When applying for university, some of us simply mass apply and pray that one of them responds.
Others, however, pay up to $15,000 a year to get help with their university applications.
Among this pool of individuals include top students from top schools.
Some Pay Up to $15,000 For Help with University Applications
According to The Straits Times, 19-year-old Megan Yap secured admission to Cornell University.
She worked with college admissions consultations from Singapore firm IvyPrep to refine her application essays.
Ms Yap, who got 42 out of 45 points for her International Baccalaureate diplomate programme, intends to pursue Computer Science at Cornell.
Despite being a top-scorer with a thriving Instagram business, the Malaysian chose to pay for help with her university applications.
She said, “They [IvyPrep] helped me understand how to represent myself. Many students like me don’t know how to pitch themselves.”
According to four college admissions consultancies who spoke with The Straits Times, these firms see around 150 to 300 students through each application cycle.
Some students begin refining their resume before graduating from junior college or polytechnic.
Many begin boosting their portfolios from the young age of 14.
Some firms like PrepZone Academy even provide Math Olympiad Enrichment classes for students in Primary 2 through Primary 6.
Just a Case of Kiasu?
In 2023, Singapore-based American actor Allan Wu shared that his 18-year-old daughter Sage secured places in both Princeton and Stanford universities.
The damage? Over $10,000 to Wu’s wallet.
According to Ms Quinn Koh, country manager for college admissions consulting firm Crimson Education in Singapore, Sage was “already a star student” with a good portfolio.
Why would a stellar student pay extra to get into universities?
Wu said that while Sage could have gotten into her dream university herself, he wanted to do everything he could to help his daughter.
He told The Straits Times, “When you apply to some of the top schools in the world, you’re competing against the very best students not just from the UK, US or Singapore – they could come from anywhere in the world. It’s about that extra, extra edge or that extra, extra oomph you could have.”
How College Admissions Coaching Works
According to Crimson Education’s website, coaching involves explaining what admissions officers are looking for.
Crimson Education’s Academic Advisors also help to review their client’s university applications based on their strengths and interests.
Furthermore, they give recommendations on improving a student’s portfolio, including sourcing out for activities and internships in line with their client’s goals.
For instance, Crimson Education’s mentor network helped Sage secure a research internship to boost her portfolio.
Notably, advisors do not write essays for clients.
They help students brainstorm, refine their applications and set deadlines to allow their clients to focus on other important commitments.
According to The Straits Times, Ms Yap applied to Cornell while completing her final examinations.
However, her advisors’ deadlines helped her juggle both commitments comfortably.
The Difficulty of Securing a Place in a Prestigious University
Consulting firms told The Straits Times that clients usually aim for the top 20 universities in the United States and the top 15 universities in the United Kingdom.
Some even set their sights on law and medicine at the National University of Singapore (NUS) and medicine at Nanyang Technological University (NTU).
Paying a hefty sum for help with university applications is not unique to Singapore.
In an interview with The Straits Times, 64-year-old Mr Viral Doshi, a college admissions consultant who charges up to $600 for a single consultation, said he sees clients in four other cities besides the United States.
His clients fly from China, Japan, and the Philippines to see him.
He said, “For every 100 applicants, 80 are disappointed, and 20 are happy.”
He noted that since admissions depend heavily on good grades, Singapore students have an advantage in US admissions.
However, acceptance rates for some prestigious universities are decreasing.
For instance, Boston University used to have an acceptance rate of 52% in 2005.
Now, Boston’s acceptance rate is only 11%.
So yes, university applications nowadays are no joke.
With the shift to focus more on holistic education, many believe a degree from a “prestigious” university is no longer a one-way ticket to success.
However, a Wall Street Journal study showed that, on average, graduates from elite schools still make more money.
In fact, of Forbes’ most powerful people, 55.9% of powerful women and 85.5% of powerful men attended elite institutions.
Ms Linda Teo, a country manager of staffing company ManpowerGroup Singapore, told The Straits Times, “Regardless of their field, Ivy League graduates are more likely to progress faster than their peers in their careers due to their school’s alumni network.
“This is because they can access more opportunities that can help boost their careers.”
What about those who can’t afford to pay such extravagant fees?
Admissions consultants told The Straits Times that they are aware that their services could increase inequity.
Thus, several firms have scholarships for those who cannot afford it.
Some firms even offer discounts and other ways of paying off the fees to those in need.
However, further details on the latter were not given.