“The Force Multiplier – Yashi’s unique mentorship approach for higher education

Yashi Shukla

Ever since studying in a foreign university or college is no longer the sole privilege for the urban Indians, students from lesser-known and lesser-expected locations such as Agra, Jaipur and have also started nursing hopes of a foreign degree to add to their curriculum. However, this dream is easier seen than realized, and that is where ace mentor Yashi Shukla comes in. Yashi has been in the business of overseas admissions for Indian students for the past more than a decade, and her success rate is exemplary. That is one reason why parents flock to her team to start preparing their children, some of whom are still in school, for an academic career abroad. Her involvement in the process is to the core that indicates how overseas college application review is much more than academic scores and cut-offs. She explains, "Colleges need achievers in the complete sense, not just academics. They want to see students who care about their community, interesting and inspiring; they need an interesting class of keen learners. The academic and test scores are an important part of the application, but not the sole deciding factor."

From Hobby to Livelihood

Yashi is a well-known name in the field of admissions in educational institutions overseas (USA, UK, CANADA, AUSTRALIA ETC.). Her connection to the education industry began 17 years back when she stumbled upon a knowledge bank for admission into institutions across the UK, the US, Canada, and other parts of the world. As a hobby, Yashi took up studying more in this direction and learning, on the way, that applying to the top colleges in foreign countries requires much more than just an application form. Her research led her to more and more information, which inspired her to turn this activity into a full-fledged career for herself and that is how her firm was born. Today, Yashi is a globally certified career counselor. She has also been awarded a certificate by the University of California, Los Angeles, in career counseling for her exemplary efforts in sending the best students to the best colleges overseas.

The Force Behind

Yashi believes that applying to a college abroad means much more than an application form filled correctly. She knows that instead of adopting an assembly line approach to accepting, processing, and forwarding college applications, each application needs to be handled as a unique and individual attempt at finding a better educational opportunity. For this, her team, made of some of the best mentors in India and abroad, takes its time combing through the application process, gathering different parts diligently, and compiling the final application plan in the best possible manner. The team spends 80-100 hours of research, planning, and writing on each application form. That should tell you how seriously Yashi takes every one of her clients. Yashi's team of mentors is led by Abhinav Agarwal, who is himself at Stanford University and has bagged 100% scholarship as a student. Abhinav and the rest of the team are fully aware of the different requirements of different institutions and the latest trends that would help students gain admission and scholarship in a college of their choice.

Yashi has developed her firm into a one-stop solution for anyone seeking admission overseas. Talking about what she offers to her mentees, Yashi says, "Majority of my students get into colleges with scholarship, including presidential scholarships for the US and bursaries for the UK. We also keep track of every available scholarship opportunity and guide our mentees accordingly."

Parents approach Yashi as early as Grade 8 onwards, even though Yashi doesn't take up students younger than Grade 9. However, due to the massive rush for mentorship with India's ace education consultant, parents start applying a year in advance.

Today, Yashi is hungry to learn more about the business of education overseas and is piqued to open offices in the US, UK, and Singapore to meet the high demand for consultants who can put students into the best colleges that the world has to offer.

The Team

But Yashi isn't alone in all this. Since she realizes that a simple application form isn't all that goes into getting you admission into that coveted foreign college or university, students work with her team of choicest of mentors from different time zones and different parts of the world, who spend 80-100 hours with each student before forwarding their applications to the desired institutions. The team starts with understanding the qualification, backgrounds, and skills of each student. After that, they comb through the application process, write down or collect various requirements as enlisted by the concerned institution, and put together the best application plan for the student. The seriousness and research employed for each application and client are just exemplary.

Apart from having developed her firm into a one-stop solution for anyone seeking admission overseas, Yashi also helps the students with scholarship opportunities abroad. Talking about what she offers to her mentees, Yashi says, "Majority of my students get into colleges with scholarship, including presidential scholarships for the US and bursaries for the UK. We also keep track of every available scholarship opportunity and guide our mentees accordingly."

Owning a separate PR department in her firm, Yashi ensures that her mentees gain maximum volunteer engagement using the latest digital tools at hand so that their application receives the correct weightage in the eyes of the institutions. The industry tie-ups that Yashi has nurtured over the years also help her students with the proper form of internships, which is a significant part of any application form.

About her one-stop solution from digital profiling of the students, internships, research paper & publishing, buddy mentorship program to admissions abroad, Yashi proudly says, "As an overseas education consultant, it is my job to have all the resources at disposal and connect the students to the right resources. This saves time for their parents, who, otherwise, would have to run from pillar to post seeking the right thing to do."