At GIIS, we believe in supporting our students not just during their school years but beyond, as they take the next steps into higher education. Whether students choose to pursue further studies right after graduating or take a gap year, our dedicated Career Counseling team offers unwavering support throughout the journey.
Here are testimonials from some of our recent graduates who benefitted from the personalised guidance provided by GIIS:
‘Counselling made training and applying for colleges more manageable’
Parth Khurana, IB 2024 – National Service (NS)
“During my National Service as a Firefighter, managing training and college applications was challenging. My counsellor, Ms. Seema Kaushik was supportive, helping me navigate the process even outside office hours. Whether it was writing my recommendation letter or answering my questions online while I worked from my bunk after training, her guidance made the process more manageable during a hectic time.”
Pratyush Bansal, IB 2023 – National Service (NS)
“After graduating from school, I applied to universities in the UK and US while serving NS.
I received very good support from my counsellor, Seema mam who answered all the queries I had regarding the application forms, and helped me get the necessary documents and recommendation letters. My teachers were also very helpful and quick to respond to my requests for graded papers and letters of recommendations.
I was able to apply to the US and UK universities through the school’s CIALFO platform which greatly sped up my application process.”
‘Personalised guidance made the process smoother’
Srinidhi Sundar, IB 2024 – Gap Year
“I’m extremely grateful for the invaluable support I received from the career counseling team at GIIS during my gap year. GIIS career counsellor Ms. Seema guided me through drafting and refining my personal statement, assisted with submitting my UCAS application, and helped obtain important documents whenever necessary. Such personalised guidance, constructive feedback, and encouragement from the school made the application process much smoother and more manageable.”
Yaamoli Vyas, IB 2024 Graduate – Gap year
“I had decided to take a gap year after graduating from high school and I received immense support from the GIIS Career Counseling Team – Ms. Seema & Ms Dipti. I had in-depth discussions and sessions with the career counsellors through which they gauged my profile and helped me shortlist universities based on both my profile and my preferences.
“Following this, throughout the application process the counsellors continually helped me refine my essays as well as other aspects of the applications. They were incredibly engaged and hands on throughout the process, providing aid every time I required it. Truly, the GIIS Career Counselling Team has proved to be a wonderful support.”
‘GIIS remains committed to its students’
Here we speak to Ms. Seema Kaushik, Lead Career Counsellor, GIIS to understand more about how the school supports its students through these critical years.
How do you continue to support GIIS students after they graduate, especially those who may face challenges with university applications due to personal circumstances (eg, gap year, National Service)?
The Career Counselling team at GIIS provides comprehensive support to students throughout their college application process, including those taking a gap year for National Service. Our counselors meet with students individually to guide them through university selection, application procedures, and the review of essays and personal statements.
For National Service students, counselors are available on Saturdays as per their availability. Each year, we process university applications for 25–30 National Service men, so rest assured — this is a common situation, and we have extensive experience handling it. We remain committed to assisting NS and gap year students as much as possible throughout their journey.
How do you personalise the university application process for GIIS students? Can you elaborate on how GIIS assists students with key components of university applications, such as essays, personal statements, and recommendation letters?
At GIIS, we personalise the university application process by offering tailored guidance based on each student’s academic background, interests, career aspirations, and personal strengths. Our approach includes:
- Individual Counselling Sessions – The Career Counselor meets with students one-on-one to understand their goals, strengths, and preferences, helping them shortlist universities that align with their academic and career ambitions.
- Application Strategy – We assist students ensuring they apply to a balanced mix of reach, target, and safety universities across different regions.
- Personal Statement & Essay Support –We provide personalised feedback on essays and personal statements, helping students highlight their unique experiences and aspirations.
- Recommendation Letters – We guide students in selecting the suitable referees and provide clear guidelines to teachers for crafting impactful recommendation letters. The recommendation letters are reviewed to ensure they effectively highlight the student’s academic achievements, personal strengths, and future potential.
- Interview Preparation – For students applying to competitive programmes or scholarships, we conduct mock interviews and provide tips on how to present themselves effectively.
What platforms or tools (like CIALFO) do you use to streamline the university application process for students, and how do they benefit students?
At GIIS, we use Cialfo as our primary platform to streamline the university application process. It offers a comprehensive and structured approach to college planning, making the application journey smoother and more efficient for students.
It is a centralised platform that helps students research universities, track deadlines, request recommendation letters, and submit applications. It also allows students to explore scholarship opportunities and access personalised university recommendations based on their profile. The platform also provides data-driven insights and admission trends to help students make strategic application choices.
Helping students in:
- Efficient University Research – Students can explore thousands of universities, filter options based on criteria like location, major, and admission requirements, and make informed decisions.
- Organised Application Management – Helps students keep track of deadlines, required documents, and the status of their applications in one place.
- Document Submission – Enables direct submission of transcripts, recommendation letters, and other required documents to universities.
If you are keen to know more about GIIS, please do not hesitate to contact our admissions team.
Shubhdarshani Mitra
Shubhdarshani has over 10 years of experience in content creation, curation and editing. She has worked for Indian newspapers, school magazines and international news websites where she worked closely with the leadership on the execution and communication of the content strategy. Aside from work, she’s a passionate B&W photographer and storyteller.
