We’re delighted to share the news that this year NCS students have earned three offers to study at the Ivy League’s Harvard and Princeton, with scholarships totalling £1 million between the students. In short, this means these students will have their university education fully funded for the duration of their courses, allowing them to graduate debt free.
Our US Ivy League Preparation has yielded spectacular results as part of our Elite University Preparation Programme. In eight years it has now earned 15 offers to allow students from East London continue their education journeys at the Ivy League and America’s most prestigious universities. A truly remarkable achievement.
Harmanpreet Garcha, Feyisara Adeyemi, and Tasneen Hossain, all secured their spaces at these through the Elite University Preparation Programme we offer all students, which includes specialist tutors for the SAT entrance exam, a trip to Boston and New York to tour universities, and practice interviews with NCS alumni who’ve graduated and are currently studying in America.
Ivy League application support for students in private education costs around £20,000 per pupil. Students at Newham Collegiate Sixth Form in East London, receive it for free.
Meet Our Ivy League Offer Students
Harmanpreet
“When I got in, I was in disbelief for a bit. It is hard to believe that I will be actually studying at a top American university. It feels like a scene from a film, to be honest. It’s hard to take in."
Feyisara
“I was really pleased to be offered a place. My family are really excited for me. I’m going to miss them but it’s an incredible opportunity for me. East London and Princeton are very different places but I am confident I will adapt and have a great time.”
Tasneen
“It has been an incredible journey. My family and I have been working on this for a long time. I have always pushed myself in my studies and they have supported me all the way. But even with all that effort I would not have got there without the school. They have given the type of opportunities most students from low-income families like me don’t get ... They have really levelled the playing field for us and given us the chance to compete with students from the most affluent private schools.”
Our Ivy League Preparation Programme consists of distinct phases.
In the first term for our Year 12 students, the senior admissions officer from Harvard University visits the NCS to give an overview of studying abroad. Students who want to explore applying to the US further attend a one-day Common Application course. Here they learn about the US application process and receive support in writing their US personal statement and college essays.
To support students with the American entrance examinations (SAT), we fly in an expert SAT tutor from New York to lead a week-long breakout course in understanding and acing the aptitude test. The practise continues throughout the summer holiday and autumn term with regular Skype sessions to fine-tune responses.
A group of students then have the opportunity to attend an exploration trip to Boston and New York. The trip allows them to visit MIT, Harvard, Princeton, Yale and Columbia universities for tours, application guidance and to sit in lectures delivered by Ivy League professors.
On the trip they also have the chance to meet NCS alumni currently studying at Ivy League universities. All this experience helps our candidates discover more about how the American higher education system differs to that of the UK and get a feel for student life by speaking with current undergraduates and realise that the dream is actually attainable.
A masterclass on the application form with our tutor in New York rounds up the visit and moves them into the final phase of practise interviews. The trip provides many experiences for the students to discuss courses and cement decisions on which universities to apply to.
Private Schools Vs. The NCS
It’s widely reported that students from private schools – including Charterhouse, Eton, Harrow and Godolphin – are now preferring to study abroad at the USA Ivy League, rather than at Oxbridge. To help them prepare for the rigorous application process, parents of private school students are known to spend in the region of £20,000 per pupil for the guidance. All with no guarantee of success.
By comparison, The NCS provides the same high level expertise to our students, including a trip to visit the Ivy’s in America, absolutely free. The programme is becoming an increasingly popular option for our students – many of whom live in some of the most disadvantaged boroughs in London.
Seeing our students continue to succeed on our Ivy League Preparation Programme confirms Newham Collegiate’s position as one of the leading academic 16-19 Free Schools in London and UK.
NCS Principal Anita Lomax commented:
We push the boundaries and expectations of our students. They now believe these types of opportunities are available to them. These students are seizing the truly life-changing opportunities available to them.”