Are you University Bound?
We are.

And we believe that higher education should provide students the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. Our company was founded by independent educational consultants and international high-school guidance and careers counsellors who, as professionals and parents, have worked extensively inside a university admissions system that is complex and constantly changing. And for international students, the challenges are multiplied. Choosing the right school is a lifetime opportunity and investment. Let us help your student explore, prepare, and apply with knowledge and confidence to achieve great choices and admissions success.
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Admissions Notes
7 October 2024

It's October! Ready, Set, Go!

No, I don't mean Halloween! October is a hugely important month for so many admissions-related reasons, and the good news is that once it's over, some relief is in sight. For the UK, there are university qualifying exams, and the application deadline for medicine, veterinary science, dentistry, and Oxford and Cambridge on Oct. 15. For the Netherlands, the Studielink portal is now open and accepting applications. For the US, the fall SAT is this Saturday, and early decision and early action deadlines are now precisely one month away. The preparatory PSAT for junior-year students will also take place before month's end. We can rejoice that October also usually brings a fall holiday, when students can catch their breath, reflect on the year's opportunities and choices, and, yes, plan a night of Halloween fun.

The Junior Year Advantage

Many students equate the university hustle with senior year. But make no mistake, junior year (Y12, G11) is crucial. It’s the last full year of grades that universities see on a transcript, and so it plays a uniquely influential role in their assessment of a student’s academic aptitude and potential. It's also the time to deepen involvement in extracurricular and supercurricular activities. And it's when students should begin to reflect about university and begin their research. The more proactive students are in using their junior year to prepare for university, the less stress they will experience when the demands of senior year begin. And, most likely, their applications will be the stronger for it. Here is a blog post to help students be intentional about junior year.

Are You a Maths Person?

Of course you are, as a maths teacher friend of mine explained using this simple equation: someone who is a person plus does maths in school or somewhere else equals a maths person. A terrific 3-part podcast helps to demystify this and other questions related to the beauty and power of maths: What is it, really? What do mathematicians actually do? And is it really applicable to our everyday lives?

The mini-series, here, is smart and student-minded. It features the beloved TikToker and drag queen Kyne Santos, whose frequent math tutorials and explainers are a hit among her 1.6M followers, and who recently spoke to students at MIT. She is a podcaster and author of the weekly math newsletter The Math Queen Digest. The series is hosted by Rachel Feltman and published in the journal, Scientific American.

Our Services

We provide advising by the hour to address the needs of every family and student.

We also offer targeted packages, described below, to provide extended support and savings.

An initial consultation is free.

Building the Profile

Students considering selective schools or foreign study destinations benefit from early planning. The goal is to avoid surprises and missed opportunities, and build a profile that is competitive when application season arrives. Advising can begin pre-IB, pre-A levels, or in sophomore year to guide smart subject and extra-curricular choices and ensure a student is on-track to fulfil entry requirements down the line. This package starts with an assessment and includes several consultations at strategic points during the year to set the foundation for admissions success.

Junior Year Prep

University preparation for many students starts in junior year (G11, Y12). Students are ready to reflect on their strengths and goals, and starting to plan now will build knowledge and confidence and reduce senior-year stress later. This package provides for a sequence of consultations beginning in the fall or spring. It starts with an assessment to identify goals, and then helps the student develop an application strategy with a focus on ''fit.'' Depending on a student's needs, advising can be targeted to help define a focus and identify a course, select subjects and extra-curricular activities, explore destinations, understand entry requirements, begin research and compiling a list, brainstorm essays, and plan summers and senior year.

Building the Uni List

The list is the thing. Whether for medicine, art school, engineering, the UK, the Netherlands, the US, or elsewhere, university admissions are competitive and unpredictable. A ''smart'' list is a hedge against risk and ensures good outcomes. Building the list usually starts in the spring of junior year. It is time-consuming and tedious and demands reflection and research. It also requires strategy, since admissions trends are constantly shifting, and there is so much more to choosing a school than the name. This package is meant to strengthen student confidence by guiding effective research and delivering a tailored and "smart" set of choices.

Senior Year Check-in

Senior year (G12, Y13) is a balancing act. It starts with a bang and the demands can pile up. Organisation is everything. This compact package provides essential oversight and support to help the student stay aware, on track, and ahead of deadline throughout the application process. It starts with an assessment and checklist, and is followed by a tight sequence of consultations to produce a to-do list and target guidance in the areas where the student needs help most. These may include course or major selection, research, country-specific entry requirements, financial aid, admissions strategy, list-building, gathering supporting materials, writing essays, and reviewing applications.

Or,

Senior Year Comprehensive

This robust package starts at the beginning and continues until applications are done. It provides tailored advising and support on the entire discovery, research, application, and admissions process, from A to Z.

Essay Coaching

Whether it's 4,000 characters, 650 words or 50, and whether it's a personal statement, a motivation letter, or for the Common App, the essay challenges the student to write for distinction and impact. We offer basic or advanced support because brainstorming a topic, finding one's voice, selecting evidence, and writing effectively are key. And every writer needs a coach.

About Us
Expert Advising. Admissions Success.

Our Mission

University Bound believes that higher education should offer students the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive. In a constantly changing university landscape, we aim to help students increase knowledge, build confidence, manage risk, avoid stress, and make healthy decisions. We believe in mobility, access, and opportunity for every student. We are avid researchers who are alert to the latest admissions developments and careers trends, and equipped with experience and expertise to help every student maximise choice and gain admission to a

''right fit'' school.

Who We Are

Joanna Levison is an American expat in Prague, where she has worked as a university admissions and careers counsellor at an international IB school. She has also worked as an adjunct reader of international applications for the University of California. She launched University Bound to help international students and families navigate an increasingly complex and global university application process. She trained as an independent education consultant with the University of California/Irvine, and recently received her counsellor accreditation from Times Higher Education/UK. She has over 20 years of experience in human rights advocacy, international relations, and strategic communications.

Our Approach

University Bound offers individualised one-to-one consulting to help students and families navigate higher education pathways. Our approach is student-centred, research-based, and ethical. We put fit and well-being at the centre of our process. We provide strategic guidance and planning for every step of the research and application process, coaching and feedback on personal statements and essays, and insight into financial aid. We help families assess admissions offers and we celebrate results. We work by the hour and offer customised packages to address every student need.