and that’s okay. But for those who want to focus on academics, or at the very least have a more transparent application experience, we’re happy to offer a solution.
We think that tuition and fees have skyrocketed, especially for families that are faced with a steep Expected Family Contribution (EFC), and that having to pay for an extra year of general education courses is disingenuous.
Most of all, we think that in an increasingly global society, an international education is not just a luxury, but is instead going to set graduates apart in the twenty-first century.
The Least You Need To Know
Here in the United States, admissions to college, especially elite colleges, is often holistic. That means that there are a variety of factors weighed, in addition to grades and test scores. Everything from extracurricular activities to your family’s background can matter.
Elsewhere, elite university admissions is almost always based on academic performance. If you have the grades and the test scores, you’ve got a great shot of getting in at places like Oxford or Cambridge. In fact, you’ll just have to convince the admissions committee with your personal statement of one thing: why you want to study what you want to study.
And maybe you don’t want Oxford or Cambridge. Maybe you just want someplace where your child can thrive. We can help with that too, with an admissions process that focuses on finding the perfect fit, and an application process that focuses on successful applications to dream schools rather than a scattered approach with multiple supplements that end up adding dozens of hours of stress to your child’s life.
Obviously, this approach isn’t for everyone, and that’s okay. Again, no ‘one size fits all’ solution exists. But if you have a sense of adventure, a desire to see the world, and think you’ve got what it takes, you might be suited for An Education Abroad.