In recent years, the university admissions process at selective universities in the U.S. 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 the institution wants to attract. Academic excellence still matters, but it is not enough to secure admission at the most competitive universities. Every fall, some students arrive at a campus that is not what they would have chosen had they known more about what it was like. 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 somewhere else. 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 students applying to universities in other countries are not able to visit those schools before they apply. An experienced, up-to-date college counselor can give firsthand impressions of the universities the student is interested in, reach out to contacts at those universities to learn more, and suggest schools the applicant may have overlooked.

I have spent decades in the field of international education, so I understand what students from other countries applying to U.S. universities need to know and what American students should know about university life overseas. I have spoken about higher education in the U.S. at universities in Europe, Asia, and Africa and worked one-on-one and in groups with applicants. As a U.S. diplomat, I took part in many Fulbright Scholarship award panels, meaning I have read hundreds of applications for graduate study support in most fields. Having visited over 50 universities in the U.S., Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, France, Belgium, Greece, Turkey, and Italy, I am able to give clients insights into what these universities are like, beyond the facts and figures you get online. As a member of three trade associations for college counselors and a graduate of UCLA Extension'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. I have done several presentations on visas, work authorizations, and the mechanics of the Student and Exchange Visitor Program.

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.