Our approach
An insider’s view of top university admissions |
Loren Griffith has deep expertise in both US and UK universities. He was Director of International Strategy at Oxford University in the UK for seven years (2010-2017) and holds degrees from three top US universities: an undergraduate degree from Yale, a Master’s degree from Princeton, and a law degree from Stanford. He knows what it takes to get into the world’s best schools, and what those universities are looking for. He also understands the different strengths of the US and UK higher education systems—and the different attributes they are looking for in the admissions process.
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A focus on international students |
Most college counsellors are focused on working with domestic students: US-based counsellors usually work with US students, for example. But international students need particular help in navigating university admissions processes that can be daunting and not transparent. Loren was focused on the international side of student outreach at Oxford, and gave admissions talks to students around the world. An International Baccalaureate graduate, he is familiar with the IB, A-levels, the SATs and Advanced Placements (APs), the Chinese Gao Kao, the Indian ISC and CBSE, the German Abitur, and so on.
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Individualized counsel |
Loren works closely with you to understand your academic and personal passions and to develop an ambitious and realistic strategy for university admissions. School-based guidance counsellors often have hundreds of students to work with, and usually have to split their time between a number of different roles. Many universities use international agents paid based on the number of student they can bring in—these agents work for the institution and not for the student. A good advisor can work with you to develop an admissions approach that fits who you are and what you want to achieve, to build a strong CV, and to create compelling, polished applications.
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A COMPREHENSIVE, long-term Approach |
The transition from secondary school to university should be a time of exciting new possibility: a first chance to take a big step into the wider world. But for many students it is fraught with self-doubt and confusion. To reduce the stress and maximize your chances of success, there is no substitute for thoughtful advice from a trusted coach. Loren's holistic approach begins with taking the time to get to know you, what you’re passionate about, and what matters to you in choosing a university. Together we can work on both
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Input from an elite network of advisors |
Loren will be your main coach and advisor throughout the process. But he will draw on others at crucial stages in your admissions journey. Your personal statement outline and draft will be read by a second colleague who attended one or more top global universities (such as Yale, Stanford, Princeton, and Oxford), and in some cases has been involved in university admissions. Where useful, Loren will also tap into his wider network of hundreds of top university graduates, stretching across multiple countries, a wide range of fields, and dozens of top universities, to unearth expertise relevant to your specific background and interests.
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