Want admission to Harvard? Raise the level of your applications - Nick Henderson, Essai Education

Nick Henderson is Co-Founder and Director at Essai, Ivy league college education consultant.

Hi my name is Rehaan Khaneja and this is the 12th podcast in the Leadership Speaks series, where I interview successful leaders of the business world.

INTRODUCTION

In this episode of the Leadership Speaks series, I speak with Nick Henderson, Co-Founder and Director at Essai - a top-end education counselling firm. Nick works closely with Indian students aspiring to study in Ivy league colleges like Harvard and Princeton and helps to raise the quality of their college applications. Nick has helped students gain admission to the best universities in the world.

Here we look at several interesting aspects from a young student's view point - such as admission counselling and applications to universities, competitive exams like the SATs, and building skills which top universities are looking for.

In India, education counselling companies are expanding fast because more and more students understand the importance of systematically preparing for university admissions in top colleges. Let's hear Nick Henderson's leadership story in this 12th episode of Leadership speaks.

At top Ivy League colleges like Harvard, it is impossible to compete with other students because everyone is already Best-in-Class. So instead, focus inwards and ask yourself "What are my interests? What should I excel in?"

KEY LEARNINGS

From my chat with Nick Henderson, we looked at several interesting aspects from a young student's view point aspiring to pursue their education at the world's most coveted educational institutions. Here are two things I learnt from his experience:

1st: "At Harvard it's impossible to compete with other students because everyone is already best of their class. Instead, Harvard students are encouraged to focus inwards."

As a student myself, this was a unique perspective for me. We always keep comparing scores and achievements with our classmates. However, our thinking should be bigger than that. The real challenge is always to compete with ourselves and not with others.

2nd: "The key requirement of an entrepreneur is that you need to convince your customers and investors that you know a lot more than them!"

The only way we can do this is if we develop domain knowledge or specialization in a topic that interests us. If we gain expertise in any one thing, we will then have a platform on which we can build our business ideas on.

COUNSELLOR'S ADVICE FOR ASPIRING YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS

The biggest thing required to be an entrepreneur is you need to convince people (and also yourself) that you know a lot more than them!"

"You need to develop domain knowledge - where you gain expertise in one thing that you can build a business upon."

Nick advises us to pick a sector that excites us, then learn as much as possible in school, college, our first job so that we leave with really good domain knowledge and we will have created a strong platform to launch.

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If you enjoyed Episode 12 of the Leadership Speaks. Series, please do like this blog and the video on Youtube! Your likes will make this a truly positive and encouraging experience for me and for other viewers like you. I'll be releasing my next Leadership Speaks interview soon. Till then, think positive, have big goals and focus on the road ahead.