Disclaimer: If you work with us, we will brainwash you into believing in yourself.

 

Approach: We create that which does not exist yet.

Meaning: our students' work and brand cannot be copied by humans nor learned by machines

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Why? Because big ideas don’t win by default. Execution does. Tone does. Timing does.
If you don’t speak the same language as admissions, someone else will.

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Our results speak for themselves!!

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We are also unrelentingly and unapologetically focused on the student.

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In fact, we are very fond of saying that the parents will never be our clients, the student is our client. We do invite and involve the parent(s), however, our laser focus is the student!!

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And for good reason:

The admissions process is designed in a way that admissions committees only focus on the students (who are the applicants, not parents). So, if universities focus on the students and the parents only want what is best for their child (student), then why in the world focus on anyone or anything but the student/applicant!​

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Truth is, AOs (admission officers incl. readers/committees/anyone and everyone who will "touch" the application) cringe when they see a buffet of random, unrelated with no purpose activities/profile* (based on outdated models from the 1980s/1990s/early 2000s/or even 3 years ago or with the way last year has gone on, even last year). Why? Because universities' institutional needs evolve every year. Just witness the chaos post SCOTUS decision. Not understanding that admissions is evolving constantly is what leads to mistakes and rejections!

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*What is the outdated model you ask? Some sport (when you will not be an athletic recruit), some musical instrument (when you will not apply as a music major which is a different universe in admissions), ​pay-to-play "research" (where the only skill is how to use a credit card), "community service" or "volunteer" hours (simply to satisfy high school requirements w/o care for impact, service or purpose), token competition(s), more summer camp(s) (more credit card skills), summer pay-to-play programs (even more credit card), and so on ... the list is endless of outdated strategies, models.

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So, why does everyone (tutoring companies, learning centers, college consultants and even high school counselors "sell" these?

Because parents are convinced that this is what is needed today! And it is hard (for parents and students) to accept that college admissions is complex with layers upon layers of decision makers (enrollment directors, provosts, chancellors, trustees, endowment offices) that go beyond the admission offices. A refusal to embrace the complexities surrounding college admissions and enrollment realities of businesses operating as universities is on you, the applicant and family - bear in mind: admissions/enrollment deans speak openly about how they make decisions; not reading/listening to actual data is on you. Ignorance, in college admissions, is not bliss!

 

With Aster Institute, we follow admissions religiously so that when we hear naïve, outdated strategies, we guide you back to what is sought by leading admissions deans, directors, provosts, chancellors and trustees/endowment offices.

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Please note, in themselves there is nothing wrong with the above (traditional) activities but to pass them off as the stand out factor(s) and expect an acceptance (generally 1 acceptance equals 30 rejections), is a gross misunderstanding of competitive admissions' realities.

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The secret (if you will in a manner of speaking) is where you as an applicant stand out and demonstrate true, impact-driven leadership - both in and out of school - is what we specialize in. Furthermore, being tone deaf or silent on current developments in society and world is simply a recipe for rejections.

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There is so much more to reveal. If you want to learn more, reach out, and if you want to stand out in college admissions, work with us.

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So, how does Aster Institute work?

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When you work with Aster Institute, you work one-on-one with our founder, Adnan. He focuses only on the student and creates impact-driven strategies that align with the universities' vision of a leader (humble, compassionate, uplifting others without judgement, resilient, full of grit, grateful for all the opportunities, and not afraid of challenges nor an embrace of their unique self). Creating an authentic presentation of the application where the starting point is what the student considers fun and has a an organic desire to pursue can be said to be one of the secrets of generating acceptances. 

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In the words of Adnan:

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"I work with each client PERSONALLY. I find it troubling that other

companies simply pass on the students to junior staffers. 

 

Your admissions to college is one of the biggest decisions of your life. I take that seriously!"

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