TOP20 US Admissions
Gaining admission to a Top 20 university in the United States requires a unique approach, distinct from Ivy League applications. While Ivy League schools often emphasize exceptional academic performance and well-rounded achievements, Top 20 universities focus more on finding students who align closely with their individual missions, values, and strengths. At GPA Counseling, we help students craft strategic applications that highlight not only their academic prowess but also their unique personality, passions, and aspirations. By understanding the nuances of each university, we ensure our students stand out in this highly competitive group, presenting themselves as the ideal fit for their chosen schools.
Our Methodology
Personal Branding
Working with students to discover their strengths, weaknesses, passions and values, we come up with a personal branding strategy for each student to help their personal developement. Students stand out instead of blending in with the crowd.
Seamless High School Application
Each component of high school application is a separate piece of the puzzle and needs to be invested in to be unique and interesting, and when combined together must convey consistent messages according to the student's Personal Brand.
High School Selection Consulting
We research and advise students on choosing high schools that match their personality, interests, abilities and future orientation for possible university destinations.
Pioneering Career Consulting
High School options is essential to majors possibility in universities. We wants to career educate students and parents so they can have a seamless strategical approach for high school and university at the same time
Conveying "YOU" through essays and Interviews
With a team of nearly 20 Vietnamese and foreign consultants with extensive experience and education from the world's leading universities, we work closely to evoke and convey inspire and come up with ideas with students to find their own stories, thereby conveying the message "Who I am" to prestigious high schools’ admission boards. We also guide students to show their persona through in-depth interview preparation.
Developing extracurricular activities and skills
We personalize the process of guiding students to carry out extracurricular activities, not only helping students present a consistent application profile but also developing their potential skills and help them discover careers that may be suitable for them.
Roadmap
Grade 10
- Build a learning roadmap and take certification exams for the entire high school period
- Start registering and preparing for international certification exams. (SAT/ACT, IELTS/TOEFL/ Duolingo Test,..)
- Explore opportunities to participate in extracurricular activities.
- Advice on choosing study abroad destinations that meet your family’s wishes and expectations about your future study and career.
- Participate in extracurricular activities at an experiential level and in positions appropriate to your ability and experience
- Advice on choosing study abroad destinations that meet your family’s wishes and expectations about your future study and career.
- Participate in career counseling to understand career paths and develop basic understanding about the choices.
- Practice reflections
Grade 11
- Develop a clear and impressive personal brand
- Participate in career counseling at an in-depth level through appropriate research and specialized activities (internships, research, product manufacturing, specialized courses, etc,.)
- Participate in extracurricular activities at a more intensive level (participate in competitions, large scale activities or in more challenging positions,..)
- Research and practice appropriate college application tools
- Continue practicing self awareness and self reflection throughout the entire development process
- Develop leadership abilities in diverse positions and communities
- Identify suitable teachers to ask for letters of recommendation for the application process
- Practice doing university and major research that fit with interest and capacity of students and their family
- Practice writing resume for university application
Grade 12 / Application Year
- Decide on an application strategy to showcase student’s Personal Brand (May-June)
- Give instructions for effective and impressive letters of recommendation to admissions officers (August-September)
- 1:1 essay sessions with a seasoned essay counselor guiding students both in brainstorming and presenting unique ideas to complete application essays
- Creating an impressive CV that convey student’s Personal Brand. (June-October)
- Guide families to prepare accurate financial documents to maximize financial aid and scholarship opportunities. (August-October)
- Apply to university with a carefully prepared application and follow up with each additional request from applied universities. (November-January)
- Consult on university decision after receiving results (December-April)
- Guide students and family on visa application (April-July)
- Guide students on procedures after being admitted and preparation for university with necessary skills classes (May-July)
Our Mentors
Our Students' Success
Our Community Speaks
Nguyen Le Vy Thao
Centre College
“The process of applying to American universities is a significant process of growth process for me. Not only did I discover myself, I also gradually became aware of my ambitions and learned how to strive. Do your best, get up after each fall to pursue that ambition.”
Tran Ngo Quang Anh
Colgate
The three words I would use to describe GPA are: dedicated, comprehensive and warm! The last word may not seem very relevant at first, but it is the adjective that I find most true when talking about GPA. I think finding GPA was a fate. My parents are both perfectionists and very careful, but the decision to choose GPA was made quite quickly. The reason is not only because the cost is relatively suitable for my family, but the first impression GPA leaves on the whole family is very great! It was a sense of peace of mind sending me to GPA! I think it was GPA’s openness, sincerity, and professionalism that convinced my family and myself to choose this place. And even now, those things are still completely true to me.
Thai Vu Duc Anh
Yale University
Throughout the application preparation process, the part that I found most difficult was when I had to come up with ideas and write more than 60 essays to apply to universities. It requires me to spend a lot of time reflecting my experience, my personal values, the matters I care about and my future vision. Ms. Hien, Mr. Sam as well as the members of the GPA team have supported me a lot in finding those values, creating a strategy to build my brand through essays, and finding my voice through writing. I still remember Mr.Sam once told me: “I can help you improve the story line and sentences, but the story must originate deep from your soul, my experience, and values I embrace”. I feel very grateful to have the opportunity to be guided by Ms. Hien, Mr. Sam & the GPA team to succeed in the 2024 US undergraduate admission season!
Ho Le Vy
Vassar College
GPA counselors are enthusiastic, non-judgmental, and motivational. After got rejected from ED1 option, I disappeared for several weeks without contacting anyone, but when I came back, GPA show sympathy then help me regain my spirit. I really like the spirit of student centered approach from GPA.
