The Overseas College Guidance Office (OCGO) at The Koç School is dedicated to supporting students who are considering undergraduate education outside of Turkey. Our goal is to empower students with the knowledge and resources they need to navigate the international college admissions process confidently and successfully.
Whether students are simply exploring their options or have firmly decided to study abroad, our office provides expert guidance throughout the entire process to help them make informed decisions and submit strong applications.
OCGO assists our students in researching English-taught programs worldwide, with a primary focus on universities in the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Europe. Our support extends beyond application logistics—we work closely with students to ensure they find universities that align with their academic strengths, career aspirations, personal preferences, and family budgets.
The college selection process is progressive and collaborative, involving strategic planning, research, and discussions. Our office works closely with both students and parents, providing personalized guidance at every stage—from the initial exploration of options to finalizing a well-balanced university list. Additionally, we collaborate with the Psychological Counseling Office to gain deeper insights into our students’ interests and goals, helping them determine whether studying in Turkey or abroad is the right
choice.
The comprehensive guidance process begins as early as Grade 9, allowing students to gradually build a strong academic and extracurricular profile. In addition to university applications, OCGO also provides support for students applying to summer programs, which can be valuable experiences that enhance both personal growth and
college applications.
100+ universities visit our campus every year.
Our office hosts representatives from many of the world’s leading universities, primarily from the US, UK, Canada, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and Hong Kong. These university visits provide valuable opportunities for Koc School students to learn more about their options and engage with representatives directly.
In addition to hosting university representatives, as OCGO counselors we are frequently invited to participate in counselor fly-in programs hosted by universities across the globe. We also attend the CIS Global Forum each fall and the International ACAC conference every summer to stay up to date with current trends and practices. Our involvement in these programs and conferences is also essential for maintaining strong relationships with university admissions offices.
Each year, 80% of our seniors—typically a graduating class of 240—pursue their studies at universities abroad. You can find a list of the universities our graduates have attended over the past five years at this link.