Our Admissions Formula outlines up to seven components critical for success in applying to top universities globally. Most universities require at least the first five components:

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Application Form(s):

‍ Accuracy and timely submission are crucial. While the UK has a single UCAS portal for up to five universities, the US system is more complex, often requiring separate applications for each institution. Forms request personal details, educational history, past grades (e.g., GCSE, MYP), future formal exam details (e.g., AP, A-Level, IB, CBSE), referee details, essay copies, CV, predicted grades, funding information, employment history, and language proficiency evidence. Universities may also ask about health conditions and family financial situations, which can offer contextual benefits to applicants who have overcome adversity or come from certain demographics.

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CV (Curriculum Vitae):

This summarises a student's academic and non-academic achievements. A world-class CV takes significant time to build, ideally starting at least 24 months before application deadlines. Quality trumps quantity; focusing on two or three deeply engaged activities that align with the applicant's narrative is more effective than numerous unrelated ones.

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Correctly Written Essay(s):

Essays are a primary means for universities to learn about an applicant's motivations and achievements. A main essay is often supplemented by additional essays, particularly for US universities like Harvard or the University of Pennsylvania. These require significant time and effort, with successful applicants often going through 15 to 17 drafts.

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Transcript (Achieved and Predicted Grades):

Strong grades are paramount. Achieved grades reflect past academic performance (e.g., GCSE, high school grades, SAT, AP, A-Level, IB). Predicted grades, often required by UK universities, depend on teacher assessment and can be influenced by a student's relationship with their teachers.

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Teacher Reference(s):

References are a powerful way to validate achievements and make an applicant's story more believable. Building strong relationships with teachers over time, informing them of your goals and activities, is essential for securing a compelling reference.

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Extra Exam(s):

These may include language proficiency tests (e.g., IELTS, TOEFL), subject-specific exams (e.g., for Oxford's oversubscribed subjects), or standardised tests like the SAT or ACT, primarily for American universities.

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Extra Interview(s):

While most top universities do not interview, some invite pre-screened applicants for either informal discussions or serious academic assessments. Preparation is key for these interviews, especially for academic ones (e.g., Imperial College London, Oxbridge).

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The Importance of Extracurricular Activities

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For selective universities, merely excelling in school is often insufficient. Extracurricular activities (ECAs) are voluntary pursuits outside the core curriculum that demonstrate a student's initiative, passion, and commitment beyond academics. While paid summer schools at prestigious universities (like Oxford or Stanford) are a common misconception for boosting applications, they are often seen as "pay-to-play" and may even be stigmatised by admissions officers. Instead, free or highly competitive, academically serious summer programmes are highly beneficial.

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Valuable extracurricular activities that truly stand out often involve creating rather than just consuming.

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Essay Competitions and Olympiads:

‍ Often free to enter and require only time and energy.

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Unpaid Summer Schools:

Particularly outreach programmes for underprivileged students, such as Oxford's unique summer school, which are highly competitive and impressive.

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Content Creation:

‍ Starting a blog, social media account, or podcast on a subject of interest demonstrates deep engagement and research.‍

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Creating or Joining Societies:

Establishing a new society or joining an existing one, especially for academic purposes, like inviting academics for hybrid online conferences, showcases leadership and initiative.

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Online Courses:

‍ Free online courses from leading universities (e.g., Harvard, Stanford) on platforms like edX.org demonstrate independent learning and can be mentioned in personal statements. These are series of lectures often requiring work, promoting both creation and learning.

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Academic Internships:

Cold-emailing professors for remote assistance with their academic work can lead to valuable internship experiences.

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Entrepreneurship Projects:

Starting a simple business, like a lemonade stand or an online service, demonstrates initiative and problem-solving skills.

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Coding Activities:

‍ Learning to code and creating an app or website to solve a community problem can be very impressive.

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The key is to select activities that genuinely reflect one's passion and align with their academic and career goals, focusing on depth and impact rather than mere participation.

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Guiding Students to Global Success

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A&J is a university admissions and tutoring that aims to help students secure places at the world's best universities. We work with students from over 20 countries, including those in the UK, USA, Europe, Canada, and Asia, preparing them for undergraduate and Master's degrees. 

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A&J offers various programmes, from one-off consultations to comprehensive programmes lasting one or two years. We also provide group courses and one-on-one tutoring for exam preparation, interview preparation, and essay writing. Our approach is described as demanding yet realistic, designing schedules that cover all components of the admissions process.

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Our effectiveness is underscored by its royal recognition, having won the 2024 King's Award for Enterprise for outstanding growth in international sales. Students praise A&J for their comprehensive support, including exam and interview preparation, strategy design, and mentorship, which has led to acceptances at institutions such as Oxford, Imperial College London, UCLA, London School of Economics, and Columbia University.

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