Latest news with #CommandEducation
CNBC
23-05-2025
- Politics
- CNBC
Harvard students are 'frantic' after Trump administration blocks international enrollment, college consultant says
Immediately after the Trump administration blocked Harvard University on Thursday from enrolling future international students and retaining currently enrolled foreign students, some members of next year's freshman class started scrambling. "I was on the phone with a parent who was visibly shaken and completely frantic," said Christopher Rim, president and CEO of college consulting firm Command Education. Rim, who works with a large share of international students from abroad, said a few of his clients were accepted into the Class of 2029 and committed to Harvard on May 1, also known as National College Decision Day, which was just three weeks ago. Now, they don't know what to do. "This is a major moment in these students' lives," Rim said. "Given the circumstances and policies and laws that we have right now, we are advising these families to look into taking a gap year — hopefully by then, the Trump administration and Harvard can come to an agreement." On Thursday, the Department of Homeland Security terminated Harvard's student and exchange visitor program certification, therefore blocking foreign students from enrolling and forcing existing foreign students to transfer or lose their legal status. Harvard sued the Trump administration on Friday, asking a federal judge to reverse the ban on international students. International students accounted for 27% of Harvard's total enrollment in the 2024-25 academic year. That's up from 20% during 2006-07. More from Personal Finance:Wage garnishment for defaulted student loans to beginWhat loan forgiveness opportunities remain under TrumpIs college still worth it? It is for most, but not all The latest move came amid an escalating standoff between the government and the Ivy League school after Harvard refused to meet a set of demands issued by the Trump administration's Task Force to Combat Anti-Semitism "It is a privilege, not a right, for universities to enroll foreign students and benefit from their higher tuition payments to help pad their multibillion-dollar endowments," Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said in a statement Thursday. In a statement on Friday, Harvard called Thursday's action "unlawful and unwarranted." "It imperils the futures of thousands of students and scholars across Harvard and serves as a warning to countless others at colleges and universities throughout the country who have come to America to pursue their education and fulfill their dreams," Harvard said. "It's a shock," said Hafeez Lakhani, founder and president of Lakhani Coaching in New York. "At a time when international applications — and international yield — are under pressure, this sends a signal to the rest of the world that not only is Harvard closed to the international best and brightest, but that the U.S. is not a welcome place for international students," Lakhani said. International enrollment is an important source of revenue for schools, which is why colleges tend to rely on a contingent of foreign students, who typically pay full tuition. Altogether, international student enrollment contributed $43.8 billion to the U.S. economy in 2023-24, according to a report by NAFSA: Association of International Educators. During that academic year, there were more than 1.1 million international undergraduate and graduate students in the U.S., mostly from India and China, making up slightly less than 6% of the total U.S. higher education population, according to the latest Open Doors data, released by the U.S. Department of State and the Institute of International Education. In the 2023-24 academic year, the U.S. hosted a record number of students from abroad, marking a 7% increase from the previous year. The Trump administration's move puts Harvard international students in a "limbo state," said Mark Kantrowitz, a higher education expert. His advice to admitted or enrolled international students: Start exploring your options but don't make any sudden moves until you hear from the university. "Harvard is going to be scrambling to deal with this, and they will issue guidance to admitted students and the enrolled students," Kantrowitz said. In its statement, Harvard called international students and scholars "vital members of our community." "We will support you as we do our utmost to ensure that Harvard remains open to the world," it said. Kantrowitz doesn't expect the Trump administration to prevail in Harvard's lawsuit, though of course it's a possibility, he said. Transferring to another U.S. school may have its own risks. "I've heard from [Harvard] students who are seeking to transfer," Kantrowitz said. "But that might be jumping from the frying pan into fire. These other colleges could be targeted soon enough." It may also be difficult for Harvard's incoming freshman class to transfer to another university, Kantrowitz said. Many institutions may already be at full enrollment for the coming academic year, he said. There are currently more than 300 U.S. schools still accepting applications for prospective first-year and transfer students for the upcoming fall term, according to the National Association for College Admission Counseling. Harvard students who require financial aid may have a tougher time transferring, depending on the university, compared to those who don't need assistance, Kantrowitz said. That's because many schools use "need sensitive" or "need aware" admissions for international students, Kantrowitz said. That means they consider the student's financial need when choosing whether to accept the student. Already, some of Lakhani's college-bound clients have started considering schools outside the U.S., fueled by fear about rapid policy changes, he said. Indeed, some schools overseas are trying to woo Harvard's international students in light of the Trump administration's recent maneuver. The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, for example, issued an "open invitation" to Harvard students on Friday to continue their education there, to "pursue their educational goals without disruption." "This sends a clear signal for the best and brightest to look elsewhere — including other countries — to thrive intellectually," Lakhani said.
