Navigating elite university admission: How personalised guidance impacts student success

The college admissions industry has, in the past, come under criticism for perpetuating elitism and exacerbating inequalities. The criticisms range from high fees for services to perpetuating the divide between privileged students who can pay for an optimised application and those who cannot.

Brad Latilla-Campbell, Harvard alumnus and Country Manager of college admissions consulting company, Crimson Education Africa/SA, highlights their emphasis on a student’s individual talents and passions, focusing on authenticity, and increasing the integrity of the process in an industry which is not always known for it.

Latilla-Campbell points to the impact of personalised support throughout the admissions process as transformative for students, helping them navigate the complexities of the process with confidence and clarity. It allows students to receive guidance tailored to their academic achievements, extracurricular involvements, and career aspirations, making the process less overwhelming and more focused. With Crimson students making up nearly 2% of students admitted to Ivy-League Brown, Columbia, Harvard, and the University of Pennsylvania, it clearly works. Crimson’s decade-short rise from Harvard dorm room to $500m dollar, global company is showcased on the front pages of The Wall Street Journal and among other eye-watering admission stats highlights the rising demand for elite college admission support in the face of single-digit admission rates. “At Harvard, 23% of freshmen who started in fall 2023 reported working with a private admissions counsellor”.

For families, personalised admission support reduces anxiety about the complex and competitive nature of applying to top universities. Latilla-Campbell says, “the step-by-step guidance also helps students feel more confident, knowing that they have a structured plan to follow, which leads to a smoother overall experience in what is an inherently stressful period.”

Reputable admission experts are able to identify and recommend the best-fit institutions for each student, considering not just the academic offerings, but also factors such as campus culture, funding needs, and long-term career goals. This helps students and families make more informed decisions about which universities, and courses, to apply to, and ultimately attend.

For many students personalised support opens up opportunities that may not have been there previously. This support, either complementing their support at school, or filling in for it when it’s not in place or where it’s not rigorous enough for competitive university applications, is often a defining factor in ensuring that students are positioned for success, not just in getting into the best-fit university or college but in feeling prepared for the challenges ahead, “The consistent guidance from someone who understands the student’s journey makes a world of difference in terms of emotional and academic support throughout the application process.” says Latilla-Campbell.

Crimson Education’s students have received over 1000 offers to the Ivy League and almost 300 to Oxbridge, an acceptance rates up to four times higher than the global average. In addition to Crimson’s fee paying students, Crimson’s Access Opportunity Programme (CAO), has supported high potential, high-need students to secure 57 Ivy League acceptances, including 5 Harvard, 5 Stanford, and 2 MIT, and over $48 million in financial aid. Crimson’s Access Programme and their partners in the U.K. support state school students from areas with low progression rates to university; low household incomes; free school meals, first generation applicants, and refugee and asylum-seeking students, with successful students to date receiving spots at Oxford, Cambridge, UCL, Durham, KCL, and more. 

About Post Author

LINDO MNISI

Lindo Mnisi is a qualified and experienced journalist and communicator, having worked in some of SA's reputable newsrooms. He is the editor of Online Magazine, a platform renowned for its comprehensive coverage of South African content. Online Magazine is a trusted source of information across a diverse array of topics, including business, property, education, music, television, film, travel, fashion, food, sports, and tech.

https://www.onlinemag.co.za

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