A World Education For South African Students

Crimson Education, a global mentoring company, specialises in building the candidacy of students for acceptance to universities in the United States (US) and the United Kingdom (UK). The company’s driving motivation is to support students from around the world to dream big about their education and future careers.

“For young South Africans wanting to make it big on a global scale, attending a university in the US or UK can ensure success in a much shorter time. From access to prestigious internship opportunities, world-class facilities, and powerful alumni networks, top universities put graduates in good standing to achieve their career goals,” says Rebecca Pretorius, Country Manager for Crimson Education, South Africa. “In an increasingly globalised society, an overseas education is invaluable.”

Studying at a globally ranked university has serious sway over employability and earning power. For example, the average salary for Harvard graduates starts at R70 000 per month. In the UK, graduates from a Russell Group university earn an average starting salary 9.4% higher than other UK universities.

Alumni networks are another added advantage; “Whether direct friendships, associations with a common alma mater or recommendations from a tutor or professor, a connection from a top university gives students a much better chance of getting noticed when applying for a job at one of the world’s top companies,” says Pretorius.

Students with overseas qualifications also show favourable skills to future employers, such as cultural awareness, maturity, flexibility and independence. “Employers look for graduates with well-rounded knowledge that spans across a multitude of disciplines, top-ranked international universities offer exactly that,” says Pretorius.

While application forms for most international universities are easily available online, the application process itself can be complex. This is where Crimson Education steps in, by helping students and families choose institutions and individual courses, which meet their personal and professional requirements.

“Picking universities to apply to is an extremely personal process, but we help with that too. For us, top universities do not only refer to the top 10 or 20 universities as listed by a ranking agency. Best-fit is just as important, if not more important. When choosing a university, we encourage students to consider what they like, where they want to be, and which school and programme or degree will help them get there – it’s not always going to be an Ivy League school,” says Pretorius.

With global admission trends showing an increase in applicants at top universities abroad, students face steep competition and have a lot to demonstrate. “The increase in global admissions highlights the already high value of a world-class education. At the same time, it also demonstrates the necessity for students to differentiate themselves, especially in the current and post-pandemic economy,” says Pretorius.

This is why admission mentoring with Crimson covers all aspects of the candidacy building and application, including school academics, standardised and admissions tests, personal statement and essay-writing and extracurricular and leadership. Through a team mentorship model, students connect with Crimson admission strategists, tutors and mentors to assist them with the complex application process for universities in the UK and the US predominantly.

Each students’ strategy team is made up of alumni from top universities and colleges, which include Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford. Mentors and tutors at top institutions provide advice, guidance, and practical support for students to start their own small business or social impact project in the senior years of high school.

“The key to success is preparation and planning. Students and parents often underestimate how long it takes, what’s involved and how competitive it is to successfully apply to an international university. Universities abroad are very competitive – many years of academic and extracurricular preparation go into a strong application. When successful, the educational and funding opportunities open to enrolled students are significant,” says Pretorius.

Through a global network of strategists and a pool of over 2 000 tutors and mentors, Crimson offers families a personalised experience and support for all aspects of their application. “We work together with students to help them achieve their dream of attending universities abroad. Providing hands-on support across academics, extracurricular activities and university admissions,” says Pretorius.

With a head office in Johannesburg and a satellite office in Cape Town, Crimson offers regular information evenings and workshops around the country for parents and learners interested in studying overseas. To book an initial consultation, visit www.crimsoneducation.org/za, or email southafrica@crimsoneducation.org.