Higher Education, University and College
For Parents: Why and what you can achieve with personalised bespoke approach to careers guidance and university preparation for your child
In the last ten years Ivy League Offers (some are multiple per student) have been made to:
“We are so pleased. She got into Durham for her BSc in Business Management.”
Parent of a girl in India who had come to boarding school in the UK for Sixth Form.
“Thank you for all your help with C.”
Mrs C whose daughter had 100% acceptance rate from universities in the UK but has chosen to go to Europe. September 2025.
‘’The Summer School is going very well and. E is enjoying herself. Good call for this one!”
Parent of a girl who is moving to Charterhouse for her Sixth Form in 2025 and who attended a Life Sciences Summer School at St Andrew’s in July 2025.
‘’We are so pleased that S went to Johns Hopkins for her Summer School. It has given us an additional insight into what she needs to consider on her Gap Year when applying to college in the US’.”
Parent of an A level student who is applying for pre- med courses in the US.
For Parents: Why and what you can achieve with personalised bespoke approach to careers guidance and university preparation for your child
A bespoke approach to your child’s university preparation particularly during their busy adolescent life is a positively impactful way of helping them to help themselves.
Your child will take ownership of the process as they are the recipient of the investment you are making in their future and are fully vested in the voyage of discovery and action.
Time is carved out for your child to ensure that sufficient consideration of all opportunities and action to achieve them is allowed for in a calm and measured manner.
The practice understands the demands on school time and what that means for you as a busy parent and how your child needs support to navigate the rigours of international and national competition that exist year on year for US college and university preparation
Key elements of your child’s tailored programme would likely to include the building of a CV exploring planning, subject discovery, accessing a super- curriculum and demonstrating this over time, application for work experience and internships, attendance at university and college fairs, planning for PSAT, ACT or SAT tests where appropriate, essay preparation and liaison with your child’s school regarding letters of recommendation and advice about scholarship applications, ED/ EA or regular decision, and a wide variety of planning and teaching your child about leadership and how to navigate change with grit, resilience and a sense of humour.
FAQs by parents and answers by Elizabeth Clarke
How do you work with my child’s school?
Once you have given written permission and introduced me to your child’s tutor or if your child is boarding, his Housemaster, then I can connect with them as to when I can visit and liaise with the appropriate staff as and when needed.
How are you best contacted?
Nearly all parents like WhatsApp but it will depend upon your preference and your time zone.
Do you give us regular updates on my child’s progress and action points?
Of course. These are both verbal and in writing and you are kept fully informed of all key decisions as your child navigates the application process, requirements, timelines and choices of both courses and institutions.
Where do your recent students go to for university?
All over the world. Recent students whom I have worked with have chosen the University of Toronto to read Maths and Physics, IE Madrid to read Business Management, University of Durham to read Classics, University of Durham to read Business Management, Columbia University, Brown University, offers also have included Royal Holloway, London, University of Bath, University of Bristol, University College London, St Andrew’s, University of Edinburgh. Business at Newcastle and Exeter. Maths and STEM feature strongly but also does Classics and Geography.
Can you prepare my child for the US?
I can and I do. Currently I have applicants preparing for Columbia, NYU, and liberal arts and sciences colleges such as Swarthmore and Weslyn. The courses of key interest will be business and STEM heavy as part of the preparation for Med School in the US.
Can my child prepare for both the US and Oxbridge?
Yes, your child can make an Oxbridge and a US college/s application. Ideally, it requires planning several academic years ahead of the final school year’s application. If this is not factored in, then a US application would be limited by college number and type to allow your child who will be ‘time light’, to be successful. For Oxbridge, your child will need to have developed a love of subject, can demonstrate it and will spend all their time reading in preparation for the application which will include an interview if the test and UCAS form is considered strong enough.
When do you recommend, we start university preparation?
Ideally when your child turns thirteen. Whilst this seems very young, the early start enables decisions to be made in a calm and carefully thought through manner and preparation for intellectual, sporting, artistic or dramatic routes can be achieved by building foundations for learning, development and experience which is relevant and comprehensive.
What are the key areas of preparation that your programme will cover for my child?
Building of a CV, to include Clubs and Societies in school and developing your child’s interests locally, nationally and internationally in a competitive and collaborative environment.
Exploring and planning subject discovery, accessing a super- curriculum and demonstrating this over a sustained period. This applies to areas of study from Law to Medicine, STEM courses to Business and Entrepreneurship, Fashion Design, Art and Sport.
Creation of video footage and other portfolio requirements where appropriate.
Application for work experience and internships, summer schools and online courses
Attendance at university and college fairs,
Planning for PSAT, ACT or SAT tests where appropriate. Other tests may include UCAT, TMUA, ESAT etc.
Essay preparation and liaison with your child’s school regarding letters of recommendation and advice about scholarship applications,
For the US, ED/ EA or regular decision, and a wide variety of planning and teaching your child about leadership and how to navigate change with grit, resilience and a sense of humour.
For Oxbridge, Imperial, the London School of Economics, specifically related preparation that will include the interview.
Learning to document soft skills and self-evaluation and openness to use oracy, aural and analytical and statistical skills where appropriate.
Planning a Gap Year
