Everything you must know about our Prep Programme
Sören, Global Director of Outreach and Head of Prep Program, tells us everything you need to know about PA’s Prep Program for mentees!
By Sören Twietmeyer, Global Director of Outreach
What is the Prep Programme?
The Prep Programme is an addition to our UK, US, and EU programmes to help you as a mentee if you have some more time to work on your skills and interests before beginning your university applications. This means, if you apply to join us as a mentee before the summer of your application year, you will be automatically allocated to the Prep Programme. Then, as you enter the time of your application year, you join the regular PA mentorship programme.
So, what are the benefits of preparing earlier?
One of the main aspects of the Prep Programme is that we want you to use the time before you apply effectively to improve your English (or another required language), explore funding opportunities and find out what subject you would like to study. When mentees join the regular programme in July there is often only little time left to read extensively, take courses online, or attend talks. Being aware of these opportunities early on is thus crucial.
In addition to that, we help you prepare for your entrance exams such as the SAT or ACT early on. That way you will be less stressed once the time comes to work on the other parts of your application.
We also want to help you decide which university in all of the different regions we cover is best suited for you. Thinking about this carefully is not only important in terms of the success of the application but more importantly success and enjoyment during the degree.
How can I receive the right mentorship and resources?
Another important aspect of the Prep Programme is the help you receive with getting more involved in extra-curricular activities and potentially your first research and/ or work experience. Getting involved in extracurriculars in secondary school is not only very helpful for a mentee’s application but can also be a lot of fun. Maybe there is a book club you always wanted to set up at your school or join a science competition. Being aware of these possibilities and being able to ask someone how to go about it can make a significant difference. Therefore, you will receive guidance and resources on how to tackle these throughout the programme.
Mentors will be able to guide their mentees for a longer time and develop a deeper relationship with their mentees by helping them grow over an extended period. They will be able to share their experiences of how they got involved in secondary school and at university as well as how they found and developed their interests. In doing so, mentors can guide mentees through a less stressful but equally important time and have an even bigger impact on the chances of their mentees attending their dream university.
Ultimately…
At the end of the Prep Programme, mentees get automatically transferred into the regular US/UK/EU Program where they will start working on their application. There, you will be able to use all the things you worked on during the Prep Programme and convert them into an outstanding personal statement, essay, and even interview.