Yahoo
12-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
COMMAND EDUCATION'S BESPOKE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS MENTORSHIP EARNS 94% ACCEPTANCE RATE FOR FIFTH CONSECUTIVE YEAR
Command Education Empowers Students Worldwide to Navigate the Path to Ivy League Success with Personalized Mentorship and Global Expertise NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Command Education, the premier college admissions consultancy founded by Yale graduate Christopher Rim, is transforming how ambitious students, especially those from international and highly competitive private school communities, gain admission to the world's top universities. For the fifth consecutive year, 94% of Command's students were accepted to one of their top three college choices, including Ivy League schools. Command Education's unmatched success stems from its deeply personalized, concierge-level approach. Unlike mass-market admissions services, Command Education intentionally only works with a limited number of families each year, and in Korea, restricts its services to only a select few families per graduating class. This ensures that each student receives dedicated attention, strategic insight and individualized support. Command Education's team of experts has successfully mentored students from top Korean institutions – including Seoul International School, Korea International School and Daewon Foreign Language High School – who have gone on to earn acceptance at Ivy League and other top-tier universities such as Harvard, Stanford and Princeton. "At Command Education, we believe every student has a unique story. Our role is to help them uncover that story, shape it with purpose, and present it in a way that's authentic and powerful," said Christopher Rim, founder and CEO of Command Education. "Our process is deeply personal and completely student-driven. Mentors work around the clock to provide support that's as individualized as the students themselves." Combining white-glove service with unparalleled expertise, Command Education offers a truly bespoke mentorship model designed to help students discover their true passions and craft standout applications for the most competitive top-tier colleges. Working with students as early as 7th grade, Command Education delivers highly personalized, around-the-clock support through a global team of elite mentors, each a recent graduate of top-tier universities like Harvard, Yale, and Columbia. Trusted by families around the world, Command provides a concierge-level experience, with some clients investing over $500,000 to secure the firm's unmatched guidance and attention. For international families, Command Education offers an unmatched level of expertise, global perspective and admissions insight. In Korea, where competition among top students is especially intense, families trust Command Education and its strategic guidance. From mastering the nuances of the American admissions process to building standout extracurricular profiles and compelling personal essays, the firm's tailored mentorship has helped students across Korea gain admission to Ivy League and other top-tier universities year after year. "For an international student like myself, the personal essay and its significance in the admissions process were a vague and difficult task for me to master," said Jimmy O., a client of Command Education. "[My mentor] helped me understand what colleges were looking for in an essay and helped me learn how to convey my personal voice to admissions. He helped me earn acceptance to Stanford; I couldn't be more grateful for his help." From year-round mentorship and strategic college planning to intensive summer essay programs, Command Education is committed to helping students not only gain admission to the most selective universities but also thrive once they get there. ABOUT COMMAND EDUCATIONCommand Education is a premier college admissions consultancy that takes a personalized, student-centered approach to help students gain acceptance to top-tier universities. Through a near-peer mentorship-driven model, the Command Education team provides expert guidance that goes beyond traditional test prep, fostering each student's unique passions and strengths. Founded in 2015 by Yale alum Christopher Rim, Command Education helps students nurture their passions and transform them into a foundation for lifelong success, ensuring they not only gain admission to top schools but also thrive once they're there. To learn more, visit Logo - View original content: SOURCE Command Education
New York Post
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Badminton deserves more than a shrug from colleges
