What is Prep4University?

The biggest challenge of getting into a good university is navigating the application process.

Most applicants fail not because they are not good enough. They fail because they didn’t say the right things in the application essay, or asked a wrong person for a recommendation letter, or did not mention the right things in their application and instead kept talking about the wrong things, or missed an important step, or made some other preventable mistake.

X-Culture professors from top universities will guide you through the application process, from June to December. From selecting the best college for you to sending off your application. Our professors will make sure you know what needs to be done and said and that you do it on time.

Every two weeks, X-Culture professors will meet with you, explain how the university application process works, what you need to be doing each week between June and December, share their tips and tricks on improving your chances of getting into top universities, and make sure you are doing everything right and on time.

Step-by-step

  1. You are applying to university this year, but you worry you may miss something.
  2. We will guide a group of 50 students like you from June to December.
  3. We will meet every two weeks and tell you what exactly you need to be doing every step of the way.
  4. Our professors and guest speakers will share with you tips and tricks for improving your chances of getting into top universities.
  5. We will not do the work for you, but we will make sure you do it right and do it on time.
Step by step

Schedule

Dates: June 20 – December 26, 2021

  • The program is organized around bi-weekly group meetings.
  • Our professors and guest speakers will cover the topics listed below.
  • We will guide you step by step through the application process and make sure you don’t miss anything, and do everything right and on time.
Diary

Curriculum

  • Types of universities/colleges 
  • Undergraduate vs. graduate education
  • Private vs. public universities 
  • The cost of education: tuition, room and board, other fees
  • Majors, minors: selecting your field of study
  • Universities in big cities versus college towns: pros and cons 
  • The university application process 
  • What universities are looking for in applicants
  • Acceptance rates and the kind of record needed for each university tier
  • Differences among universities in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia 
  • The Common App: What it is and how it works 
  • Common App essay
  • What the universities are looking for in the application essay: Examples of strong and weak application essays
  • The process of writing a strong application essay
  • Selecting the essay topic, planning, writing, and soliciting feedback on your essay
  • Way to get help with professional copyediting of your application essay 
  • Pros and cons (and dangers) of using external help (professional copyeditors, ghostwriters, parents’ help, etc.)
  • The No-Nos of plagiarism and dishonesty in the application essay
  • Different admissions tests for undergraduate and graduate students 
  • What kind of test scores university are looking for 
  • Best strategies to prepare for admission tests
  • Prep courses for admissions tests
  • Prep books for admissions tests
  • Taking the admissions courses online
  • Taking the admissions courses in different countries  
  • Test waivers
  • Test fees
  • Retaking the test 
  • What is a CV, and why you need one
  • Academic CV vs. work resume 
  • CV structure and formatting
  • Examples of strong and weak CVs
  • Do’s and Don’ts of CV composition
  • How to present your achievements in the most favorable light (without being phony)
  • Pros and cons of seeking external help with your CV (online services that help with writing resumes/cover letters)
  • What is a recommendation letter
  • Whom should you ask for recommendation letters
  • Whom should you NOT ask for recommendation letters
  • Examples of strong and weak recommendation letters 
  • Recommendation letter mistakes 
  • How to ask for a recommendation letter 
  • How to remind your referee that the recommendation letter is due
  • To provide or not to provide your “talking points” to the referee?
  • How recommendation letters are submitted
  • What is my referee does not speak English
  • Can you check the recommendation letter before it’s submitted?
  • Why grades and SATs are not enough
  • What else universities are looking for in applicants
  • Ways to strengthen your resume 
  • Examples of experiences, activities, summer camps, honors societies, and other achievements that can impress universities
  • Examples of programs, activities, and courses that can be taken in the next few months to strengthen your resume in time for your application 
  • The cost of university education 
  • Sources of funding for your education
  • Personal/family savings
  • Scholarships, stipends, bursaries, grants
  • Government loans
  • Private loans 
  • Sports scholarships
  • University vs. external funding sources
  • J-1 / F-1 visa: Pros and cons
  • Getting a job while being a student 
  • On-campus jobs, off-campus jobs
  • Student assistantships (TA, RA, GA)
  • The special case of international students 
  • Tuition and fees
  • Room and board
  • Pros and cons of on-campus vs. off-campus housing 
  • Food and transportation
  • Holidays and travel home
  • Health insurance and health expenses 
  • Cost of living in different areas
  • Pre-college credits: AP courses and the like
  • Taking some courses at local community colleges
  • Taking courses for credit vs. auditing courses
  • Student visa
  • F1 vs. J1 
  • TOEFL 
  • Additional healthcare requirements 
  • Degree equivalency evaluations 
  • Translating documents
  • Bring along family members
  • Being a student and immigration: OPT, permanent residency, etc.  

Pricing

$195
for the entire 6-month program, paid once

$45
per month, paid monthly


First bi-weekly meeting and guide free. Apply, try for free, see if it’s for you, cancel any time.

Stipends

  • X-Culture is an educational program, not a business. While we depend on the participation fees to cover our operation costs, we are committed to providing an opportunity to every deserving student, even if they cannot pay the participation fee.
  • Participants from low-income countries/families or who cannot pay the participation fee for other reasons can apply for the X-Culture stipends.
  • Ten $100 stipends will be available for the 2021 cohort. The students who receive stipends will pay only $95 for the entire 6-month program.
Academy

What Is X-Culture?

X-Culture is an international business competition.

Over 80,000 university students and pre-university teenagers from 110 countries took part in X-Culture since its launch in 2010.

Over 700 professors from the world’s top universities are members of X-Culture.

X-Culture specializes in international business education, and most of the competition participants are university students.

However, in 2017, we allowed pre-university teenagers to take part in X-Culture. As many of them are now applying to universities, our professors help them navigate the application process.

Because so many X-Culture alumni are asking for help with applying to universities, we created this program.

Starting in 2021, non-X-Culture alumni can also join the group and receive guidance from our professors.

The 2021 group will be limited to 50 applicants – and you can be one of them.

Quick Facts

  1. X-Culture launched: 2010
  2. Number of students per session: 5,000
  3. Number of universities per session: 130
  4. Number of countries by student residence: 40
  5. Number of countries by student nationality: 75
  6. Total number of X-Culture graduates since 2010: 80,000
  7. Total number of universities since 2010: 670
  8. Total number of university professors since 2010: 880
  9. Notable clients: Mercedes-Benz, Louis Vuitton, Home Depot, Hard Rock International, JCB, Alibaba
  10. Number of clients per session: 5-10
  11. Open for non-student adults: 2015
  12. Open for pre-college youths: 2018