At UNCOMMON App, we operate with three foundational principles in approaching undergraduate admissions: collaboration, strategy & structure, and customization & flexibility.
Collaboration: Every student and family has unique needs. In order for your student to achieve their goals, the college
application process should be collaborative between student, family, and counselor.
We’ve been there: we understand that your teenager is going through a difficult stage, so we are steadfastly respectful of their personality and sensitive to individual circumstances.
At the same time, parents are vital partners in this process and deserve utmost consideration.
Strategy & Structure: From development of the initial college list to visit planning, financial aid discussions to essay writing, each phase of UNCOMMON App’s comprehensive plan is approached deliberately and strategically. In a confusing and often overwhelming process, we offer a clear and customized strategy broken into stages with step-by-step tasks. We will give your student an individualized series of steps—this way, there's never a question about what needs to be done next.
Customization & Flexibility: Whether your student is a high school freshman searching for a general strategy or a last-minute, panicking senior, we will customize any plan to optimize results for your student. Some students are fiercely independent and resent even the mildest suggestions for their essays or college choices; others are less confident and need lots of help and encouragement. Our flexible style adjusts to each student’s personality and pace.
Thinking of pursuing a degree abroad? Studying outside of the U.S. and feeling eager to apply to an American university? We’re prepared to help you succeed!
We’ve worked successfully with students from the British, French, and Russian educational systems who have accepted places at American universities like The University of Chicago, Brandeis University, New York University, Northeastern University, Stony Brook University (SUNY), Hunter College (CUNY), and University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Our acceptances for students seeking an international degree include top institutions in Canada (McGill University, The University of British Columbia) and the United Kingdom (Imperial College London, King’s College London, London School of Economics, University College London, The University of Edinburgh, University of Oxford, The University of St Andrews), as well as Sciences Po (France) and Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (The Netherlands).
Our personal connections to international admissions make us especially equipped to help you on your globetrotting educational journey. Several members of our team have earned graduate degrees in different countries, and we bring a keen awareness of the nuances of different education systems.
U.S.-based students are applying abroad now more than ever. Education systems, admissions, and student life vary enormously across cultural lines. If you’re interested in an international degree, your commitment to your program is crucial. Defining and identifying your interests and creating realistic expectations are key to getting started. UNCOMMON App is uncommonly prepared to help you do just that. Our focus is on English-instructed programs and dual programs that award bachelors, masters, or combined degrees.
UNCOMMON App is uniquely positioned to offer comprehensive guidance on graduate school admission. Principal consultant Dr. Elena Polenova has two decades of experience guiding undergraduate students in their graduate program applications. In that role she worked closely with faculty and learned first hand how graduate admissions are different from undergraduate. She provides valuable advice on getting letters of recommendations - a key factor in graduate admissions. Her expertise allows students to comprise a realistic and well thought out list of graduate programs.
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Elena’s extensive knowledge of academia and experience counseling students in a university careers center allows her to clearly explain the relationships between desired career and a graduate degree. Her sensitivity and familiarity with guiding young people onto new journeys in employment and academics is a throughline in her work as a consultant. So, what does it really take to find the right graduate program ? At UNCOMMON App, we’ll help you dig through the pros, cons, highs, lows, and grey areas.
Our team includes consultants with doctoral degrees in academic fields who will provide specific guidance and valuable insight around getting letters of recommendation, comprising a realistic and well-thought-out list of programs, and crafting compelling personal statements. Together, we’ll find the program that’s truly meant for you and will help you with a compelling application.
Elena and MCAT specialist Dan have partnered for more than 15 years spending countless hours discussing and analyzing the challenging process of medical school admissions. In Elena’s advisory role at a large research university, she worked with countless premedical students, which exposed her to the nuances and challenges of the premedical pathway. Through collaboration with pre-med advisors and observing results, she gained insider’s knowledge of the admission process. Dan brings his unique understanding of the intricacies of the MCAT and his outstanding success rate to this collaboration. Together, Dan and Elena activate their combined expertise to prepare students for medical school application success and a positive admissions experience.
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A medical career can be extremely rewarding, but admission into medical school is highly competitive—and premedical life can be stressful. Our expert guidance and personal advocacy make the complex process more comprehensible and yield successful outcomes. What does this mean?
Evaluate early. Not all students arrive at the premedical track with the same aptitudes, experiences, and ambitions. Selecting a major, deciding when to take core premedical classes, supplementing academic work with appropriate extracurriculars, and beginning to engage in clinical and research activities are all part of the premedical experience, but different students benefit from different paths. This includes when to apply to medical school and whether gap years are appropriate.
Keep the MCAT top of mind. Considering the MCAT throughout college is crucial so the exam doesn't become overwhelming once it’s too late. When students encounter more rigorous coursework like organic chemistry and physics in school, MCAT-testable topics can be distinguished and reinforced later. Finally, when the time comes for more intense MCAT preparation, developing a study calendar, lightening up other responsibilities, and ensuring high-quality instruction are essential.
Create a professional application that tells your story. Once a student decides which schools to apply to and which degree programs make the most sense, the application and admissions processes can be daunting. Students have essays to write, activities to describe, and, depending on the school, situational response tests to complete. The application is most effective when it tells a story instead of providing a résumé. Giving readers an understanding of the applicant on a personal level will create the most memorable impression and increase chances at success.