How to prepare early for university abroad
"If you want to get into a top university abroad, starting early is absolutely essential." That is what Ada, who was admitted to Princeton, told us. Acceptance rates at the top schools sit between 15% and 30%. Students who start too late run out of time for activities that matter, end up choosing a major at random, and write their essays in a rush. The students who make it into top universities start early, with a well-organized strategy.
- The 3 reasons why you need to start early
- How each year of high school (9th through 12th grade) helps you in the admissions process
- Which choices truly matter: subjects, extracurriculars, projects
- How to build a simple, realistic plan, no matter what grade you are in
- BONUS: A personalized application plan + a free 1:1 session with an Upgrade mentor
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What you'll learn in 60 minutes
Why you should start early
The 3 key reasons why students who start early reach top universities, while those who start late miss out on opportunities.
Steps to solid preparation
The 8 essential steps of admissions prep and how to put them in a logical order, no matter what grade you are in right now.
Session with a mentor
A free one-on-one session with an Upgrade mentor for a personalized plan: built around your profile and your target countries and universities.
Who's presenting the webinar
A graduate of the dual bachelor's in politics and economics at Sciences Po Paris and Freie Universität Berlin, now pursuing a master's in communication. She represented Romania at the European Commission in a Youth Policy Dialogue and co-founded a political NGO in Romania.
Insights you can apply right away
Why early matters
Top universities look for consistency. The earlier you start, the more time you have to build a credible story.
Year by year
What to do in 9th grade, what to add in 10th, what to build on in 11th, what to wrap up in 12th. One clear plan.
The choices that count
Which subjects to take, which extracurriculars to join, which personal projects to build: the decisions that set you apart.
Your plan
How to build a simple, realistic plan, tailored to your grade and your goals.
What students who've been through it say
Let's build your admissions plan together
Join the webinar and get a personalized plan, plus a free 1:1 session with an Upgrade mentor.
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