The 2027 College
Strategy Briefing
What changed in admissions this year — and what your child needs to do next.
During the session, you will complete your child’s College Gateway Assessment alongside us — and see which direction actually makes sense.
The 2026 admissions cycle made one thing very clear.
The families who got the strongest outcomes were not simply chasing the most famous schools. They were building smarter lists, preparing earlier, using the SAT strategically, and applying where their child had the strongest chance of being admitted and funded.
What made this year different was not the results. It was what had to happen after the first decision.
2026 cohort alone
2026 · after appeal
5 countries · 2026
in Universities that fit
Most families are asking the wrong first question.
They ask, “Where does my child want to go?”
But if cost matters, the better question is: Where is my child most likely to be admitted, positioned well, and set up for a strong future — where the investment actually makes sense?
That is what this briefing is about.
Four things now matter more than most families realise.
The SAT is no longer optional in the way many families think.
Many of the schools that offer the strongest funding to international students are requiring it again or placing real weight on it. This is no longer a question of whether a student can take the SAT. It is a question of whether their profile is being positioned competitively.
Funding is not evenly distributed.
The largest scholarship opportunities for international students are still heavily tied to the US — but not every US school funds international students well. Knowing which ones do is the strategy.
A single-country strategy is now a risk.
Many families rule out entire countries early before the full picture is understood. The stronger outcomes come from understanding which universities truly align with a student’s profile — academically, strategically, and long-term.
AIM is built for this kind of complexity.
We work with students across Jamaica, the wider Caribbean, the US, Canada, and the UK. Our programmes are 100% online. Our 2026 results span five countries.
Real numbers. Real families. Real strategy behind every one.
Over $9 million in scholarships and financial aid in 2026 alone. Some of the most significant results came after the first decision was not what it should have been.
The families who got the strongest outcomes were not chasing the most famous schools. They were building smarter lists, preparing earlier, and applying where their child had the strongest chance of being admitted and funded.
— Nicole McLaren Campbell · Princeton University · Founder, AIM Educational Services
Four decisions you will leave this briefing clear on.
Whether the SAT should be part of your child’s strategy
And why timing matters — June, August, and October — depending on when your child plans to start university.
How to think about funding before building a college list
Name recognition or is not the same as fit. The strongest outcomes come from understanding which options are worth pursuing — and which are not.
How US, Canada, UK, and Caribbean pathways work together
The strongest strategy is often not one country. It is the right combination for your child’s specific profile and budget.
What your child should be doing now — and what can wait
This is not a promise to solve everything in one hour. It is about knowing what matters next, and what does now.
The AIM Advisory Team
For the first time, AIM is bringing together the full advisory team to answer the questions families are asking right now.
Nicole McLaren Campbell
Host · College StrategyFounder, AIM Educational Services · Princeton University · 16 years advising families across the Caribbean and diaspora — placing students in universities that fit
Domonique Folkes
SAT StrategyHead Tutor, AIM · Digital SAT specialist · University of Miami full scholarship · Rice University PhD Candidate · AIM alum
Sukenia Wilson
Financial FitHead Counselor, AIM · Wesleyan University · MSc Neuroscience
Chelsea Goffe
Academic PositioningCollege Counselor, AIM · Johns Hopkins full scholarship · PhD Candidate · AIM alum
Maliha Sarwar
Canada StrategyCollege Counselor, AIM · University of Toronto, McGill University Alum
Ariel Dyche
Liberal Arts · EssaysEssay Coach, AIM · Grinnell College full scholarship recipient
Dominic Saunders
Student OutcomesEssay Coach, AIM · Princeton full scholarship recipient · Tesla engineer · AIM Alum
The four questions we are answering.
Does my child still need the SAT?
What has actually changed — and what has not. Domonique walks through the Digital SAT, the superscore strategy, and how timing decisions now affect outcomes earlier than most families realise.
How are universities actually evaluating my child’s profile?
What admissions teams are really looking at — and why that determines not just who gets in, but who receives the strongest financial offers. Chelsea and Sukenia walk through how academic records, subject choices, trajectory, and positioning come together — and why similar students often see very different outcomes.
How should we think about US, Canada, UK, and Caribbean options together?
Why this is no longer a choice between countries. The panel walks through how the strongest strategies now work across systems — and why the right combination matters more than the preferred destination.
What should my child be doing now — and what can wait?
What matters next, based on where your child is today. Nicole closes with the decisions that need to be made now — then you will complete your child’s College Gateway Assessment alongside us and see which direction actually makes sense.
This briefing is designed for families planning ahead — not catching up.
Your child is on track for university entry in 2027, 2028, or 2029
You want clarity on the strategy — not more general college information
You are considering the US, Canada, UK or Caribbean — and want to approach it properly
The SAT is still an open question — whether to take it, when, or how seriously
You want to use this summer deliberately — not look back in October wishing you had
Your child is starting college in 2026 and applications have already been submitted
You are looking for tutoring or homework support, not admissions strategy
You are not ready to take immediate action on what you learn
Start with a quick Check-In. Get your child’s full pathway during the session.
The pre-session Check-In takes under a minute and helps us tailor the session to the families in the room. During the briefing, you will complete your child’s full College Gateway Assessment and receive a clear, structured result based on everything covered.
Your Check-In helps identify:
- Whether the SAT should be part of your child’s strategy
- Which exam window may matter — August, October, or later
- Whether a single-country or multi-country approach is likely
- Where your child currently sits in the process
- What you should be thinking about before summer ends
Then, during the session:
You will complete the full AIM College Pathway Assessment — and see exactly which path makes sense for your child.
May 20 · 6:00 PM EST · Live Online ·
There are two types of families in this process.
The ones who wait until pressure forces a decision.
And the ones who decide while there is still time to build — and understand what their child actually needs.
The difference is not effort. It is clarity – and when that clarity comes.
Start My Child’s Strategy Check-In →