The Red Pen announces a strategic investment from U.S. News & World Report, a globally recognised authority in education rankings and insights. This partnership enhances our ability to guide students through personalised mentorship and data-driven decision-making, ensuring they make informed choices about their future.
As we integrate U.S. News & World Report’s research, our counsellors will have access to data-driven insights and a vast network of admissions experts. This access will allow us to better guide students and families.
Our counselling process now includes the most recent and detailed information on universities worldwide, giving students an edge when choosing their right-fit institution.
With access to the latest data on shifting trends, we will gain clarity on what universities prioritise—whether it’s a stronger emphasis on research, leadership, or interdisciplinary skills—helping students make strategic academic and extracurricular choices early in their journey.
Leveraging detailed data on university selection criteria and historical admissions patterns, we can help students optimise their applications—fine-tuning their essays, recommendation letters, and overall narrative—to maximise their chances of acceptance.
The partnership with U.S. News & World Report brings new opportunities to enhance our expertise, expand our reach, and elevate the standards of guidance we provide to students and families.
Despite the exciting changes, our daily operations will proceed as usual, ensuring that our core services and client interactions remain seamless and uninterrupted.
We remain focused on delivering the high-quality, personalised counselling that has always been our hallmark.
The Red Pen will continue to help students find universities that match their academic interests, career goals, learning preferences, and aspirations. Our guidance will not be solely rankings-based.
Dr. Kim Dixit and Namita Mehta will remain at the helm, guiding The Red Pen with the same dedication and leadership you’ve always experienced. Neil Maheshwari, CFO & COO of U.S. News, has been added to The Red Pen’s Board of Directors, subject to regulatory approvals.
As an independent journalistic organisation for more than 90 years, U.S. News & World Report is the trusted home for in-depth and exclusive insights on education for students worldwide. This investment will not affect U.S. News’s independent evaluations and rankings of colleges and universities.
The Red Pen will continue offering expert guidance on global admissions, including the US, UK, Canada, Europe, Asia, and India, while integrating valuable global insights from U.S. News.
CANDIDATE:
AN
GRE/GMAT:
Did not take
GPA:
3.43/4.0 (as per her WES evaluation)
Qualification:
BA Economics
Work Experience:
Less than six months
Admitted to:
NYU
AN aimed for an MS in Marketing in the US and the UK. The applicant was prompt in balancing the WES evaluation and other application components. However, while brainstorming the SOP we encountered a challenge. The applicant lacked sufficient work experience, which is gained through internships. They only had a two-month marketing internship in a finance company. However, as an undergraduate, the applicant was editor-in-chief of the college magazine, co-authored academic papers and hosted an Instagram series on mental health, diversity, and the LGBTQ+ community.
While storyboarding, we strategically guided the applicant to match their academic endeavours with their desire to become an inclusive impact marketer. As an editor, writer and social media content creator for diversity and inclusivity, AN developed excellent communication skills, an understanding of different people, and concise and compelling storytelling abilities. We advised the applicant to position themself as a collaborative marketing person who understood diverse needs, has problem-solving skills and was familiar with contemporary communication platforms.
AN exemplifies how storyboarding with expert counsellors can help applicants identify experiences that align with their goals. Our strategic advice proved valuable, and the applicant received offers from programmes of their choice. It reinforced the fact that transferable skills, like problem-solving, communication, collaboration and technical proficiency, are greatly valued and can compensate for work experience.
