BSA/BAISIS US University Day

• Date: June 18, 2025
• Time: 13:00 – 15:30
• Cost: BAISIS/BSA Full Member – FOC, Non-member Schools – £470
• Audience: Year 10, 11, 12 and 13 students; Heads of Careers; HE advisors, Heads of EAL
• Platform: Zoom (online)

Sponsored by: A-List Education

Course Outline:

BSA and BAISIS is delighted to join forces with A-List Education for this exciting opportunity for students to explore higher education options in the US. This FREE online conference will offer application guidance, top tips and advice for those interested in studying in the US after leaving school. We’ll hear directly from US university representatives and speakers on the following topics:

1. Introduction to US applications
2. SAT and ACT strategies
3. Athletic recruitment, finances and scholarships
4. Mock admissions panel
5. Essay writing skills

The online event is suitable for all students in Years 10, 11, 12 and 13 and the staff involved with university applications support, such as Heads of Careers and Heads of EAL.

To secure your place please book as soon as possible, providing the name of one staff member. Later you will be able to add contact details for as many students and staff as you would like to attend.

The day is completely free of charge and schools may attend with as many members of staff and students as they wish. 

BOOK NOW

Programme:

13:00-13:30    Aspiring to America: an introduction to US university applications

• Speaker: Umut Arslan, Senior Careers Advisor, A-List Education

13:30-14:00    The SAT and ACT: what they are and how to ace them

• Speaker: Charlotte McKechnie, Director of Performance and Academics, A-List Education

14:00-14:30    How to Write a Winning Common App Personal Statement

• Speaker: Aayzah Mirza, Senior University Advisor, A-List Education

14:30-15:00    Financing a US Education: athletic recruitment and scholarships

• Speaker: Sam Cox, Head of Client Services and Operations, A-List Education

15:00-15:30    Mock Admissions Panel: what universities really look for

• Panel:
• Mariel Kessel, Director of US University Programmes, Director University Advisor​, A-List Education
• Umut Aslan, Senior Careers Advisor, A-List Education
• Aayzah Mirza, Senior University Advisor, A-List Education

Speakers:

Mariel Kessel, Director Advisor, A-List and former Associate Dean of Undergraduate Admission at Princeton University

Mariel spent six years in the admissions department at Princeton University, rising to the role of Associate Dean of Undergraduate Admission, where she led a team focused on recruiting and evaluating international applicants. She also has extensive experience working with top global professional schools in business, public administration, and medicine, in particular at The University of Oxford Said Business School where she was associate director of MBA admissions as well as multiple roles at the University of Washington School of Medicine, and at Columbia University in the Earth Institute and Business School.

She received her BA from Smith College in Government and French Studies and her M.Phil in American Studies from Columbia University. Mariel is passionate about helping students find the right university fit and when she is not thinking about what makes a great essay, she spends her time doing pottery, hiking with her husband, and reading novels.

Umut Arslan, Senior Careers Advisor, A-List and graduate of Harvard University

As Senior Careers Advisor, Umut is responsible for leading school partnerships for A-List.

In addition to his work with A-List’s partner schools, Umut advises students on their US university application journeys, leveraging his extensive experience with international applications. He has previously worked with schools in Italy, China, Vietnam, and Turkey as an admissions advisor, essay coach, and portfolio reviewer. Umut also collaborates closely with the Harvard College Admissions Office as an interviewer.

Umut holds a bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Art History from Harvard University, where he also completed a secondary concentration in Psychology and earned a language citation in French. As a believer in building holistic application profiles, Umut focuses on highlighting the unique aspects of a student’s personal journey through essays and interviews. In his spare time, he enjoys cycling, tennis, surfing, and photography.

Charlotte McKechnie, Director of Academics, A-List and graduate of Harvard University

A highly versatile US admissions advisor and tutor, Charlotte began her US university journey by preparing herself for the SATs and the US university admissions system and gaining acceptance to four Ivy League universities. She joined A-List in 2016, driven by a deep desire that no other student navigate this process alone. Originally from Glasgow, Scotland, Charlotte received her Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Literature from Harvard University in 2015.

Charlotte is a keen advisor with a knack for helping students find the right programmes and courses amidst the global options, steering her students through every aspect of the process from university selection and summer programme planning to essay writing and interview preparation. As a tutor, Charlotte is adept helping students navigate the challenges of the SAT and ACT, with specialities in critical reading and writing. In addition to test prep, she works as a mentor and critical reading and writing specialist, where she helps students build the organisational and critical reasoning skills necessary to become excellent and well-rounded students. She has used her skills both in private tuition and in the classroom, leading A-List’s in-school programmes at Westminster, Wellington, and Sevenoaks.

Charlotte thrives on tailoring material and approaches to the needs of each student, continuously exploring how to engage and meet students at each part of their journey. She regularly supports neurodiverse students and prioritises building personal teaching plans with student and parent to meet the student’s goals and schedule needs as well as transform their engagement with learning.

In 2019, Charlotte joined A List’s Academic Team with whom she manages and develops our excellent tutor cohort as well as leading A-List’s academic product developments, ensuring she remains at the forefront of educational developments.

While at Harvard, Charlotte was a Business Director for Harvard Model United Nations and received the Franklin D Roosevelt Global Fellowship, Harold Bolitho Undergraduate Research Scholarship in Australian Studies and Seven Sisters College Conference Book Award for essay writing. Now a professional opera singer, director, and producer, Charlotte has worked at the National Opera Center, American Repertory Theater, and West End’s Peacock Theatre and recorded for BBC1, Radio 2 and Radio 4. She is the founder and Artistic Director of New Voices Theatre, a company dedicated to performing theatrical works by women.

Aayzah Mirza, Senior University Advisor, A-List Education

A multifaceted researcher and educator, Aayzah completed her Masters from New York University as a McCracken fellow in Near Eastern Studies and Museum Studies. At NYU, she also designed digital humanities projects at the Global Asia Center. Prior to this, she pursued a double major in History and Psychology at Bryn Mawr College, where she was the recipient of multiple scholarships and aid awards.

Since 2019, Aayzah has worked as a U.S. college advisor, comprehensively preparing international students for admissions in IVY league institutions, prestigious public universities, and liberal arts colleges. Her approach is highly personalized, ensuring each student’s personal, academic, and socio-cultural context is leveraged to optimize their college application plan.

Outside of work, Aayzah can be found rummaging through art books at eclectic bookstores, visiting museums, and experimenting with fusion recipes.

Sam Cox, Head of Client Services and Operations, A-List Education

Sam has worked in various leadership roles across technology, creative agencies & higher education. He led the admissions team at Met Film School and has expertise in advising students on university admissions.

Alison Bissell, Director, A-List Education

Alison Bissell is the Director of A-List and has been advising schools, students, and their families for the past ten years. Alison uses her own experiences studying Maths and Philosophy at Oxford University to personally guide applicants considering Oxbridge and STEM options. She also holds an MBA and has previously worked in corporate roles within government.