5 Filipino students accepted to US universities with help of EducationUSA

US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson gives Kyle Abello his diploma for finishing the College Prep Program. Abello received an acceptance letter from Princeton University and was also the valedictorian of their 15-member cohort. On his right are EducationUSA Advisors Roch Miguel and Julie Washburn. (Photo by Luisa Cabato)

MANILA, Philippines — Five Filipino students have been accepted to premier universities and colleges in the United States (US), thanks to EducationUSA’s College Prep Program (CPP).

CPP is an 18-month program for qualified Grade 11 students who wish to enroll in educational institutions in the US. It assists students with the application process, including applying for scholarships and funding from the US.

READ: US launches $30-M program to boost PH tertiary education

EducationUSA, conversely, is a network that promotes US education worldwide by offering accurate, comprehensive, and the latest information on educational opportunities.

The five students — Kyle Abello (Princeton University), Matt Sareno (Yale University), Keene Dampal (Dartmouth College), Ellen Fay Ann Yabut (University of Pennsylvania), and Bea San Agustin (University of Southern Mississippi) — were part of a 15-member cohort who completed the CPP and graduated on Thursday, May 17, at the US Embassy in Manila.

Students who graduated from EducationUSA’s College Prep Program pose for a photo with US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson. (Photo by Luisa Cabato)

US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson commended the graduates and wished them success in their college journey.

“I recognize that you are achieving tremendous academic milestones, and I celebrate your determination to find opportunities and pursue excellence,” she said in a speech.

“Remember that success is not measured solely by academic accolades or professional achievements. Success lies in your ability to lead with integrity, serve with compassion, and make a meaningful difference in the lives of others,” Carlson continued.

The envoy also gave the graduates one last “assignment”: to keep asking questions and to stay curious about the world.

“Our collective future and understanding about one another’s cultures, values, and our shared world depends on you doing your very best in this assignment,” she said.

(From left) US Ambassador to the Philippines MaryKay Carlson and EducationUSA Advisors Roch Miguel and Julie Washburn exchange laughs before the graduation ceremony of the 15 students who completed the College Prep Program starts. (Photo by Luisa Cabato)

“The world awaits your brilliance, leadership, and boundless potential,” she concluded.

Abello, who was hailed as the batch valedictorian, promised to return to the country once he finishes his engineering degree.

“I feel like I have to give back. As a son of two government workers, I see it with my own eyes how detrimental…how systemic problems in the Philippines affect the lives of many,” he said in an interview.

As a typhoon Yolanda survivor, Abello added that he saw firsthand the environmental degradation that the country has, thus the vow to return and serve the Philippines.

How to be a part of the CPP?

According to EducationUSA Advisor Roch Miguel, the CPP application typically opens in August and September, while the program itself starts in November or December.

The 15 graduates are the second cohort of the CPP, and she noted that out of the 300 to 400 applicants, only 15 to 20 students get accepted.

The applicants need to present their high school grades from Grades 9 and 10, essays, and lists of extracurricular activities.

They also need to undergo a mock Scholastic Assessment Test.

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Moreover, Miguel said that the three criteria that they are looking for in a prospective CPP student are leadership, communication skills, and academic excellence.

She also mentioned that out of the 11 students in the first batch of the CPP, three of them received full-ride scholarships to attend Harvard University, Duke University, and Smith College.

Learnings from the CPP

When asked about the assistance that the CPP provides for its students, Miguel said that it includes a fortnightly online session and a one-week boot camp where students are taught how to write their college application essays.

Students also undergo practice exams and interviews.

Furthermore, Miguel said that the CPP helps the students maximize their extracurricular activities to create a “branding” for themselves that will make them stand out from the rest of the US college applicants.

Aside from that, the CPP also shoulders the students’ expenses in review materials, transportation, application requirements, flight to the US once accepted, and other needs.