My first encounter with Dr Navin Valrani was in 2020 in my year 10, when I joined the Junior MBA programme. As a reticent kid, who was afraid of public speaking and with low self-esteem, the Junior MBA programme was daunting. However, the encouragement and motivation I received from Dr Navin helped me overcome my fear and probably the first time I ever spoke in public was when I presented my business proposal at The Arcadia School. That was the turning point! Soon after this, Dr Navin became my career counsellor and mentor. I looked forward to our sessions where we would have discussions on how I could better myself. He always gave me confidence and helped me discover my strengths and values, equipping me to navigate my career path with confidence. At each meeting, we would discuss what I had achieved and what I needed to do further to develop myself. He also guided and helped me find suitable internships that related to my chosen field. The weekly reports of my internship documented my learning journey helping me track my goals, record challenges, and reflect on my own learning process. Writing exams was a big challenge for me as anxiety would kick in and I would lose confidence. Dr Navin provided a sense of reassurance and supported me through in-person meetings, online calls, or simply a WhatsApp voice message even when he was travelling. He understood who I was and adapted how he could mentor me to ensure my success and happiness. At no point was I ever judged and he was always reassuring me of my abilities. He guided and supported me through the entire process of my university applications, listening very carefully to my apprehensions and also my requests.
I am also indebted to Ms. Jaimie Redgwick. She was my go-to person for everything. She was always willing to help with whatever I needed, kept track of my achievements and also gave me the encouragement I needed, for which I am eternally grateful. I’m extremely excited for my future at university and it’s all thanks to Dr. Navin and Ms. Jaimie. Dr Navin Valrani, thank you for being a big part of my story! Like a puzzle, you helped put the pieces together and I wouldn’t be the person I am today without your unconditional support and guidance.
I started my journey toward my later years of school, unsure of what to do, who to talk to, or even how to prepare myself for my application. However, the support of Mr. Navin immediately contributed to my path as a student. I cannot begin to describe the impact he has had on me as a student and an individual. Even through struggle, sudden issues, and misunderstandings, he provided a sense of reassurance, and support through in-person meetings, online calls, or simply a WhatsApp message. He understood who I was and adapted how he could mentor me to ensure my success and happiness. I’m extremely excited for my future in university and it’s all thanks to Mr. Navin.
Much of my success and where I stand today can be credited to Navin’s unwavering support and guidance over the last few years. He went above and beyond typical advice, pushing me to explore new ideas in my writing. He urged me to reflect on experiences and ideas previously beyond my consideration, helping me see my own potential in a new light. This encouragement to venture into new ways of thinking and writing has not only improved my skills but has also broadened my perspective, making me a more insightful and adaptable student. Navin’s role in my academic and personal journey has been truly transformative, guiding me through challenges with wisdom and patience. His combination of support, inspiration, and insight has empowered me to achieve milestones I once thought were out of reach, shaping me into the individual I am today.
It would be very difficult for me to put into words everything that Mr. Navin is and all that he has helped me achieve. Let me begin with the end; I have been offered scholarships by not one, not two but by four top universities!!! The most interesting part is that we did not even apply for scholarship.
Mr. Navin’s expertise in higher education, his ability to understand students, and his power of presentation are top-notch. He has the ability to tweak just one word in an essay to increase it’s impact by tenfold. His attention to detail, work ethic, and commitment to the process are unmatchable. Mr. Navin has not only been my guide and mentor but has also been involved in every minute detail of my applications. I have been truly blessed to have him by my side during this whole process. Other than the process of applying to universities, I have also learned so much more from him – to work hard, to get things done within an otherwise unfathomable time limit and to push myself to achieve more.
Thank you so much, Mr. Navin, I would not have achieved these great things without your guidance and unwavering support.
As I reflect on my college application process from building a college list to improving my extracurricular activities to the hours of essay writing, it’s impossible to overlook the influence Navin has had on my journey. His insights and advice have been invaluable in navigating university admissions. Working with him closely over the last few years has been a pleasure, he takes the time to understand his students and tailor his guidance to fit our unique aspirations and challenges. With his help, I’ve learned to present my best self, not just in terms of academic achievements but as a well-rounded individual. I am extremely grateful for his dedication to my personal and academic development, and it’s largely thanks to him that I have been accepted early decision to a top ten university in the United States. His belief in my potential has been a constant source of motivation. Thank you, Navin!
Words aren’t enough to thank Mr. Navin. He has supported me throughout my entire application process and has been an outstanding mentor to me. He has been firm when I needed to pull up my socks up and understanding and supportive whenever I’ve needed him. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to be mentored by such an inspiring role model and am sure the connection with Mr Navin will be one that is everlasting.
Throughout my high school journey, Navin has been a pillar of support and strength, continuously helping me navigate through this difficult time. Navin has not only supported me academically, but he has pushed me to be the best version of myself and has given me someone other than my family to rely on in any situation – both inside and outside the classroom. Through our many calls and WhatsApp conversations, Navin has been able to truly get through to me and see me not only as my grades but as a person. Whether this is by making me see the importance of a positive attitude or helping me have a good work-life balance. His continuous support has truly inspired me and made me realise that he was always in my corner throughout this stressful time, and he will always be there anytime I need him. I only hope in the future to be able to pass the help and impact he had on me to other students. Though he doesn’t love being continuously thanked, I owe my academic prosperity, dedication and success both in and out of the classroom to him for continuously believing in me and always being realistic but optimistic. Thank you, Navin!
