Pursuing higher education abroad remains a dream for many. With fierce competition at Ivy League universities and Oxbridge, which accept only 3-7% of applicants each year, the challenge is significant.
Donna Limuel, Country Manager of Crimson Education Indonesia, emphasised the importance of education consultants like Crimson Education in helping Indonesian students gain admission to prestigious universities such as Ivy League, Stanford, Oxford, Cambridge, and University College London.
“These universities are among the top 20 in the world. In the last three years, we have successfully guided over 70 Indonesian students to gain admission to renowned universities in the US and the UK. With the right guidance, we are confident that this number will continue to grow,” said Donna at the ‘The US & UK Admissions Strategy Summit’ in Jakarta on Saturday (28/9/2024).
Harvard alumnus and Senior US and UK Admissions Strategist, George Baxter, noted that these universities are highly sought after by students worldwide.
“These top universities offer the best resources, world-class educators, extensive alumni networks, and significant career prospects. It’s no surprise that 11 of the 20 best universities in the world are located in the US and the UK,” he said.
George further discussed the trends in admissions at top universities in the United States, highlighting a continuous decline in acceptance rates. He cited the Ivy League, where the trend has fallen from 7.06% to 4.85% over the last five years.
“There are also universities that no longer require standardised tests like the SAT or ACT, meaning students’ profiles are evaluated holistically. Going forward, personal essays will play an increasingly important role in the admissions process,” George added.
Regarding admissions trends in the UK, George highlighted changes in the UCAS system, particularly concerning the Personal Statement.
“Starting next year, the format of the personal statement will change to a series of shorter, more structured essays. This will assist universities in more accurately assessing a student’s suitability for their chosen programme, similar to the admissions approach in the US. These changes will be implemented from 2025 and will not affect students applying in October 2024,” George explained.
Former Admission Officer at Oxford and Cambridge alumnus, Hannah Rowberry, added the significance of supercurriculars in the admissions processes at top universities in the UK, such as Oxford and Cambridge, in addition to students’ academic grades.
“Supercurriculars differ from extracurriculars commonly seen in the United States. Supercurriculars are activities related to academics or careers that demonstrate a deep interest in specific subjects, critical thinking abilities, and students’ academic potential,” Hannah clarified.
Crimson Education Indonesia remains committed to supporting Indonesian students in seizing educational opportunities at the best universities in the US and the UK. Crimson strives to continually enhance the prospects of Indonesian students in achieving their dreams.
About Crimson Education
Crimson Education is the world’s leading university admissions support company, guiding students to reach their highest potential and gain admission to the world’s best universities through first-class tutoring. Since its establishment in 2013, Crimson Education has helped students globally secure over 1,000 admissions to Ivy League schools, 5,500+ admissions to the top 50 universities in the United States, 306 admissions to Oxford and Cambridge, and 2,200+ admissions to the top 10 universities in the UK. Crimson Education was also named one of the 50 World’s Top EdTech Companies of 2024 by Time Magazine.