Congratulations on getting an offer from Oxbridge! At the time you were sitting opposite your interviewer in December, your chances of success at Oxford were around 1 in 3 – and about 1 in 4 at Cambridge. Now that you have an offer, it is time to make sure you get the grades to fulfill your conditional requirements and gear up for the adventure of a lifetime! Get ready for a world steeped in tradition; from matriculating at the Oxford Sheldonian1 in your sub-fusc2 uniforms to meeting the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge on their frequent visits, the two universities have a lot in store for you.

It is almost the end of the year. For those of you in grade 12, it is now down to the last stretch before submitting your US college applications as the January 1 deadline looms near. The last couple of months have been tough. Juggling school, research and exams with seemingly endless application work–choosing colleges, …

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As December draws closer, your anxiety levels are probably skyrocketing in anticipation of your interview with Oxbridge university tutors. One thing you can do to calm your nerves is to be prepared.  Here are a few tips to help you prepare for an interview with Oxbridge university tutors: 1) Don’t believe the myths: Numerous myths …

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Have you ever considered sending your child to boarding school? Historically and even today, children are enrolled in boarding schools because: Local schooling options do not match the family’s goals Families feel that the experience of boarding school builds character and makes their children more independent Because family circumstances (health, work, etc.) are such that …

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“Should I take the SAT or the ACT?” Despite many colleges adopting test-optional policies post the pandemic, we still hear this question regularly. The honest truth: It does not matter. Neither test is easier and colleges view both equally. So how are you to choose? Read on to know some similarities and differences and how …

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Recently, a worried parent approached The Red Pen, stating that, “My daughter’s school is limiting the number of US colleges to which she can apply to ten.” Our counsellor was shocked, just not in the way the parent expected. Her response was, “Ten?! That’s a lot of applications!” Until recently, applicants were satisfied with applying …

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“At Pitzer, we grapple with how many students to admit early every year. While we want to leave enough room for students who find Pitzer through the Regular Decision process, we do find that there are significant benefits to admitting students through Early Decision. Our institutional research at Pitzer shows that students who apply to …

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