When it comes to choosing the right university course for your child, knowing where to start can be incredibly difficult. Then, when you add into the equation the international university course available internationally, things get very tricky. This is exactly where Expat Student comes in.
With years of experience across the UK, Europe and Canada, our counsellors help you and your child make an informed decision about the course they embark upon for the next 3 or 4 years of their life. This is an important decision as the course they chose will ultimately direct their future career path, which is exactly why we guide you during every step of the process.
Getting to know your child and their preferences
Our first discussions begin with you, the parents. We talk to you about your wishes for your child and important aspects of the process such as the costs involved for university courses in different countries and whether this aligns with the available budget. Studying abroad is a big financial investment in your child’s future, one which needs careful consideration and expert guidance.
After our discussions with you, our work with your child starts and we commence by focusing on their preferences and exploring questions such as: what are they currently studying? What are their current grades like and are they a true reflection of their abilities? What do they enjoy the most? And of course, the most important being what do they want to do in their future career?
This stage of discovery is absolutely crucial to the whole process and therefore takes time which is why we encourage parents to make contact with us 18 months before their child is due to start at university. It’s important to understand the deadlines; necessary application process for different countries and individual universities; and to consider whether additional evidence, and therefore more training, is needed such as IELTS or Toefl exam certificates to prove your child’s level of English.
Of course, every student is different. Some have a strong sense of what they want to study and the country where they want to study but they are unaware of their options to do so so we begin focusing on courses. With a number of things in mind such as your child’s academic level, their preferences about campus universities, the length of the course and your budget, we begin to carefully collate a list of suggested course options from universities that we would recommend.
Because we don’t act as agents for any universities, we base our recommendations on the reputation of the university, including its ranking worldwide, and where we feel would best suit your child – not on who will pay us a commission. We are not led by financial incentives from the universities but by the right course for the student, whether that be in the UK, Europe or further afield such as Canada or Hong Kong.
Other students may start with an idea about what they would like to study or a particular university that they have heard of but nothing especially concrete. This means we take the opportunity to explore their interests and by showing them different options, work out what will provide them with the best opportunities. In the past, students have come to us liking the idea of one course and then through our exploration together, decided upon something they are more suited to or which gives them better prospects in the future.
As an example, a few years ago a student expressed a keen interest in the theatre, as she took an active role behind the scenes in her spare time, and she felt she wanted to pursue this at undergraduate level. When we began to explore this further and discuss her reasoning, she realised that actually it would be of greater benefit to enrol on a broader course which would give her a strong foundation, such as business, and then apply this to theatre and the arts in her master’s degree at a later stage.
She recently wrote to us thanking us for our role in her decision to study International Management at Warwick. We are now planning her Master’s application with her to Bocconi’s MSc Economics and Management in Arts, Media and Entertainment.
University applications… each one is different
Through discussions together, we narrow down the courses to those your son or daughter would like to apply for and begin to work on the application phase. Thanks to Expat Student’s years of expertise, we know exactly how to prioritise where to start in order to not miss any deadlines.
A large number of universities require personal statements or letters of motivation so we begin working on these together and ask students to spend time reflecting and adding their own ideas to it between our calls. For many universities, personal statements form a large part of the application – universities in the UK for instance use this alongside a student’s predicted grades to inform decisions about entry – so we ensure that what a student submits provides a thoughtful and reflective account of where they are currently and how their experience and knowledge make them the perfect fit for the course they wish to study.
A number of universities require entrance exams to prove a student’s ability in a certain area. For some, this forms a university specific test which they complete online and for others it involves a test where they must visit a test centre. Whilst we cannot personally prepare a student for entrance exams, such as the LNAT or the Bocconi test, we can provide details of support available, or put you in contact with tutors where needed, ensuring students are effectively prepared and meet any necessary deadlines.
Some universities require students to provide a curriculum vitae, which we can create for them, or a video recording in answer to a question or as a reflection on a certain subject alongside their application. Having successfully guided a large number of students through this, we know exactly what the universities are looking for so guide the students through practice and preparation to ensure they present themselves positively.
But, possibly the most daunting of all aspects of the application for young people is… when a university invites them for an interview! Even as adults, the prospect of an interview can be nerve-wracking but this is even truer for young people who have little experience and no idea about what to expect. By working together and role-playing potential questions and suitable responses over multiple sessions, we settle your child’s nerves and make sure they are able to show off their true self!
Tracking applications
Our support doesn’t end once the applications have been successfully submitted. Whilst we wait patiently for the universities to respond, we ensure your child keeps on top of university emails regarding further information, possible offers or important deadlines. Then, when we have received all of the responses, we guide them and you through the best option and how to proceed with accepting the offer.
After this, we remain on hand to provide advice and point you in the right direction regarding how to organise all of the other considerations when it comes to sending children abroad to study, including: accommodation, bank accounts and visa applications.
Results day
For the majority of young people, their offer remains conditional upon them meeting certain expectations at the end of their high school studies. So upon results day, we help ensure your child’s place is secured at their chosen university. If they meet the grade requirements of their offer, excellent news! If there are any differences between the expectations of the offer they received and the grades they achieved, we contact the universities and see if they will still accommodate them. In the unfortunate event that they won’t, we contact their other choices and find them a suitable alternative that they are happy with.
Our students (or ex-Expat Students as we like to call them) often stay in contact with us, letting us know how they are doing on their course and allowing us to put them in contact with current applicants to the same school, to share their university experience.
If you feel that Expat Student could be a good fit to help your child with their higher education applications, reach out at contact@expatstudent.fr to fix a first free, no obligation call to discuss your plans and how we can help.
Tel France: +33 (0) 1 34 84 70 94 / +33 (0) 6 89 08 17 74/
Tel USA +1 832 744 9249