This article is one of the winning submissions from the New York Post Scholars Contest, presented by Command Education. I've spent the past year waking up at 6 a.m. to practice badminton swings in my backyard before school. Throughout the days, I've blasted YouTube tutorials on footwork and begged friends to rally with me in the junior atrium outside the gym. This was all done between homework assignments, meals, and sleep. Badminton meant everything to me—until my counselor circled the mention of the sport (I'd listed it as an interest on a survey) and wrote, 'Maybe pivot to a more 'serious' extracurricular?' Advertisement His words stung worse than any missed smash. Here's the truth: Badminton is serious. But American colleges, clinging to a dusty playbook that values football stadiums over cultural relevance, seem unwilling to see it, despite the fact that Badminton is a sport embraced by 220 million globally. 3 Aiden Tsang is advocating for Badminton to be taken more seriously in colleges and universities Badminton is a sport that is deeply woven into my culture, as it's a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and is widely considered traditional in China for recreational activity and family gatherings. Advertisement In my culture, it is often seen as a symbol of national pride due to the high level of competition and success Asian players achieve in the sport. The Rigid System that Fails Passion I know about rigid systems. Last fall, I dropped American Lit not because I hated Walt Whitman's poems, but because my teacher graded like a robot, confined to strict rubrics and his own interpretation of the text. Anything that didn't fit his format or his opinion on the texts we read in class received a mediocre grade. This thinking is not unlike billion-dollar TV deals for big sports. For those in the know, badminton doesn't need ESPN highlights. It's long been in the world's second-most popular participatory sport, with 220 million players globally. Yet in the U.S., it's treated like a garage-sale Ping-Pong set—something to dust off for PE class, and when not needed, it's put out near the mailbox with a sign 'free'. Advertisement 3 'Badminton is a sport that is deeply woven into my culture, as it's a sport that can be enjoyed by people of all ages and is widely considered traditional in China for recreational activity and family gatherings,' Tsang writes. This mindset hurts for someone like me who spends hours in practice, not unlike varsity-track athletes. Particularly, when you consider the payoff: no scouts, no scholarships, and no recognition on applications. Many colleges claim in their brochures that they want 'grit' and 'dedication.' So why does my hustle—juggling AP classes, finding time after school to practice footwork in my small apartment, and traveling an hour each way every other day to meet with my coach—get filed under 'hobby'? The Cultural Brush-Off Advertisement The impact of this mindset is huge. Walk into any badminton tournament in California, and you'll see a sea of Asian-American faces. The sport is woven into our communities, a tradition as well-known as lunar New Year red envelopes. My Chinese grandfather played in college…in China. Here? The NCAA offers zero Division I badminton programs. So when colleges post AAPi Heritage Month graphics while ignoring a sport central to my heritage, it's not just hypocritical—it's erasure. We're told to celebrate our culture, but only in ways that provide good marketing for their brochures. It's not surprising that my good friend and teammate quit last year. 'What's the point,' she asked me, 'if colleges think our passion is a joke?' The Myth of 'Revenue or Bust' Let's address the elephant in the room. Badminton doesn't make money. Neither do 43% of NCAA football programs, but they're still funded. Why? Tradition? Alumni nostalgia? Meanwhile, Gen Z is out here making badminton TikTok edits with millions of views. Proof that interest exists. And the reason for colleges to look ahead, not just behind. And don't get me started on the 'life sport' argument. Colleges love touting 'active lifestyles,' yet ignore a game people will play into their 80s. My knees will give out from badminton around the same time a football player's brain starts forgetting their kids' names. A Path Forward (that Doesn't Require a Stadium) I'm not asking for a $10 million arena, but communities and colleges can start small. Here's how. Advertisement Start your day with all you need to know Morning Report delivers the latest news, videos, photos and more. Thanks for signing up! Enter your email address Please provide a valid email address. By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Never miss a story. Check out more newsletters First, sanction badminton: Make badminton an NCAA sport so tournaments matter and allow people to be recruited, the same way track and field athletes or basketball players are followed. Next, credit the sport. Let PE classes count toward credits if students compete. Finally, expand the game. Why stop at Badminton? It isn't the only under-represented sport in the US. The NCAA organization needs to start doing more research and include sports like table tennis as well. Advertisement 3 Tsang continues to write, saying, 'If universities truly value grit, they'd start recognizing the dedication behind underrated sports like badminton.' Getty Images Badminton is more than a hobby—it's a test of discipline, a cultural anchor, and a sport colleges refuse to take seriously. My early morning practices and hour-long commutes to training aren't just 'dedication', they're proof that admissions committees see our passion as trivial. Colleges plaster 'Celebrate AAPI Heritage' on brochures while sidelining a sport central to Asian communities. If universities truly value grit, they'd start recognizing the dedication behind underrated sports like badminton. Sanction it. Credit it. Until then, their promises of 'diversity' are just empty words. An 11th-grader at Stuyvesant High School in Manhattan, Aiden Tsang intends to pursue a career in the medical field.
