UNIVERSITY BOUND
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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
6 January 2025
The Truth About That Typo
It's January. Whether you're applying to the UK or US, or the Netherlands or elsewhere, you’ve drafted your essays and personal statements, polished your application, and submitted it. Now you anxiously start peeking at your documents while you wait for the decision on the other end. That’s when you see it: the typo. Good guidance says this is when you close your laptop and walk away. But you won’t. So know this: though you should proof-read, proof-read, and proof-read again, no one has been denied admission for a typo. Admissions decisions are made with the bigger picture in mind. A school that takes the time to comb through your personal information, essays, references, and activities will do so with intention and care, and an overriding desire to get to know you and learn how you might contribute to their community. One mistake won't erase your years of hard work and achievement. Schools don’t practice “gotcha” admissions review.
What Does 'Deferral' Mean?
What Does 'Deferral' Mean?
Students who apply to a college or university as part of an Early Action plan may receive a “deferred” decision, or "deferral." This means that the admissions committee is not ready to make a final decision for that student, and will review the application again together with the regular pool. This means the committee might wish to see more information from the student, or have more information about all the current year’s applicants before making the final call. The specific reason that your application has been deferred may never be shared with you, but it does not mean they are questioning your ability, talent, or intelligence. What to do? The school will issue instructions and next steps with the deferral decision. Follow them if you wish to keep your application live, call the school if you have questions, and focus on feeling excited about your other applications. Many students feel the healthiest choice is to delete the school from their list and move on.
Comms 101: Beyond the Eye-Roll
High school students are always told to develop their communication skills. But what does that actually mean?? Yes, the phrase relates to the ability to speak or write effectively, but it also refers to an ability to interact with another person or audience to make one's meaning clear. This post explains some of these interactive and interpersonal aspects of the communication skillset. Students can work on these skills inside, outside, and beyond the classroom, in every conversation, every day. After all, what good is an important opinion or an interesting idea if you can't communicate it effectively? It's what makes us stronger students, applicants, and colleagues, and better humans.for future employment.
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Comms 101: Beyond the Eye-Roll
High school students are always told to develop their communication skills. But what does that actually mean?? Yes, the phrase relates to the ability to speak or write effectively, but it also refers to an ability to interact with another person or audience to make one's meaning clear. This post explains some of these interactive and interpersonal aspects of the communication skillset. Students can work on these skills inside, outside, and beyond the classroom, in every conversation, every day. After all, what good is an important opinion or an interesting idea if you can't communicate it effectively? It's what makes us stronger students, applicants, and colleagues, and better humans.for future employment.
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November Is the New January
Early applications, both Early Action and Early Decision, are reshaping the US college and university admissions landscape. Applications for Early Action, specifically, were up by 17% this fall over last year. Why? Because early deadlines help many schools manage their rising number of applications, gauge student interest early, and lock in a large portion of the entering freshman class. Among numerous examples, Emory University in Georgia has seen early applications jump by 28%. Rice University in Texas and MIT have also reported growth. But, notably, early applications to Harvard and Brown, both Ivy League schools, have fallen to a four-year low. The growth in early applications underscores the need for students to consider their applications strategically. By submitting early, students can demonstrate interest and will likely have an admissions advantage, but they should feel certain their application is strong and confident in their choice.
UK Increases Domestic Fees
The UK has announced that, effective April 2025, tuition fees for domestic students will rise by £285 to £9,535 per academic year. This is the first rise since fees were set at £9,250 in 2017, and will affect UK students applying for 2025 entry. For now, fees for international students will not be increased. In other UK news, overall applications for the October 15 university deadline -- for Oxford and Cambridge, and courses in medicine, dentistry, and veterinary science -- rose for the first time in three years, by 1.3%, for a total of 72,740 applicants. The US share of these applications rose by 15.4% over last year, doubling since 2016. On the other hand, the total number of applications to courses in medicine dropped 3.3% year on year, falling for the third successive year and reaching the lowest level since 2019.
Czechs Gain in Global Higher Ed
The Czech Republic sent 802 students to the US during the 2023-2024 academic year. That is a strong mark of Czech competitiveness in the global educational -- and athletic! - landscape.
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Also, the Financial Times has ranked the Prague School of Finance & Economics (VŠE) in 49th place in its 2024 European Business School Rankings, giving it a coveted position in a prestigious survey in a competitive region. The ranking marks a rise of 10 places in the FT survey since 2022. VŠE attributes its strength to its CEMS International Management program and its dedication to preparing graduates for future employment.
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.​
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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.
University Bound Acceptances
UK
Brunel University, London
Cambridge University
London School of Economics
Oxford University
King's College London
University of Aberdeen
University of the Arts London
University of Birmingham
University of Bristol
University of Durham
University of Edinburgh
University of Hertfordshire
University of Leeds
University of Reading
University of Sheffield
University of Warwick
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US
Bentley University
Boston University
George Washington University
Northeastern University
Parsons School of Design
Pratt Institute
Purdue University
University of Colorado, Boulder
University of Michigan
University of Rochester
University of Southern Florida
U.S. Airforce Academy
Worcester Polytechnic Institute
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EUROPE & ASIA
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Brussels School of Government
Charles University
EHL Hospitality Business School
European School of Business
Hong Kong University of Science & Tech
IE University, Spain
Jinan University, China
Leiden University
Prague School of Finance & Economics (VŠE)
University of Amsterdam
University of New York in Prague
Vrije University, Netherlands
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