University Placements

When it comes to choosing the right university to apply to, the amount of choice can often seem very daunting. Our University Placement Mentoring service pairs you with an expert Mentor in the subject that you are applying to study. This Mentor will make sure that you are applying to the right universities and guide you through the UCAS application process. 

Many of the students we work with are applying to Oxford, Cambridge or Ivy League Schools in the US.

Oxbridge Package

  • Obtaining a place at Oxford or Cambridge is harder this year than ever before.

    We work with former interviewers at Oxford and Cambridge who have a wealth of experience in supporting students to perform at their absolute best in admissions tests and interviews.

UK Applications Package

  • This is our most popular service. Here we provide academic mentoring and UCAS applications support and mentoring for 5 UK University applications.

    This often, but not always, includes Oxbridge applications assistance.

Ivy League Package

  • The process of applying to US universities is not only complex, but also highly competitive, with acceptance rates to top universities like Harvard, now under 4%.

    Whetstone’s unique college admissions consultancy model lifts students above the global applicant pool addressing every aspect of the application with equal intensity.

How it works

01 — CONSULTATION

(30-40 mins online)

First, we sit down and discuss your concerns and expectations. This will be carried out with one of our specialist university Mentors, who will have been sent your exam grades, recent reports and any other information you are able to share with us. 

They will discuss your options with you and guide you to explore universities or courses that might be well suited to your interests. In some cases, the consultation will also include a discussion of extra-curricular interests and accolades. For Oxbridge applications, these details will help us to draw up a shortlist of potentially well-suited colleges.

This conversation is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions you may have about any specific university courses and the application process.

02 — APPLICATION

If, after your consultation, you are interested in us supporting you through your university applications, we will draw up a personalised academic plan for your child. This will start by outlining the goals and targets agreed upon by you, your child and Whetstone. It will then go on to highlight the areas of strengths and weaknesses that we have identified in our consultation and recommend necessary action. Recommendations will come in the following forms:

1) Specific university / Oxbridge college suggestions - We will suggest universities that we think are best suited to the academic abilities and interests of your child.

2) Application support - We will guide you through the whole process and provide you with deadline reminders and help with navigating the UCAS system. 


3) Tutoring suggestions - We will recommend tutoring in specific areas of weakness. For example:

-       Personal statement writing 

-       SAT / ACT preparation 

-       Admissions test preparation

-       Oxbridge project-based work 

-       Additional English tuition for EAL students

-       Interview preparation

-       Mock interviews 

-       A level tutoring for weaker subjects

We will provide you with profile information of two or three recommended expert tutors for each subject area that we feel needs additional assistance from which to choose.

03 — ONGOING SUPPORT

What makes our mentoring service stand out is the ongoing support we offer. Once part of the Applications Support programme, our Mentors and Tutors are always available via email or phone to chat through any concerns or questions you may be having. We ensure that all Mentors and Tutors involved in the education of your child have a weekly meeting so that dialogue over the progress of your child in every area that requires support is being constantly assessed. And, we provide regular reports outlining in detail the progress that has been made, and any suggested alterations to the academic plan. 

We are better than tutors. We’re teachers.