New York Post
22-04-2025
- General
- New York Post
Online gambling on the rise among high school students
This article is one of the winning submissions from the New York Post Scholars Contest, presented by Command Education. The table is hosting three players: DerekC9, Fuzzypanda21, and Erik467. A crowd has formed behind the computer screen. Erik467, the username I'm using to represent a real person, has pocket aces: statistically, the best hand in poker. Almost immediately, Erik goes all in preflop (in poker terms: when the dealer hasn't revealed the river yet); he's confident in the value of his cards. Fuzzypanda21 folds, but DerekC9 calls. Since this is the high value table, Derek's call takes the pot north of a behemoth $200—a colossal sum for high school students. Now that the table is all in, the players must reveal their cards. DerekC9 shows a king and a jack. Erik reveals his formidable pair of aces towering over DerekC9's comparatively weak cards. The virtual dealer reveals the first card of the river—a two of hearts. The odds begin to shift in Erik's favor. The dealer flips the next card—a nine of clubs. Derek still doesn't have a viable hand to counter Erik's. The dealer reveals a 10 of hearts. Erik's aces seem to still be the winning ticket. It's time for the river card, and it feels like slow motion, as Erik's dreams of gambling grandeur crumble right before his eyes. A queen of spades. DerekC9 now has a straight, a higher hand than Erik's pair of aces. Just like that, Erik sinks $100 deeper into his quicksand of debt. A unique and quickly spreading social phenomenon is reaching high schools across the country. My high school alone hosts a variety of leagues, each with dozens of tables, and twice the amount of kids in the average classroom—all with varying game rules, cliques and levels of expertise. The latest fad: online poker. And it has kids hooked. Online tables are filled throughout the night, with peak hours around 11 p.m. and games spanning until the waking hours. Gripped by the thrill, high schoolers are wagering increasing amounts, irresponsibly and carelessly gambling away money. It is common to hear in the halls about 14 year-old kids owing $100-$300; in the most alarming case I have heard, one student lost over $1,500. This is made possible through the growing advent of online casinos. These digital gambling dens have been making poker sites more available to youths since the turn of the century. A study conducted by the University of Pennsylvania revealed that 2.9 million kids play cards for money, 580,000 of them online. The 'kids' were aged 14-22 with 'most of these young people under the age 21.' Weak age restrictions and regulations are making it exceedingly easier for high schoolers to use these apps and websites. It may seem innocent for now: after all kids owe their debt to friends. It's tempting to say, 'kids will be kids, they're gambling with allowance money!' That's true…until it's not. The Office of Problem Gambling Services (OPGS) says that 'children introduced to 'harmless betting' by the age of 12 are four times more likely to engage in problem gambling later.' Another study by Alesia Burge on gambling addictions says, 'older adult problem gamblers who began earlier in life gambled more often than did their counterparts who began as adults.' Gambling as a youth not only increases your chance to carry the habit into adulthood, but also increases the severity of addiction. Isaac Carrillo is an 11th-grader at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, NY., Carillo wants to be a psychiatrist with his own practice. Dozens of studies have been conducted seeking to explain this clear correlation, with the consensus pointing to the brain as the main culprit. A study by Monique Ernst revealed that not yet fully formed frontal cortices makes kids more prone to addiction and risk taking, as that region controls logic and decision making. Since then, countless other studies have confirmed Ernst's claim, identifying that the immaturity of adolescent brains make addiction especially likely and dangerous for youths. Gambling permeates teen life more than you would think. Things can quickly get out of control for high school gamblers, with debts greatly exceeding petty cash between friends. Most of the conversation around teen addiction surrounds alcohol and nicotine, but a new vice is on the rise. Poker is a dangerous game. It's not meant to be in the hands of high schoolers during lunch period. Isaac Carrillo is an 11th-grader at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, NY., Carillo wants to be a psychiatrist with his own practice.
