- College Strategy
- Academics
- Essays
- Capstone Development
- Research Projects
- Honors & Awards
- Work Experience
“ With top US universities turning away thousands of academically qualified students each year, it’s more important than ever to craft an application that truly stands out.”
Sarah T., Platinum Strategy Consultant & Former Harvard Interviewer
98%
of Crimson students gain admission to one of their top 5 US university choices.
7x
Students working with Crimson are 7x more likely to gain admission to the Ivy League and other top US universities.
College Strategy
Even top MENA students face tough competition for US university spots. Good grades aren't enough — a strong application requires the right school list and a cohesive, standout profile. Our expert consultants help students align academics, extracurriculars, leadership, and passion to boost their admissions chances. With help with:
Building a unique and memorable application theme.
Developing a strategic and balanced university list.
Maximising leadership and extracurricular achievements.
Managing every part of the application timeline and process.
"Crimson helped me structure every part of my journey from my university list to how I framed my essays and achievements. The strategy gave me clarity and confidence throughout the process."
Yagiz E., admitted to UC Berkeley (UAE)
Academic Acceleration
The Challenge
Top U.S. universities continue to prioritize academic excellence especially for international applicants. Even in a test-optional era, institutions like MIT, Stanford, and the Ivy League expect competitive scores and strong school performance from MENA-based students.
“ The average GPA for the Ivy League last year was 3.9. While students need a wide range of achievements, academics are a cornerstone of the application process.”
Arkesh P., Harvard and Cambridge graduate, Crimson COO
How We Help
Crimson’s test prep experts work one-on-one with students to elevate their performance and confidence whether they’re preparing for the SAT, ACT, IB, A-Levels, or AP exams.
01
Expert Tutoring
Personalized tutoring from top scorers and Ivy League admits
03
Targeted Practice
Strategic revision techniques and timed mock testing.
Accepted to
Cambridge
Name
Layla A.
“ Crimson gave me the structure I didn’t know I needed. My tutors helped me stay focused, refine my strategy, and feel confident walking into every exam. ”
Layla A. – Admitted to University of Cambridge (UAE)
Essays
“ When admissions officers debate over who gets in, it's often the essay that makes the difference.”
Kimberley L., Former Stanford Admissions Officer
The Challenge
Your child’s essays are their one chance to speak directly to admissions officers to showcase their personality, values, and perspective.
But many students struggle to choose the right topic, develop a strong narrative, and refine their writing to a level that makes an impact.
How We Help
Our team of essay mentors including published authors and Emmy Award-winning journalists work one-on-one with students to help them craft authentic, impactful essays that capture who they are.
We support students with:
01
Brainstorming essay topics that reflect personality, values, and vision
02
Creating a cohesive narrative that aligns with their application theme
03
Polishing tone, structure, and clarity for maximum impact
04
Making sure each essay resonates with US admissions officers
“The best thing about working with Crimson was how well I connected with my essay mentor, Ren. We built a writing system together, and his feedback made every draft better. He helped me bring out my story in a way that felt honest and strong I wouldn’t have gotten into Berkeley without that.”
Mehdi – Moroccan-Admitted to UC Berkeley, Yale, and UPenn
Capstone Development
The Challenge
Students who stand out don’t just tick boxes they create real-world impact. But most students don’t know how to turn their passions into a project that truly impresses top US universities.
“There are 100,000 high schools worldwide. Imagine if every valedictorian applied to Ivy+ schools there still wouldn’t be enough spots. To stand out for a Top 25 university, students need more. That’s where the capstone comes in.”
Sonam A., Former Duke Admissions Officer
How We Help
Our Capstone Consultants help bring high-impact ideas to life and position them strategically in your child’s application. We guide your child through:
Define the Perfect Project
We help students clarify their narrative, then brainstorm project ideas that align. Our experts guide them toward projects that are meaningful, achievable, and built to stand out in top university admissions.
Develop a Project Plan
We help students build a step-by-step plan with clear milestones and goals. Each phase is designed to be actionable, and strategically aligned with their university admissions timeline.
Scale Impact
We help students expand their project’s reach from local initiatives to regional, national or international platforms. The result is real-world impact that highlights leadership and ambition.
Track Results
We help students track project outcomes and distil them into a concise, strategic narrative within the application showcasing growth, leadership, and real impact.
Successful Student Capstones
Crimson students have launched initiatives that earned them acceptances at Stanford, Princeton, Yale, and more. Beyond strengthening their application, a capstone builds skills like problem-solving and adaptability — qualities top universities want.
Capstone Success
Mehdi
Morocco
Elephant Rehabilitation via AI
UC Berkeley, Yale & UPenn
Mehdi created an AI tool to monitor elephant rehab after poaching, piloted by a conservation NGO and showcased at a regional innovation event.
Capstone Success
Mehdi
Morocco
Elephant Rehabilitation via AI
UC Berkeley, Yale & UPenn
Mehdi created an AI tool to monitor elephant rehab after poaching, piloted by a conservation NGO and showcased at a regional innovation event.
