- University Strategy
- Test Tutoring
- Essays
- Capstone Development
- Research Projects
- Competitions & 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.
US University Strategy
Even the most talented students face steep competition when applying to universities in the United States. Strong grades alone are no longer enough. Students need to choose the right mix of reach, match, and safety schools, and present a cohesive, compelling application. Our expert consultants help students build standout profiles that make them stand out.
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.
“I have to thank my Strategist, Brant, for Duke. He gave me the inside information and backgrounds on each of the schools on my list, and suggested I look into Duke instead of Hopkins, and ultimately we did make that swap as we finalised my list.”
Wayne W., Accepted to Duke University, Class of 2025
Standardised Test Tutoring
The Challenge
Top US universities place major emphasis on academic results. Even with test-optional policies, institutions like MIT, Stanford, and the Ivy League still expect excellence in standardised exams and school grades especially for international applicants.
“To place in the 95th percentile of Ivy League applicants, students need an SAT score between 1550 and 1580. With many top universities reinstating standardised testing requirements, a strong SAT or ACT result can be a key differentiator. Academic performance remains a cornerstone of the admissions process.”
Arkesh P., Harvard and Cambridge graduate, Crimson COO
How We Help
Crimson’s test prep tutors offer highly tailored, results-driven support to help UK & European students reach the academic standards top US universities expect, from improving school performance to SAT/ACT prep.
01
Expert Tutoring
Work one-on-one with Ivy League scorers and top university students.
02
Personalised Prep
Get SAT/ACT strategies tailored to your goals, with performance tracking.
03
Targeted Practice
Bespoke revision strategies and mock testing.
Accepted to
Yale
Name
Julien A.
“ Crimson played an important role in preparing me for the SAT. With consistent effort, I saw significant progress and ended up scoring 1500 on my first official attempt, and by my second attempt, I achieved a score of 1560. ”
Julien A., Accepted to Yale University
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
US personal statements and supplemental essays are unlike anything required in the UK or European education systems.
They demand deep introspection, a unique personal voice, and a strong sense of storytelling; skills even top British students may not have had the chance to fully develop in school.
How We Help
Our US admissions essay mentors including published authors and Emmy Award-winning journalists work one-on-one with students to craft authentic, high-impact essays. We offer unlimited feedback throughout the process.
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 the essay feedback. It helped me refine my ideas and show the best image of myself to admissions officers, which I believe was crucial for getting into Harvard. ”
Rafaela B., Accepted to Harvard University
Capstone Development
The Challenge
Students who stand out don’t just tick boxes they create real-world impact. But most UK & European 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 help your child:
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
James A.
Spain
Streetwear Resale Business
Brown, Columbia & Georgetown
James founded a sneaker and streetwear reselling business. Sold via marketplaces in Spain & China, making €50k in revenue (40% profit).
Capstone Success
James A.
Spain
Streetwear Resale Business
Brown, Columbia & Georgetown
James founded a sneaker and streetwear reselling business. Sold via marketplaces in Spain & China, making €50k in revenue (40% profit).
Capstone Success
Sophie T.
England
Academic Research Club
Caltech, Cornell & UPenn
Sophie created an academic research club, an online platform to connect students to research opportunities and other students interested in research.
Capstone Success
Marco J.
Italy
Youth Consulting Organisation
Northwestern
Marco founded Parlocontigo, a youth consulting org on Environmental Social Governance in businesses. Designed frameworks for 10+ businesses and received recognition from UN/WHO.
James A.
James founded a sneaker and streetwear reselling business. Sold via marketplaces in Spain & China, making €50k in revenue (40% profit).
Sophie T.
Sophie created an academic research club, an online platform to connect students to research opportunities and other students interested in research.
Marco J.
Marco founded Parlocontigo, a youth consulting org on Environmental Social Governance in businesses. Designed frameworks for 10+ businesses and received recognition from UN/WHO.
Capstone Success
James A.
Spain
Streetwear Resale Business
Brown, Columbia & Georgetown
James founded a sneaker and streetwear reselling business. Sold via marketplaces in Spain & China, making €50k in revenue (40% profit).
Capstone Success
Sophie T.
England
Academic Research Club
Caltech, Cornell & UPenn
Sophie created an academic research club, an online platform to connect students to research opportunities and other students interested in research.
Capstone Success
Marco J.
Italy
Youth Consulting Organisation
Northwestern
Marco founded Parlocontigo, a youth consulting org on Environmental Social Governance in businesses. Designed frameworks for 10+ businesses and received recognition from UN/WHO.
Research Projects
The Challenge
Top US universities including Columbia, Yale, and Princeton now allow students to submit independent research as part of their application. But for international applicants, gaining access to the right mentors and publishing pathways isn’t easy. Without this support, it’s harder to produce the kind of standout research that can set an application apart.
“ We’re seeing more and more top universities place real weight on students who have done meaningful research in school. It’s one of the clearest ways a student can show they’re ready for the academic rigour of a top school.”
Alex O., Platinum Strategy Consultant
How We Help
Crimson connects students with world-class faculty and PhD-level consultants from elite universities like Harvard, MIT, and Stanford. From idea to publication, we guide students every step of the way.
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
The Genetics of Races: Genetics Applied to Races, Diseases and Social Sciences
Book available on Amazon Accepted to UPenn, Georgia Tech & Cornell
Student
Camilla F.