Working with Mr. Valrani was like learning how to ride a bicycle for the first time, he would give me the freedom to move forward, nudging and stabilizing me at just the right moments to ensure I achieved my goals and had a holistic learning experience along the way. He is a treasure trove of knowledge and insights into the university application process. He helped me see the bigger picture and encouraged me to be more ambitious in my university applications. His help with the essays allowed me to refine my ideas without taking away from the originality, and his motivation after early rejections helped me stay determined throughout the process. His extensive experience with talented students and his systematic approach to connecting ‘where I am’ to ‘where I want to be’ played a pivotal role in me getting into a great university.
I approached Navin and his team to support me with the daunting process of applying for a Masters degree and I could not recommend them enough. Their vast knowledge and expertise of the US college admissions process and support they offered was instrumental in helping me secure a place at my dream graduate school. I really value the support I received during the process of writing my personal statement. Their efforts in helping me weave together my experiences to tell a story and present myself in the best possible manner helped me formulate a great personal statement. Navin’s positive attitude, encouragement and hands-on approach made this stressful process a lot easier and I could not thank him enough. His expertise and extensive knowledge makes him the perfect counsellor and mentor for students of all ages applying to any degree.
Navin was simply amazing. The time, effort, and commitment he gave to me as his mentee was incomparable. He made the stressful admissions process that much easier. He created a relaxed environment with just the right level of a push to help me strive to be the best I could while not overbearing or overwhelming me. He takes his time to understand the student and what is best for his student, gives personalized advice and mentoring, and guided me down a path that suited me perfectly. He played an integral role in my current success, and I could not recommend him more.
A big thank you to both Navin and Jaimie for helping me. They were able to take the anxiety out of the entire process. They were very encouraging and were always willing to provide support if I had questions or problems. Through the Arcadia Counseling system, I was able to get accepted to wonderful universities. Their efforts have not been in vain, and were very appreciated!
Applying to university is extremely important as such choice will determine your future, experiences and overall happiness. However, it can also be extremely stressful. For this reason, I want to thank Mr. Valrani and Ms. Jaimie as they made the process smooth, helping me feel confident and successful. Thanks to them, I was granted an acceptance in University of Bath, where I will be able to pursue my interests and eventually achieve my dream career!
Navin helped me through the college application process. He helped me to construct an aggressive and balanced college list, giving me valuable suggestions on which colleges I should add and remove to my list. I was also given immense guidance on my course selection along with grades and exam scores I should aim to get into my dream college. Navin also helped me decide which extracurricular activities I should focus on and suggested new endeavours for me that boosted my college application. Overall, I feel like Arcadia Education played an integral role in my acceptance to the UC Berkeley Electrical Engineering and Computer Science program.
Navin Valrani has been a lifeline for me. His unrelenting support during the application process was instrumental in mitigating my anxieties and allowing me to focus during my crucial high school years. While his creativity is remarkable, his commitment to my success was outstanding. If you are looking at getting to the university of your dreams, Arcadia is the best support network that you can get. Navin and the Arcadia team were always accessible, committed and understanding towards my needs.
Navin Valrani was amazing at helping me with my application, he was realistic about where I could get into but also had optimism and was always able to keep me in good spirits when I was feeling stressed. He considered where I would be happiest yet intellectually stimulated. Navin Valrani takes his time to get to know who he is working with, their interest, personality, and what academically is suited for them. He knew that I would not be a good fit for schools that were highly competitive and instead I suited schools that had a more collaborative culture and he was so right. Unlike other counselors, Navin looks at students as people rather than scores and grades, working with him is inspiring. When you work with him, he dedicates himself fully to his students to the point, he makes time to be available not just for applications but for overall support throughout the process. Navin knows the culture at different universities and when creating a list of schools to apply to he is very methodical and works with students, and doesn’t force his opinion, it’s a collaborative process. He knows how to match students with schools they’ll be happy at, which is truly important. I owe a lot of my success to Navin.
As I neared the end of high school in Dubai five years ago, I brimmed with ambition for college but found myself hopelessly lost and without direction in the admissions process. As my counselor, Navin Valrani guided me through each step of my college applications, offering sharp clarity to seemingly opaque questions about my “fit” with the colleges I applied to. Navin helped me weave my years of schooling together into a well-rounded candidate profile that foregrounded my past experiences and research questions and looked beyond just test scores. With a keen eye for detail, Navin also focused extensively on my prose in my application essays and helped me convey my ideas in a succinct but compelling manner. Navin’s unflagging support throughout and even after the application process gave me the confidence I needed, and with his help, I was able to land an acceptance at my dream school. The students that Navin advises at Arcadia Education are, without doubt, in the best possible position to face the rigors of college admissions and gain acceptance at the best schools in the world.
I attribute my admission to the University of Pennsylvania to Navin’s counseling services. After identifying a class of schools I wanted to attend (top tier Ivy Leagues) during the beginning of my high school career, Navin guided me through every single aspect that was relevant to college admissions. This included assisting with course selection throughout high school, suggesting out-of-the-box extracurricular activity ideas, brainstorming internship opportunities, narrowing down college choices, and critiquing essays. His disciplined, rational approach to the process coupled with his creative spark of ideas enabled me to pursue my studies at the school of my dreams.
