International study doors open for students

Over 12 000 South Africans are currently studying overseas, and more than one-million locals are looking to join them, according to a survey conducted by consumer insights specialists BrandMapp. Between changes in testing requirements at US universities, coming out of the COVID-19 pandemic, and a general increase in the understanding of the complex application processes, trends in the tertiary education sector are slowly breaking down the barriers to entry.

“The growing number of success stories, with local students getting into the likes of Harvard, Oxford, and other competitive universities, is proof to South African students that it is possible to compete on a global stage.

“That doesn’t mean it’s easier to get in – students still need to meet the academic entry requirements and demonstrate positive personal qualities through application essays and extracurricular activities.

“This does, however, mean there are more opportunities to prove yourself,” says Rebecca Pretorius, Country Manager at global mentorship company Crimson Education.

The easing of standardised testing is one change that could open the doors for more local students to be considered – particularly those from disadvantaged backgrounds – based purely on their academic and extracurricular merit. In 2020, over 600 United States (US) universities, including the entire Ivy League, became test-optional, meaning students can choose whether they want to take standardised tests, commonly the SAT.

Other top universities, such as Brown, Dartmouth, and Columbia, will remain test optional for students matriculating in 2023. For Harvard, this will continue until 2026.

From March 2023, SATs will be digital for South African students, a change that has already been made in the United States.

“We closely monitor these changes, so that we can give students guidance around how best to leverage them when applications come around.

“In many cases, we advise that students take the SAT or ACT if they can, based on the data point it provides,” says Pretorius.

Another key trend is a shift in attitude towards rankings.

In the past year, top law schools like Yale and Harvard announced that they are withdrawing from the US News and World Report university rankings.

These ranking systems work by gathering data from each school and dividing it into categories related to academics, student outcomes, student well-being, and more.

Their aim is to help students weigh up key factors before applying to a university.

The universities that have withdrawn, claim these methods are unscientific and discourage students from diverse backgrounds from applying.

“Removing rankings as an application consideration means that students can prioritise their genuine preferences. It gives them agency to decide on their best fit – as opposed to aiming solely for top-ranked institutions that may not be right for them,” says Pretorius.

“The appeal to study abroad has always been strong, but now, chances of success are better than ever.

“With so many South African students already representing our country at highly competitive universities abroad, we know that local students do have the capacity to compete, and excel, on an international stage,” says Pretorius.

Crimson Education is the world’s leading international university admissions consultancy.

Their personalised mentoring approach has helped thousands of students gain admission into the Ivy League, Oxbridge, and other top universities around the world.

Crimson’s university admissions and application counselling model connects students to the world’s best tutors and mentors to deliver individualised support to students to reach their personal education and career goals.

Crimson hosts weekly events with expert speakers and regular, free SAT Masterclasses at schools around the country. For more information, visit www.crimsoneducation.org/za.