From Italy
Mentor
Jonathan F.
PhD candidate at the Keck Graduate Institute for Applied Life Sciences
Outcome
Gained a deeper understanding of genetic diversity, its ethical implications, and how acknowledging difference supports.
A Stretchable and Tough Small-Scale Magnetic Actuator for Biomedical Applications
Published in Journal of Student Research (JSR) Accepted to Columbia University
Student
Joseph B.
From the UK
Mentor
Sammy H.
Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University
Outcome
The ECM can affect stem cell differentiation through cytoskeletal feedback loops and induced traction stresses.
Is the Electron Rotating? A Dive Into the Stern-Gerlach Experiment and the Nature of Electron Spin
Published in Curieux Academic Journal Accepted to Georgia Tech
Student
Iraklis K.
From Italy
Mentor
Titus D.
PhD Student at Imperial College London, University of Oxford Alumnus
Outcome
Electron spin is quantised, and sequential experiments reveal its probabilistic and uncertain quantum nature.
The Genetics of Races: Genetics Applied to Races, Diseases and Social Sciences
Book available on Amazon Accepted to UPenn, Georgia Tech & Cornell
Student
Camilla F.
From Italy
Mentor
Jonathan F.
PhD candidate at the Keck Graduate Institute for Applied Life Sciences
Outcome
Gained a deeper understanding of genetic diversity, its ethical implications, and how acknowledging difference supports.
A Stretchable and Tough Small-Scale Magnetic Actuator for Biomedical Applications
Published in Journal of Student Research (JSR) Accepted to Columbia University
Student
Joseph B.
From the UK
Mentor
Sammy H.
Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University
Outcome
The ECM can affect stem cell differentiation through cytoskeletal feedback loops and induced traction stresses.
Is the Electron Rotating? A Dive Into the Stern-Gerlach Experiment and the Nature of Electron Spin
Published in Curieux Academic Journal Accepted to Georgia Tech
Student
Iraklis K.
From Italy
Mentor
Titus D.
PhD Student at Imperial College London, University of Oxford Alumnus
Outcome
Electron spin is quantised, and sequential experiments reveal its probabilistic and uncertain quantum nature.
The Genetics of Races: Genetics Applied to Races, Diseases and Social Sciences
Book available on Amazon Accepted to UPenn, Georgia Tech & Cornell
Student
Camilla F.
From Italy
Mentor
Jonathan F.
PhD candidate at the Keck Graduate Institute for Applied Life Sciences
Outcome
Gained a deeper understanding of genetic diversity, its ethical implications, and how acknowledging difference supports.
A Stretchable and Tough Small-Scale Magnetic Actuator for Biomedical Applications
Published in Journal of Student Research (JSR) Accepted to Columbia University
Student
Joseph B.
From the UK
Mentor
Sammy H.
Postdoctoral Fellow at Harvard University
Outcome
The ECM can affect stem cell differentiation through cytoskeletal feedback loops and induced traction stresses.
Is the Electron Rotating? A Dive Into the Stern-Gerlach Experiment and the Nature of Electron Spin
Published in Curieux Academic Journal Accepted to Georgia Tech
Student
Iraklis K.
From Italy
Mentor
Titus D.
PhD Student at Imperial College London, University of Oxford Alumnus
Outcome
Electron spin is quantised, and sequential experiments reveal its probabilistic and uncertain quantum nature.
Competitions and Awards
The Challenge
International, national and regional recognition through competitions and awards 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 listed five awards/competitions in the Honours section of the US Common App. 80% of these awards came from the most prestigious competitions. But knowing which contests to enter and how to win is no easy task for UK & European students.
How We Help
Crimson students gain access to the world’s only comprehensive awards training programme. Our proven framework helps students win the accolades that top US universities expect.
Your child gets:
01
Personalised 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
Ritisha T.
From the UKUniversity of Pennsylvania
Finalist in John Locke Essay Economics Competition; Distinction in UKMT Mathematical Olympiad for Girls; InvestIN Young Entrepreneur Best Business Idea/Pitch Award; Gold in UKMT Senior Maths Challenge.
Oliwia L.
From PolandUniversity of Pennsylvania
Poland Prime Minister’s Scholar for the highest GPA; Future Leaders Exchange Scholar (1.6% acceptance rate); Laureate of the XXVII Edition of the Polish Youth Parliament.
Kevin P.
From South AfricaStanford University
Recieved Silver in the British Biology Olympiad; USA-China Biology Olympiad regional awardee; Distinction in the John Locke Essay Competition.
Ritisha T.
From the UKUniversity of Pennsylvania
Finalist in John Locke Essay Economics Competition; Distinction in UKMT Mathematical Olympiad for Girls; InvestIN Young Entrepreneur Best Business Idea/Pitch Award; Gold in UKMT Senior Maths Challenge.
Oliwia L.
From PolandUniversity of Pennsylvania
Poland Prime Minister’s Scholar for the highest GPA; Future Leaders Exchange Scholar (1.6% acceptance rate); Laureate of the XXVII Edition of the Polish Youth Parliament.
Kevin P.
From South AfricaStanford University
Recieved Silver in the British Biology Olympiad; USA-China Biology Olympiad regional awardee; Distinction in the John Locke Essay Competition.
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 can seem vague or underdeveloped, especially for UK & European applicants competing on a global stage.
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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