New York Post
22-04-2025
- General
- New York Post
Why high schools should implement modern home economics
This article is one of the winning submissions from the New York Post Scholars Contest, presented by Command Education. NYC high schools are failing their students—not academically, but practically. Until the 1960s, NYC high schoolers learned to cook, clean and sew as part of their standard curriculum. In 2025, they'd be lucky if they knew how to do their laundry. For decades, home economics was a staple in NYC public school education. Boomer-generation teenagers mastered the art of household work, as the Department of Education (DOE) wanted to ensure teenagers knew how to properly 'adult.' As the Women's Revolution grew in the 1960s, a cultural shift away from home economic classes reflected changing societal norms around gender roles, and marked a shift to prioritize college and career prep courses. This rapid turnaround has had enormous benefits, including an explosion in women pursuing postgraduate education. However, it has also had unintended consequences on high schoolers' lack of readiness and ability to tend to basic life skills. What today's youth need are 'Adulting 101' classes. Home economics once taught students how to wash clothing, prepare food, clean a home and notably how to support a family and raise children. During this era, women were often expected to understand these skills while their husbands worked and provided an income for the household. Many argue that the removal of home economics was necessary in order to reshape education to fit a changing society. However, while this essential and progressive step enabled women to advance and become leaders, this move left behind access to crucial skills for students of all genders. The competencies that home economics courses taught are still applicable or could be reimagined to suit contemporary needs. Today, NYC high schools are designed to prepare teenagers for college, where they can acquire degrees in specified fields of study. This system sets up students to one day enter a career path, but often leaves many feeling lost or intimidated by everyday life skills outside of their occupation. Young adults are now either coddled by their parents, as they live at home longer, or are forced to navigate adulthood without basic household skills that older generations understood from an earlier age. As a student at the NYC iSchool, a small public high school offering original and innovative courses, I often ponder why home economics does not have a larger presence in my school. Furthermore, a lack of these skills makes youth feel adrift once they enter the 'real world.' I recently spoke with a relative who moved into his college dorm last fall. 'I had no idea how to cook real meals,' he admitted. 'I survived on takeout and instant ramen.' His story isn't unique—countless young adults are thrown into independence without the ability to care for themselves. To earn a high school diploma, the NYC DOE requires 44 credits, including math, science and government. At my school, many classes allow us to receive these credits in creative ways. For example, one of the classes offered at my school is called 'Pop-Up Restaurant,' which tasks students with creating a one-night-only restaurant within our school. This aims to educate students on the business fundamentals of the service industry while providing hands-on experience, which is something I am eager for. While this is a thoughtful start to developing practical, real world capabilities, a more comprehensive approach would benefit students greatly. One might wonder why a NYC public school offers classes like 'Pop-up Restaurant' but not other key aspects of home economics. The simple truth is that these courses cannot easily be classified under any of the NYC DOE required credits. Zack Leitner Oftentimes, teenagers go from being in situations where they have a parent or guardian to cook their meals and do their laundry, to being left to fend for themselves, which can be a lifestyle shock. This should come at no surprise, as a survey conducted by Braun Research found that while 82% of parents reported doing chores as children, only 28% had their children doing chores, showing that these tasks are a new, unfamiliar experience for countless students. While aspects of the home economics courses of the past might not be entirely relevant in 2025, the concepts that could be taught in an 'Adulting 101' class would be worthwhile to virtually everyone today. Gender roles are far less rigid now than they were decades ago, so all students would benefit from the lessons taught in these classes, especially if they are adapted to address modern-day needs. In a 2020 Yale University survey of high schoolers, almost 80% said stress was the feeling they experienced most often during a typical school day. This indicates why a modern-day home economics course should be used to address mental health. Indeed, if these courses were reinstated in NYC schools today, they could cover essential topics like stress management, nutrition and self-sufficiency expertise. Students are often ill-equipped to deal with these issues, even though they are vital to one's well-being. Many high schoolers spend their days consuming energy drinks and eating Takis, frequently stressed about homework and anxious about friend drama, without realizing the destructive impact and vicious cycle of their cumulative habits. Contemporary home economics could approach this and provide essential coping techniques. Seventy-five years ago, life skills may have meant caring for the home, but today, it means that, plus self-care, in our ever-changing and complex society. Currently, domestic science higher-ed programs provide more advanced educational options by exploring various aspects of child development and family well-being. High schools must follow suit and require a curriculum that teaches students the fundamentals to eventually manage a household and themselves, setting them on a path to success for what comes next as they enter adulthood. While taking chemistry and geometry is undoubtedly crucial, what happens to a graduate who leaves high school with a strong understanding of mathematics but cannot cook a nutritional meal? My school is taking a step in the right direction by designing courses that adapt to the needs of the 21st-century, but more must be done. The NYC DOE needs to reinstate a modernized version of home economics courses that support teenagers' health as they transition into adulthood. If schools are designed to prepare students to succeed past high school, it's time they provide all the tools to do so. A 10th-grader at NYC iSchool in Manhattan, Leitner wants to pursue travel writing and business.
