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Rising up, I had fantasised about attending an Ivy League college. And whereas I’m completely glad with the education I obtained now, there are lots of different college students who share that ambition.

Crimson Schooling (Crimson) was based to assist college students gasoline that ambition and ultimately fulfil it.

Based in 2013 by Jamie Beaton, Fangzhou Jiang, and Sharndre Kushor, Crimson helps college students undergo the powerful and aggressive admissions course of for high universities, resembling Ivy League faculties and Oxbridge.

Eight years in the past, Crimson expanded to Singapore, recognising the necessity for help amongst academically sturdy college students regionally.

“Many of those college students had spectacular tutorial information however struggled with different essential components of the admissions course of, like extracurriculars, private statements, and interviews,” they shared with Vulcan Put up. “We noticed a possibility to assist these college students stand out and maximise their probabilities of moving into their dream universities.”

Why Singapore?

Talking to Vulcan Put up is Joanne Gao, Crimson Schooling’s Regional Supervisor for Singapore, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Myanmar.

Singapore’s dedication in direction of training may’ve made it a major location for Crimson Schooling to broaden into. In spite of everything, the training system right here could be very results-driven, with an enormous give attention to tutorial excellence.

Past the scholars themselves, Singaporean mother and father can be fairly concerned of their youngsters’s training. This can be factor, contemplating that they’re those who would possible pay for Crimson’s companies.

But, after they first entered the Singaporean market, there was a stigma round getting assist with college admissions.

However over time, Crimson’s spectacular acceptance outcomes started to talk for itself.

“In relation to success charges, a big proportion of our college students in Singapore have achieved their college targets, with many gaining acceptance to their dream faculties,” Joanne acknowledged. “Actually, our success charge in Singapore is on par with, if not surpassing, different areas.”

How does it work?

Crimson’s companies go fairly in-depth, guiding college students from college choice and check preparation to non-public statements, extracurricular profile constructing, and interview observe.

First, the crew will get to know college students’ strengths and targets, then helps them construct a tailor-made checklist of colleges they need to apply to.

“That is additionally after we establish their distinctive hook—their private narrative that may make them stand out to admissions officers and spark their curiosity,” Joanne mentioned.

Subsequent is the preparation stage, the place college students choose and improve their extracurriculars, from college societies to unbiased capstone initiatives like launching an app or web site.

Additionally they present SAT/ACT preparation and help to assist college students keep sturdy grades at school by means of their tutoring companies.

Lastly, throughout the utility stage, Crimson helps college students assemble and optimise their purposes inside the constraints.

All through this journey, college students are paired with not less than 4 mentors, every specialising in a special space.

These mentors embrace former admissions officers and consultants who’ve graduated from high universities within the US and UK.

Who’s it for?

Crimson’s companies are usually utilized by college students three to 4 years earlier than they plan to use.

This provides them time to construct a powerful profile with out feeling overwhelmed by balancing teachers and the opposite commitments wanted to face out.

“Our youngest pupil is 11 years outdated, and thru our Crimson Rise programme, we assist youthful college students uncover their pursuits whereas additionally constructing key tender expertise like management, time administration, and undertaking administration,” she mentioned.

The crew doesn’t vet college students, however they do provide a free session the place they assess the coed’s profile, motivation, and targets.

“Throughout this session, we’ll give them a practical concept of the colleges they might purpose for with our help,” she mentioned. “It’s a manner for each side to get on the identical web page and guarantee expectations are clear earlier than making a dedication.”

The pricing for Crimson’s companies ranges from S$10,000 to S$30,000 per yr. The price varies relying on components such because the variety of faculties college students are making use of to and which of them.

For proficient college students with out monetary means, the startup has developed a Crimson Entry Alternative, which has helped three college students in Singapore.

Just lately, the startup launched the Crimson 10 Abroad Schooling Scholarship in Singapore, the place they’ve chosen two Singaporean recipients to obtain over S$100,000 value of admissions consulting companies in complete.

How is the system localised for Singaporeans?

To familiarise themselves with the Singaporean panorama, the crew employed native workers who knew the ins and outs of the training system.

Additionally they needed to perceive among the distinctive native concerns, resembling Nationwide Service, which impacts when and the way college students apply to universities overseas.

With that understanding, they provide localised assets to Singaporean college students, resembling e-books and webinars protecting matters like Nationwide Service (NS) and which medical faculties are recognised by the Singapore Medical Council.

When choosing mentors and tutors for Singaporean college students, the crew appears for 2 principal qualities. First, they should have strong tutorial credentials, usually from high universities.

“However simply as importantly, they want to have the ability to join with college students on a private degree,” Joanne mentioned. “It’s not nearly serving to with teachers; it’s about guiding them by means of your complete utility course of and ensuring they really feel supported each step of the way in which.”

At the moment, the Singapore crew includes roughly 40 individuals.

What in regards to the psychological toll?

Faculty prep just isn’t a simple journey, although, even with mentors round to assist. Excessive achievers particularly might place very excessive expectations on themselves, resulting in stress and burnout.

Crimson understands this. To assist college students strike a wholesome steadiness between tutorial ambition and private well-being, they’ve launched a pilot programme in partnership with Thoughts Tradition.

“It’s a pre-recorded workshop collection known as Self-Self-discipline and Resilience: A Toolkit for Teenagers’ Psychological Wellness, designed to equip college students with methods to enhance each their tutorial efficiency and psychological well being,” Joanne defined.

The programme is out there to each Singapore pupil who signed up for Crimson’s programme alongside their common choices.

What’s subsequent for Crimson?

Crimson Schooling lately closed S$53.5 million in its Collection D Funding Spherical, cementing its standing as a unicorn startup.

This confidence from traders additional solidifies the crew’s place because the go-to skilled for college students aiming for high universities within the US and UK.

“We need to be the identify that oldsters and college students consider first after they’re searching for assist to get into Ivy League faculties, Oxford, Cambridge, and different prestigious establishments,” Joanne mentioned.

Nowadays, although, there was a shift in how tutorial achievements and college status are perceived. Whereas high universities stay extremely revered, many employers are more and more putting worth on expertise, sensible expertise, and real-world information.

However whereas Joanne recognises this altering mindset, she believes there’ll nonetheless be a spot for Crimson’s companies.

“Prestigious universities nonetheless carry vital weight in lots of sectors,” she mentioned. “The rationale for that is clear: employers perceive the extent of dedication, mental rigour, and self-discipline required to realize entry to and succeed at these main establishments.”

She elaborated, “It’s not simply in regards to the model—it’s about what that diploma represents: a confirmed capability to excel in a difficult, high-pressure surroundings, alongside a powerful work ethic and the capability to deal with complicated duties.”

As an alternative of working in opposition to this altering panorama, Crimson sees it as a possibility.

Whereas gaining entry to high universities has been central to Crimson’s model, their mission has all the time been broader—to foster holistic growth amongst college students.

“This shift in employer priorities aligns with Crimson’s strengths—supporting college students in creating not solely aggressive college purposes but in addition numerous, impactful profiles that stand out throughout any area,” Joanne concluded.