University College Dublin: Daniel

How College Solutions Helped

When Daniel started building his college list, his counselor helped him find schools that aligned with both his academic interests and athletic goals. At first, he was looking at well-known international schools like King's College London, Oxford, or Cambridge, but he wasn’t sure if they were realistic options. “My counselor helped me put other great schools on my radar,” Daniel recounts. “Being able to classify colleges as reach, possible, or safeties put in perspective what I was looking for.”

Beyond shaping his list, College Solutions helped Daniel understand the complexities and nuances of the international application process in comparison to the process in the U.S. “International universities were asking for something greatly different from what they were asking for at U.S. schools,” Daniel remembers. This was one of the most significant ways that Daniel and his counselor worked together: College Solutions helped Daniel navigate the ways in which international applications differ from American ones and tailor his applications to a different audience.

Daniel’s counselor also drew on College Solutions’ broad network of experts to find answers and resources. “One of the best things about College Solutions is their network,” Daniel recalls. “If my counselor wasn’t sure about something abroad, she knew exactly who to ask.” His counselor helped him make his own connections, too. “I was able to get in contact with a couple of people through my counselor who were able to streamline information about what international schools were looking for. I was able to tailor my essay towards something that was more appealing to them.”

Daniel’s writing coach also helped him adapt to different audiences, pointing out the differences in the U.S. system through the Common App vs. the European system through UCAS. Even when he was writing similar essays for different schools, Daniel remembers how College Solutions showed him how to “put my essays in different ways that would appeal to different schools. Without College Solutions,” he says, “I think I would have just sent away one essay to everyone.”

Additionally, College Solutions helped Daniel polish his personal narrative and highlight details that made him stand out. “College Solutions was able to help me put a shine on even rather simple experiences, especially when I was in competition with a vast range of people.”

Result

Daniel was excited to receive acceptance to University College Dublin and is now in his second year of a three-year accelerated program. After completing his undergraduate studies, Daniel hopes to return to the U.S. for a post-baccalaureate program before applying to medical school. “Going here has been the best thing I could do,” Daniel says.

Daniel & the UCD men’s field hockey team

He plays on the men’s field hockey team and travels frequently, taking advantage of Dublin as an international hotspot. Daniel values the diversity and the amount of other international students at UCD: He has friends from all over the world. “I think being able to network with so many people of a diverse background is really powerful.”

what Daniel Had to Say

“Without College Solutions, I don’t think I would’ve known how to apply. There are so many different components, and you have to appeal to different authorities, especially for international universities. They really helped me see the differences between the U.S. and European systems and tailor my essays to fit. I don’t think I could’ve done that on my own.”

what His Counselor Had to Say

“I had the privilege of working with Daniel for two years, and during that time he became so much more than just a student I advised. He became someone I genuinely looked forward to meeting with. Because he joined College Solutions early in the process, we had the space to really get to know each other, explore possibilities, and watch his interests take shape in a thoughtful and authentic way.

As Daniel toured campuses and reflected on what felt right, I could see his confidence grow. He has a natural curiosity about the world and a love for travel, so it didn’t surprise me when he became excited about opportunities outside the U.S. What I appreciated most was that he never chose the easy or expected path. He chose the path that truly fit who he was and who he was becoming.

One thing I always admired about Daniel is that he was truly in the driver's seat. I was there to support and guide him, but he showed up, asked questions, stayed engaged, and put in the work. When students approach the process the way Daniel did, they don’t just end up at a good college. They end up in the right place for them.

Daniel brought positivity, maturity, and a lot of fun to our meetings. He worked hard, but he also made the journey enjoyable. Hearing that he continues to thrive at the University of Dublin and that he is fully embracing this incredible experience brings me so much happiness! Daniel is exactly where he is meant to be, and I’m so proud of him.”