Expert resources for your counselling team

Your school counsellor is one of the most important partners in the US application process. By asking the right questions early—from internal deadlines and recommendations to testing and essay support—students can avoid last-minute stress and take real ownership of their applications.

When it comes to selecting courses for the next academic year, it can often feel like there’s a lot of pressure to strike the perfect balance between a difficult schedule and one that will allow students to get the best marks possible. This article emphasizes the importance of formulating a four-year academic plan to avoid this stress, and offers insights for international academic systems as well.

Finishing GCSE study and looking ahead to the upper school is a really exciting time for students and one that comes with many new opportunities. When planning for the academic piece of your final two years in school, think carefully about your skills, interests, and ambitions, and make sure you have a clear ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ of your curriculum and subject choices. Read this month's piece by Guidewell Global UK university admissions counsellor Sam Harris, answering common questions about how to select sixth form subjects during Year 11 if you're interested in applying to US universities.

Applying to US universities can feel overwhelming—especially when students are unsure where they’re likely to be admitted or offered funding. Reverse admissions, pioneered by Concourse, turns the process on its head by allowing universities to approach students directly with offers of admission and scholarships, helping families explore strong-fit options with far less stress and uncertainty.

US university interviews are very different from Oxbridge interviews. Usually conducted by alumni and more conversational in style, they’re designed to understand who you are, what you care about, and how you might contribute to campus life—rather than to test academic knowledge.

US university applications involve far more than just grades and a personal statement. From SAT or ACT testing to essays and references, starting early can make the process far more manageable—this guide explains when to begin and how to plan ahead with confidence.

Honours programmes can offer the academic intensity, close faculty relationships, and prestige many students seek—often within universities that admit a wider range of applicants. This guide explains how honours colleges work, who they suit best, and why they’re worth serious consideration when building a US university list.

Studying in the Netherlands offers UK students an academically rigorous, English-taught university experience in a highly international setting. This guide explains the Dutch university system, application process, and the key differences between research universities, universities of applied sciences, and university colleges—so you can decide if the Netherlands is the right fit for you.

Choosing between the Ivy League and Oxbridge isn’t about rankings alone. This guide breaks down the real differences between the US and UK university systems—so you can decide which environment, curriculum, and admissions philosophy suits you best.

From dual-campus degrees to truly global study paths, joint and multi-country programmes allow students to earn internationally recognised qualifications while living and learning across the US, UK, Europe, and Asia—an ideal option for globally minded applicants seeking academic flexibility and cultural immersion.