Capstone Success
Layla
UAE
Bilingual Biology Kits
University of Cambridge
Layla launched a bilingual science kit initiative, reaching 300+ students in underserved UAE schools as part of her Natural Sciences application.
Capstone Success
Siddhant
UAE
Entrepreneurship & Leadership
Oxford University (E&M)
Siddhant co-founded a student startup, led the region’s largest THIMUN MUN, and won the PwC Global Case Competition.
Mehdi
Mehdi created an AI tool to monitor elephant rehab after poaching, piloted by a conservation NGO and showcased at a regional innovation event.
Layla
Layla launched a bilingual science kit initiative, reaching 300+ students in underserved UAE schools as part of her Natural Sciences application.
Siddhant
Siddhant co-founded a student startup, led the region’s largest THIMUN MUN, and won the PwC Global Case Competition.
Capstone Success
Mehdi
Morocco
Elephant Rehabilitation via AI
UC Berkeley, Yale & UPenn
Mehdi created an AI tool to monitor elephant rehab after poaching, piloted by a conservation NGO and showcased at a regional innovation event.
Capstone Success
Layla
UAE
Bilingual Biology Kits
University of Cambridge
Layla launched a bilingual science kit initiative, reaching 300+ students in underserved UAE schools as part of her Natural Sciences application.
Capstone Success
Siddhant
UAE
Entrepreneurship & Leadership
Oxford University (E&M)
Siddhant co-founded a student startup, led the region’s largest THIMUN MUN, and won the PwC Global Case Competition.
Research Projects
The Challenge
Top US universities including Columbia, Yale, and Princeton now allow students to submit independent research as part of their application. For MENA students, access to high-level academic mentorship and publishing pathways can set an application apart.
““Since most students applying have similar grades, test scores, and even activities, a high-impact research paper can be the difference between acceptance and rejection.””
Erin, Columbia Former Admissions Officer
How We Help
Crimson pairs students across the MENA region with world-class mentors — including faculty and PhD experts from top global universities like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. From first idea to final publication, we support every stage of the research journey.
01
Research Development
Develop a research paper in their area of interest.
02
Mentorship
Receive expert guidance on research methods and academic writing.
03
Publish & Present
Get your work in front of real audiences through journals or conferences.
04
University Credit
Earn US university credit through an accredited programme.
Successful Student Research Papers
Why People Obey the Law: A Critical Review of Existing Research
Published in Curieux Academic Journal Accepted to the University of Pennsylvania
Student
Makayla W.
From Sydney, Princeton Class of 2029
Mentor
Dr. Carlos X.
Researcher at Center for Constitutional Studies of the Mexican Supreme Court
Outcome
Makayla found that people often obey laws more due to internal factors like personal beliefs than external pressures.
Stiffness of the Extracellular Matrix in Determining Cellular Activity
Published in IJHSR Accepted to Johns Hopkins
Student
Arya S.
From India, Johns Hopkins Class of 2029
Mentor
Sammy H.
Harvard University Alumni
Outcome
Shown how the ECM can affect stem cell differentiation through cytoskeletal feedback loops and induced traction stresses
Relationship between deaths, air pollution, and CO2 emissions in Kazakhstan
Independent Research Collaboration
Student
Nanditha
Kazakhstan. Accepted to Drexel, Northeastern & UIUC
Mentor
Samantha F
East Carolina University Alumni
Outcome
This study investigates the complex relationships between air pollution, CO2 emissions, and death rates in Kazakhstan.
Investigate the Predictive Performance of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Models
Published in IJHSR Accepted to University of California
Student
Raj B.
From India, UC Berkley, Class of 2029
Mentor
Abduallah Y.
Crimson Indigo Mentor
Outcome
Used predictive performance of AI-based models, to demonstrate how LSTM models perform under various economic conditions
Why People Obey the Law: A Critical Review of Existing Research
Published in Curieux Academic Journal Accepted to the University of Pennsylvania
Student
Makayla W.
From Sydney, Princeton Class of 2029
Mentor
Dr. Carlos X.
Researcher at Center for Constitutional Studies of the Mexican Supreme Court
Outcome
Makayla found that people often obey laws more due to internal factors like personal beliefs than external pressures.
Stiffness of the Extracellular Matrix in Determining Cellular Activity
Published in IJHSR Accepted to Johns Hopkins
Student
Arya S.
From India, Johns Hopkins Class of 2029
Mentor
Sammy H.
Harvard University Alumni
Outcome
Shown how the ECM can affect stem cell differentiation through cytoskeletal feedback loops and induced traction stresses
Relationship between deaths, air pollution, and CO2 emissions in Kazakhstan
Independent Research Collaboration
Student
Nanditha
Kazakhstan. Accepted to Drexel, Northeastern & UIUC
Mentor
Samantha F
East Carolina University Alumni
Outcome
This study investigates the complex relationships between air pollution, CO2 emissions, and death rates in Kazakhstan.
Investigate the Predictive Performance of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Models
Published in IJHSR Accepted to University of California
Student
Raj B.
From India, UC Berkley, Class of 2029
Mentor
Abduallah Y.
