Guides
Practical guides from the Visible Growth application system: timelines, essays, research and summer programs, and multi-country applications. Each ends with a FAQ.
- standardised tests for US college applications
- test-optional strategy
- SAT or ACT for US universities
Standardised tests for US college applications: which to sit, when, and whether to submit
What each standardised test contributes to a US application, how to decide whether to submit a score, and what our twelve cases recorded, including two with none.
Read the guide- Ivy League admissions
- highly selective college applications
- what Ivy League universities look for
Ivy League admissions: what a highly selective application has to establish
What an Ivy League application has to establish beyond grades, the five things our twelve published admission cases record, and the order the work is done in.
Read the guide- GPA and course selection for US college applications
- course rigour
- high school transcript for US universities
GPA and course selection for US college applications: what the academic file actually contains
What a US application's academic file contains, why one GPA number is not the file, and how our published cases recorded course rigour across A-Level, IB and AP.
Read the guide- extracurricular activities for college applications
- Common App activities list
- activity list for US college applications
Extracurricular activities for college applications: ten slots, one thread
What the ten Common App activity slots have to prove, how to rank and write them, and what the activity records in our published admission cases contain.
Read the guide- letters of recommendation for US college applications
- who to ask for a college recommendation letter
- counselor recommendation
Letters of recommendation for US college applications: who to ask, when, and what to give them
Who writes a US college recommendation letter, which teacher to ask and why, what to hand each recommender, and what our published cases actually submitted.
Read the guide- college interview prep
- US college interview questions
- alumni interview preparation
College interview prep: how to be the same person your application describes
Who conducts US college interviews, four question families, how answers stay consistent with the essays and activity list, and a rehearsal plan for the season.
Read the guide- US college list
- school list advisor
- reach match and safety schools
US college list: how to choose reach, match and safety schools by fit
How a US college list is built: the three-way fit analysis, what reach, match and safety really mean, and the school or major you actually apply to.
Read the guide- supplemental essays
- Why Major essay
- how to write supplemental essays
Supplemental essays: how to write ten school-specific answers without repeating yourself
What supplemental essays ask, the three question families, how ten answers for one school stay distinct, and a per-school workflow for October to December.
Read the guide- application strategy
- early decision strategy
- early action vs early decision
Application strategy for US universities: how to choose between ED, EA and RD
How to choose between ED, EA, REA and RD: what each round binds you to, how to pick the one binding application, and the Grade 12 autumn sequence.
Read the guide- how to choose a US admissions consultant
- US admissions consulting
- college admissions consulting
How to choose a US admissions consultant: ten questions to ask before you sign
What to check before signing with a US admissions consultant: who works with your child each week, whether the plan has one thread, and how pricing and access work.
Read the guide- US undergraduate application timeline
- US college application planning
- applying to American universities
US undergraduate application timeline: a three-year roadmap from Grade 10
How to plan a US undergraduate application from Grade 10: semester-by-semester tasks, test and course pacing, ED/EA/RD dates, and what a mentor does at each stage.
Read the guide- research projects and summer programs
- US college admissions profile building
- summer programs for high school students
Research projects and summer programs for US admissions: how to choose
How to choose research projects, selective summer programs, competitions and personal projects for US admissions: what each proves, when to do it, real combinations.
Read the guide- college application essay
- Common App essay
- personal statement for US universities
College application essay guide: from an activity list to a growth narrative
How to write US college application essays: what the main essay, supplements and Why School essays each do, a four-step method, and real themes from admitted students.
Read the guide- applying to US, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore universities
- UK university application from China
- Hong Kong undergraduate admissions international students
Applying to US, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore universities at the same time
Applying to the US, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore at once: how the four systems differ in materials, essays, deadlines and logic, and how one set of evidence serves all.
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