Making the transition from school to university is monumental, particularly if your child decides to move away from home. As exciting as this next phase of life is, even the most confident of teenagers is bound to be overwhelmed at the start.

You see, in theory, while the application process is fairly straightforward, in practice it’s often much more complex. While we are certain that you don’t want to do everything for your child, you can still play a vital role in supporting them during their school years, helping them evaluate their options, and preparing them for the road ahead.

The question is, how do you do all this?

We have prepared a simple guide to help you be the support and guide to your child that they need during this time. After all, this can be a complicated undertaking, particularly when you consider that the application processes and timelines can differ enormously between institutions.

We hope that this guide and the experts we have trusted over the years will be of good use to you.

Deciding What To Study

Choosing the right course is absolutely crucial to the experience of studying, especially when you consider that a degree course will run for three or more years. There will no doubt be ups and downs during this time – moments of hardship – and if they don’t like what they’re studying, it’s unlikely that they will be motivated to complete their course.

1. That’s why it’s so important to make sure that your child really explores their options and settles on a course that they are personally interested in and will enjoy.

2. In this regard, it is enormously helpful to have open and honest conversations with your child about what they like, what they don’t like, and where they see their lives going.

3. Consider these tips when discussing possible courses:

4. Talk about favourite subjects: Chat about what they’re passionate about and then compare the related subjects to the structure and content offered at university level.

5. Look at joint courses: Universities like Oxford offer joint courses, giving students the chance to explore different subjects and examine the connections between them.

6. New courses: Many universities are adding new courses to prepare students for a world that is moving forward into the fourth industrial revolution, so don’t be scared of these innovative areas of study.

7. Research projects: Some courses offer the chance to produce your own research and to work alongside other researchers, which can lead to exciting study and career opportunities.

8. Discuss career opportunities: The course they choose will undoubtedly play a role in what they do next, so talk about what they want to pursue after their studies and which courses will help them get there.

Deciding Where To Study

Your first instinct, quite correctly, will be to look at the courses your child is interested in and compare how they differ between the various universities that are on your radar. It’s also quite possible that the course itself will play a role in narrowing down the choice of university. However, by comparing the content offered by each institution, and reviewing what other students have said, you’ll be off to a pretty good start.

If your child is still struggling to decide where to go, a quandary that is often the case when there are aspirations of studying in America, then we highly recommend that you seek guidance from the tuition experts who are well-versed in the selection and application journey.

Navigating The Application Process 

Applying To Elite UK Universities

When it comes to navigating the increasingly competitive university entrance processes for the elite UK universities, it is gratifying to know that there are experts capable of delivering bespoke preparation packages. While there are a number of experts available, make sure that the services you engage are prepared to offer application management, guided reading, test preparation, personal statement drafting, and interview preparation.

For instance, we are proud to refer Will Orr-Ewing and Ed Richardson, our go-to team of experienced education consultants with over a decade of experience in assisting students with their applications to the UK’s most competitive universities. Their particular métier, if you will, is creating a modular offering, allowing you to pick and choose what suits your requirements, depending on the subject, universities and of course the level of support your school gives your child.

Of course, we are also privileged to be associated with Oxbridge Applications, who boast over 20 years of experience in supporting students with their applications to Oxford and Cambridge universities, as well as other top UK universities. Their experience, passion, and in-depth knowledge of the application process leaves you feeling that you can entrust their team with ensuring your child has the best possible chance of a successful Oxbridge application. We urge you to find out all the ins and outs about their all-inclusive package (including unlimited access to their allocated tutor), by reading this review which is based on Michelle’s personal experience.

US Universities Admissions

The reality is that schools don’t always have the time or resources to help their students prepare for the notion of studying abroad. Sending one’s child off to America is not something that one does lightly. It is something that you only do once every T and I has the obligatory cross and dot.

To that end, we thoroughly recommend that you consider turning to an expert in the US University Admissions field who possesses first-hand experience and extensive knowledge of the American educational system. A team who specialises in guiding International students through the complex examination and application process and can help you guide your child towards a selection of schools that best suits their academic ambition, talent, and temperament.

Find out more about our preferred top tier US Universities consultants, including the team from A-List (whom you can review here) and US national, Susie, a very structured and hands-on US universities consultant whom you can reach here.

Tutoring

Ultimately, in order for your child to take up the offer of a place to study, they will need to meet the qualification requirements of their course. For example, Oxford takes in A-levels, as well as other equivalent UK qualifications, and International qualifications. In some subjects, such as the sciences, candidates are required to have studied certain subjects to at least an A-level standard.

To this end, you would be best advised to reach out to Oxbridge Applications, who provide tutoring to prepare for applications to Oxbridge entrance exams. However, if your child wants to study in America, they will need to sit for the SAT and ACT exams and will naturally require tutoring to prepare them.

With this in mind, it may be wise to look into trusted tutoring services who are equipped to take your child along the sinuous education path and navigate both the competitive English and American education system. We recommend getting in touch with A-List, who are well placed to guide you in this regard.

We also take great pleasure in recommending that parents look into this leading tutor agency, which was founded in 2007 and has since proven time and time again that it is deserving of its reputation.

Of course, if you need more personalised help with choosing the right company to provide you with school advice, tutoring, or even graduate recruitment advice, then please get in touch with Michelle.

We hope that this handy guide will help you find everything that you need in order to help your child in the pursuit of their education.