"Streamlined process with early engagement"
Managing global applications at scale
Before implementing Cialfo, Filkova and her team faced significant challenges tracking applications across multiple international destinations while maintaining a comprehensive counseling program that needed to start earlier in students' academic journeys.
"Cialfo enabled us to streamline and keep better track of the application process, especially as our students apply to multiple destinations abroad," says Filkova, who brings 13 years of university counseling experience to her role. "It also eased the process of document sending and application overview and responded to our needs for a grades 9-12 counseling curriculum."
The platform's implementation involved bulk onboarding of students, assigning them to grade-specific counselors, and training sessions during counseling classes. This systematic approach ensured all stakeholders understood how to maximize the platform's benefits.
Comprehensive support from early grades through applications
For Filkova, Cialfo's ability to support students from Grade 9 through graduation has been particularly valuable. In earlier grades, she utilizes the profile and resume builder, tasks, and assessments to help students begin exploring their interests and options.
As students progress to upper grades, the focus shifts to document sending, direct application features, university search and shortlisting, and tracking application progress. This developmental approach aligns perfectly with Nova's commitment to academic excellence and thorough university preparation.
"It heightened the students' awareness about the importance of engaging with the university search process and exploring options from early on as well as reflecting on what academic environments would best fit their profile," Filkova notes.
Measurable improvements in student engagement
With the school's impressive track record of placing students at top global universities, maintaining efficient application processes is crucial. Cialfo has become an integral part of sustaining this success, particularly through its Direct Apply feature.
"With Direct Apply, there's an increase in applications to the UK and cost benefits," Filkova explains, highlighting one of the platform's tangible impacts on student outcomes.
The platform's meeting scheduler, which integrates with Google Calendar, has also improved counselor-student interactions. Filkova describes her measures of success: students who "consistently schedule meetings with me through Cialfo, writing down what the agenda of the meeting is in advance to maximize our time together."
This enhanced engagement extends to the university search process, with students "fully filling out the profile and inputting the factors that are important to them in the college search and receiving tailored, individualized suggestions with fit in mind; documenting their choices on the long list, short list and applying list on Cialfo."
Supporting a seamless global application strategy
For a school with Nova's international outlook, supporting applications to varied educational systems is essential. Cialfo's integration with both Common App and UCAS has proven particularly valuable for students applying to both US and UK institutions.
Additional features that stood out to Filkova include "ready-made Cialfo lessons to implement in counseling classes; study guides for different destinations; the Cialfo community feature... sessions with university reps." This comprehensive support system aligns perfectly with Nova's mission to prepare students for success in top institutions worldwide.
By transforming what was once a fragmented process into an organized, efficient system that begins in Grade 9, Cialfo has become an essential partner in Nova International School's commitment to student success.
Image credits: Nova International School;
