What to do every year of high school if you want to get into a university abroad
One of the biggest mistakes students make when applying to international universities is believing that everything is decided right before senior year. In mentoring sessions, the same feeling comes up again and again: that they started too late. "If I had known in 10th grade what was coming, I would have done things completely differently." You don't have to do it all at once, but every year comes with concrete steps that, if skipped, can slow you down or even stall your application.
- How to organize each year of high school based on where you want to apply
- What kinds of extracurricular activities actually count
- How to choose between an academic, mixed, or leadership-based profile
- What the key deadlines are and how to manage them without stress
- BONUS: The "7 Steps of International Admissions" guide + a 1:1 session with a mentor
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What you'll learn in 60 minutes
Your year-by-year plan
9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade: exactly what to do each year, from activities and tests to essays and academic choices.
Academic, mixed, or leadership
3 candidate profile types: academic, mixed, and leadership-based. How to choose the one that fits you based on region and field of study.
Mentor session + guide
The "7 Steps of International Admissions" guide as a PDF, plus a free one-on-one session with an Upgrade mentor for a personalized plan.
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
Year-by-year plan
Year by year: what to prioritize in 9th grade, what to add in 10th, what to solidify in 11th, what to finalize in 12th.
Activities that count
Which extracurriculars actually add value to your application and which ones just eat up your time without helping.
Profile types
Academic (focus on grades + olympiads), mixed (a balance of academics and extracurriculars), leadership (impact + your own projects). Which one fits you?
Key deadlines
A realistic admissions calendar by region (UK, US, Europe). What you can't afford to miss at any stage of high school.
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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