Pakistani Students Take Education Into Their Own Hands With ‘Possibilities Pakistan’

What is Possibilities Pakistan?

It is a completely student led and student based organization that aims to drastically improve the postsecondary experience for Pakistani students, starting from step one; the application process. The basic idea behind the group is to personalize the university application process by providing one-on-one counselling with Pakistani students who are currently studying in universities around the globe and, who have actually gone through the application procedure.

Students who want information, assistance and answers while applying to universities are simply required to send an email to possibilities.pakistan@gmail.com. They will then be linked to the appropriate guidance volunteer(s) who addresses their concerns personally via email. It is fast, convenient and free of cost.

There are currently 100 to 150 volunteers working with Possibilities Pakistan (PP) and over 75 students have used their service. The online magazine itself has managed to amass 1500 views so far.

What is the aim of Possibilities Pakistan?

This forum is meant not to guarantee university admissions, but to increase the chances of submitting a successful application, and to make the process a lot easier, and more affordable. In this way, Pakistani students will be able to maximize their potential by receiving the world’s finest education, and closing the education gap that has made them dependent upon foreign systems.

Why is this different from other counselling services?

Although demand for such services is high (ask any flustered A level student), the number of groups truly tapping into this market is surprisingly sparse. The ones who do either take a substantial fee or fail to address the more detailed questions and concerns that students usually have. Factors like campus and community life, food options and daily student issues can be as crucial to a decision as course fees, textbooks and department rankings. Personal communication with a student mentor makes the discussion of such issues not only possible, but a more comfortable experience. It allows students to probe deeply into their prospective universities and to get a firsthand account of academic life, application tips and hints, and other information specific to a particular university without having to make office appointments or pay ridiculous (or any) fees.

What do students have to say about Possibilities Pakistan?

Some excerpt testimonials from students and teachers who have tried PP:

“Talking about Possibilities Pakistan, I think that it’s a very useful forum for students who are in the final year of secondary education (High school or A'levels). It has answers to most of the questions that students encounter while they are applying to universities. Talking about myself, I found Possibilities Pakistan very helpful. In it, I found guides for applying to universities all around the world, guides for writing personal statements, guides for getting a good recommendation letter from a teacher, and many other useful things. I was also able to get advice for writing a scholarship essay. I believe that such initiatives should be encouraged by everyone, as it tends to benefit the entire society. I thank Possibilities Pakistan for helping me out, and I hope that it will continue to help students in the future. GOOD LUCK!”

-  Rizwan Gilani (Beaconhouse School System Defence Campus)

“Despite possessing the necessary talent, Pakistani students often lack proper guidance when it comes to applying to overseas universities, and therefore miss out on the opportunity to study at prestigious institutions. I think Possibilities Pakistan does a great job in guiding students by providing firsthand information from others who have been through the same processes recently. Through student-written articles, sample personal statements and interviews of faculty members, it helps answer a lot of the questions prospective applicants have.”

-  Schyan Zafar (Oxford)

Where can I learn more about Possibilities Pakistan?

Those interested in learning more can visit the official Possibilities Pakistan website at http://www.possibilitiespakistan.org to access general information, details about the guidance process, the online Possibilities Pakistan magazine and more.  Also don’t forget to join the Facebook fan page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Possibilities-Pakistan/136877289679888?ref=ts for instant updates and information.  Those interested in volunteering with Possibilities Pakistan can contact them at possibilities.pakistan@gmail.com.