In recent years, the university admissions process at selective universities in the US has become more competitive and more opaque. More students are applying for roughly the same number of open positions. In 2000, for example, Brown University admitted 16% of students applying for a place in its first-year class. In 2023, that was down to 5.1%. The same trend is evident at the top public universities. In 2001, the University of California, Berkeley admitted 24% of applicants. In 2023, that figure decreased to 11.6%. These schools generally practice “holistic admissions.” This means the admissions offices are looking beyond an applicant’s grade point average and test scores to consider other factors. These can include where the applicant is from, what they plan to study, and what types of students they are trying to attract to campus. Academic excellence still matters, but it isn’t enough to secure admission. Every year, there are students who find that they have been accepted at any of the schools where they applied. Some students regret not having applied to a broader range of schools or wish they had pitched themselves in ways that would appeal to a particular college. In other cases, successful applicants wonder if they’ve chosen the correct program or if they might have received more financial aid. Every fall, some students arrive at a campus that is not what they would have chosen if they had known more about what it was like. College counselors can answer your questions, help you create a balanced list of schools to apply to, and enable you to realize your goal of getting the degree you want from an institution that is right for you. Finally, many international students are not able to visit schools before they apply. An up-to-date college counselor can give first hand impressions of the universities the student is interested in and suggest schools they may have overlooked.

I have spent decades in the field of international education, so I understand what students applying from other countries need to know about the university system in the US. I have worked with applicants one-on-one and in groups to help students identify the schools they want to attend and line them up for success. Having visited 35 college campuses in most regions of the US, I can give you up-to-date information on what the schools are like beyond the facts and figures you get online. As a recent graduate of UCLA’s certificate program in college counseling, I am current on changes in university admissions policies, the significance of standardized tests, and financial aid programs. As a former diplomat who has been a consular officer, I am familiar with US visa regulations and with the Optional Practical Training (OPT) work authorization for some holders of the F-1 visa.

Pierce Admissions has both hourly and package rates. Please contact us for more information.

That depends. If you are applying for an undergraduate program and plan to work with a counselor, it’s best to begin at least two years before you plan to start college. If you are applying for graduate school, it is good to start between 12 and 18 months in advance of the date you plan to begin your studies. If you are looking for help with your personal statement or have questions about the process, you can get in touch during the application season itself.

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You can book your free 20 minute introductory session here.