Crimson Indigo Mentor
Outcome
Used predictive performance of AI-based models, to demonstrate how LSTM models perform under various economic conditions
Why People Obey the Law: A Critical Review of Existing Research
Published in Curieux Academic Journal Accepted to the University of Pennsylvania
Student
Makayla W.
From Sydney, Princeton Class of 2029
Mentor
Dr. Carlos X.
Researcher at Center for Constitutional Studies of the Mexican Supreme Court
Outcome
Makayla found that people often obey laws more due to internal factors like personal beliefs than external pressures.
Stiffness of the Extracellular Matrix in Determining Cellular Activity
Published in IJHSR Accepted to Johns Hopkins
Student
Arya S.
From India, Johns Hopkins Class of 2029
Mentor
Sammy H.
Harvard University Alumni
Outcome
Shown how the ECM can affect stem cell differentiation through cytoskeletal feedback loops and induced traction stresses
Relationship between deaths, air pollution, and CO2 emissions in Kazakhstan
Independent Research Collaboration
Student
Nanditha
Kazakhstan. Accepted to Drexel, Northeastern & UIUC
Mentor
Samantha F
East Carolina University Alumni
Outcome
This study investigates the complex relationships between air pollution, CO2 emissions, and death rates in Kazakhstan.
Investigate the Predictive Performance of Artificial Intelligence (AI)-based Models
Published in IJHSR Accepted to University of California
Student
Raj B.
From India, UC Berkley, Class of 2029
Mentor
Abduallah Y.
Crimson Indigo Mentor
Outcome
Used predictive performance of AI-based models, to demonstrate how LSTM models perform under various economic conditions
Honors and Awards
The Challenge
Recognition through honors sets your child apart in a competitive applicant pool, and are critical indicators to admissions officers. 90% of Crimson’s Ivy League admits in 2024 had at least five elite honors on their applications. 80% of these awards came from the most prestigious competitions. Although, finding the right competitions and doing what it takes to win them can be overwhelming.
How We Help
Crimson students gain access to the world’s only comprehensive awards training program, guiding them to claim the elite honors top colleges expect. Your child gets:
01
Personalized competition strategy to go after the best awards for their profile.
02
1:1 mentorship from past winners and judges.
03
Expert coaching on skill-building and submission strategies.
04
Judges’ Panel Review for feedback before final submission.
John Locke Institute Essay Competition
Over 100 Crimson students were shortlisted in 2024, including over 30 Distinctions and a student who placed in the global top 3, out of over 34,000 global participants.
The Earth Prize
Two from the global top 15 in the 2024 edition of this sustainability and innovation competition were Crimson students, out of over 6000 global participants.
Society for Science Regeneron ISEF
Three Crimson students were Finalists or Grand Awardess in Regeneron ISEF 2023, out of over 6+ million participants across all ISEF-affiliated science fairs.
Our Students' Success
Aryan
From UAE, Admitted to Stanford UniversityStanford, Harvard
Gold Award recipient in the UK Senior Maths Challenge; finalist in the Global Teen Investment Competition; awarded Best Delegate in THIMUN Global MUN, representing the UAE.
Kevin P.
From South Africa, Stanford Class of 2029Stanford University
Recieved Silver in the British Biology Olympiad; USA-China Biology Olympiad regional awardee; Distinction in the John Locke Essay Competition
Siddhant
From the UAE, Admitted to OxfordUniversity of Oxford
Winner of the PwC Global High School Case Competition (2020), the world’s largest high school business challenge. Led his team to victory through strategic planning and public speaking, judged by executives from top firms.
Aryan
From UAE, Admitted to Stanford UniversityStanford, Harvard
Gold Award recipient in the UK Senior Maths Challenge; finalist in the Global Teen Investment Competition; awarded Best Delegate in THIMUN Global MUN, representing the UAE.
Kevin P.
From South Africa, Stanford Class of 2029Stanford University
Recieved Silver in the British Biology Olympiad; USA-China Biology Olympiad regional awardee; Distinction in the John Locke Essay Competition
Siddhant
From the UAE, Admitted to OxfordUniversity of Oxford
Winner of the PwC Global High School Case Competition (2020), the world’s largest high school business challenge. Led his team to victory through strategic planning and public speaking, judged by executives from top firms.
Work Experience
The Challenge
Top US universities look for more than academic excellence — they want evidence of curiosity, initiative, and commitment to your field of interest. Without real-world experience, even strong applications from international students can seem vague or underdeveloped.
How We Help
Crimson is the only admissions consultancy offering a fully integrated career exploration and work experience pathway. We help students, build subject-relevant experiences that boost their applications and often lead to recommendation letters from global companies and industry professionals.
01
Career Strategy
Personalised coaching and assessments to match your strengths with future university and career pathways
02
Work Experience
Hands-on projects with companies like Uber, Ferrari, Amazon, and Salesforce, or medical shadowing at leading hospitals and public health institutions
03
Mentorship & Development
One-on-one guidance from industry professionals, offering immersive experience in your field of interest.
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