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Ethnically Turkish, but raised in Moscow and Dubai, Defne has a way with English. Two years ago, her creativity and strong time management enabled her to write the bulk of her college application essays before the start of 12th grade. Her efforts paid off. We recently caught up with her. IO: Hi Defne! Thank you for speaking with us. You’re completing your freshman year at the University of Chicago. Has it met your expectations, or was it surprising in any way? In particular,

Summer is an important time to relax and reset, but it is also a crucial time for high school students of all grades to plan and power ahead. Unless you use your summer wisely, you may find yourself time-poor and less effective in the school year ahead. What if you haven’t had time to make a plan? We have you covered. Follow the steps below to optimize your summer: Get a jump start on challenging subjects Summer is a great time to prepare for the rigors of the upcoming schoo

Yasmin is graduating from Georgetown University this May after an exciting journey of self-discovery. Find out how the British student, who grew up in Dubai, sought out great mentors on her DC campus, secured brilliant internships, and discovered how majoring in economics can lead to an impactful business career. In September, she will start working for one of the most sought-after companies in the United States. IO: It seems hard to believe that you graduated from ASD four y

Congratulations to all our students on their university acceptances! You’ve worked hard, schools have rendered their decisions, and it’s now time for you to make a choice. As you sort through your options, here are some helpful tips: Review Your Acceptances: Carefully read through your acceptance letters and any accompanying information. Review and compare the different schools and the offers. Pay close attention to any deadlines and instructions. Decline Unwanted College Of

Applying to graduate school – immediately after obtaining an undergraduate degree or after working for a few years – requires careful planning and strategic action. Applicants are expected to articulate their academic and research interests and demonstrate how their past experiences have prepared them for advanced study and an eventual career in the field. Admission to graduate programs tends to be more competitive, with fewer available spots compared to undergraduate program

When applying to college, everyone wants to know, “How can I stand out from the crowd and get admitted to my dream school?” While good grades and standardized test scores are key, a strong profile also matters. Motivated students can enhance their resumes and profiles through ‘super-curricular’ activities – pursuits that help you test your interest in a planned major or course at university. For example, if you’re interested in biology, you can intern in a lab or hospital, re

For Celeste, graduate school had always seemed like the ultimate goal that she would ‘one day’ pursue. But after a life-altering London internship in the British Parliament, she's fast-tracking her way to a masters. The British-Lebanese senior, who grew up in Dubai, will get her undergraduate degree in May and has already been accepted to her top-choice universities. IO: Hi Celeste. Thank you for taking time to talk with us. I know it’s a busy time for you with graduation in

Five short years ago, taking the SAT and ACT appeared to be an immutable component of the college application process: most colleges and universities mandated them. However, following pandemic quarantines and test access issues, nearly all schools embraced the test-optional trend. Now, once again, changes are underway. With the SAT fully transitioning to online in the US this month, the standardized testing policies of universities and colleges are in a state of flux, with so

Attending a French high school in Dubai and ethically Tunisian, Rayane wasn't planning on applying to universities in the US until his father intervened. Although he got a late start on the college application process and had to scramble a bit during the fall of 12th grade, he is now a sophomore at UCLA studying chemical engineering. IO: Hi Rayane. How are you enjoying UCLA and life in Los Angeles? Rayane: College life in LA is surreal and limitless! The university and city h