College Admission

Prep Excellence advises students and families on admission into competitive colleges and how to get scholarships. We have helped students get into top universities including University of Wisconsin, Princeton University and receive excellent financial aid.

Getting into and Paying for College

College admission is messy and has become highly competitive. On top of that, COVID-19 has upended the admissions process all over the world. However, Prep Excellence has the experience and expertise to help you find your best-fit schools and get you admitted. We have helped students achieve their personal and academic goals during these uncertain times. Dr. Alam has developed a holistic approach for undergraduate and graduate admissions and his students received admission into the nation's top undergraduate and graduate programs.

In the top schools of the nation, the acceptance rates are 10% or less (meaning that 9 out of 10 students are rejected). In some schools, the rate is around 5% (meaning around 19 of 20 mostly highly competent students are rejected). It is nearly impossible to guarantee whether a certain applicant will be accepted in a given university. However, a well-planned and executed approach can improve the probability of a student making it.

Let us consider an example. Princeton University offers Early Action, meaning that the students who apply before the Early Action deadline are given the decision early. In 2018, Princeton’s Early Action acceptance rate was 18.5% whereas the Regular Decision acceptance rate was only 5.4%. Thus, taking advantage of the Early Action deadline might be helpful for certain students in getting admission at Princeton University. This is simply an example to provide an idea about proper planning and execution, not as a guarantee.

Furthermore, an applicant should apply to a few colleges to improve their chances of admission into a college of their choice. A given college can be a match, reach or safety. If your GPA, SAT/ACT scores and coursework match that of an average freshman in the school, it is a match school. This by itself might not be sufficient for admission because other aspects of the application (recommendation letters, extracurricular activities, and essay) will also determine the outcome. If your academic profile is slightly lower than that of an average freshman.

Even if your child is accepted to the college of his/her dreams, he/she still needs to pay for it. It is not only about getting admission, but also about how to pay for it. Thankfully, many financial resources are available. These include scholarships (from the college), grants, work-study jobs, loans, and tax credits. You can also appeal the college’s financial aid package and apply for private scholarships. Many colleges have offered emergency grants in response to the COVID19 emergency. We know the college financial aid landscape thoroughly and can help you get more money.