We spoke to Mariam Hasan, manager of college and career counseling at The City School Group’s head office in Lahore, about why she chose this path, the experiences that shaped her perspective, and the philosophy that continues to guide her work.

What drew you to this work?

I’ve been in education for over a decade and my journey into counselling has been anything but a straight line. Early on, I began to notice something that troubled me deeply: students were products of unclear choices. They didn’t fully understand what they were studying or why. While teaching IGCSE, I saw them pushed into trajectories that didn’t resonate with them at all.

I was living in two parallel realities — meeting the demands of the system on one hand, and watching capable students move through a system that simply did not see them on the other. That tension stayed with me. I realized students needed more than good teaching — they needed someone to help them understand themselves. In 2020, I transitioned into counselling and quickly understood that it was about something larger: advocacy for equitable higher education.

I’ve worked with students who had everything — the intellect, the drive, the curiosity — but lacked guidance, resources, or simply someone who believed in them enough to fight for them. That became my commitment.

I also understand that journey personally. I am a product of zero counselling. My path was a rollercoaster, but it gave me the lived experience to sit across a confused seventeen-year-old and say, I’ve been there, and here is what I wish someone had told me.

In your experience, what are the most common challenges Pakistani students face when applying abroad for higher education?

The challenges are layered and deeply interconnected.

Students often begin by choosing destinations based on perception rather than fit, chasing rankings without understanding whether a program truly aligns with their goals.

There are also structural barriers. Pakistani students frequently face additional scrutiny, shifting visa policies, and longer processing times. Financial constraints remain significant, often compounded by a lack of awareness about scholarships and aid, while standardized testing adds another layer of inequality.

But the most significant challenge is internal: students underestimate themselves. They shrink their ambitions before anyone else can.

Parental hesitation also plays a role, particularly for first-generation families navigating this process for the first time. And when rejection comes, the impact can be deeply personal.

Finally, many students begin this journey without prior counselling — already behind, already confused, and already limited by earlier decisions.

 Can you share a moment or a student success that has stayed with you?

One of the most unforgettable stories of my career is Adeel’s.

When I first met him, he was working on a self-initiated project on microplastics — building filters, collecting samples from the Lahore Canal, and conducting lab tests. What stood out was his curiosity. And yet, he had never considered studying abroad. He believed it was financially impossible.

When I told him about fee waivers, he was stunned. That’s where our journey began. He scored a 1500 on the SAT and built a remarkable application. He was accepted to Rice, but without funding, so we had to decline. A waitlist at Brown didn’t come through, and he began to lose hope. It broke me, because I knew he was no ordinary student.

Then, almost by chance, we came across Minerva. We applied. One morning at 4 a.m., my phone rang.

“Miss, I got in. Not just accepted… 98% scholarship!”

The student who had nearly given studying in the United States was now heading to one of the most selective institutions in the world on a near-full ride. Today, Adeel is pursuing marine and evolutionary biology at Minerva. He really proved that a little faith, held long enough, can go a long way.

How has your perspective on international education evolved over the years?

My perspective on international education has evolved enormously, and the biggest shift has been this: it is not a single concept, and it cannot be treated as one.

When students and families say they want to “go abroad”, there’s often a generalized notion attached to it — as though every destination offers the same experience and value. But each country comes with its own academic culture, immigration realities, financial landscape, and expectations of an international student. They are not interchangeable.

Another profound realization is that a degree alone is no longer enough. Employers are prioritizing skills, research experience, and real-world application. It’s not just where you go, but what you do when you get there. I’ve seen students thrive at lesser-known institutions because they arrived prepared, and others struggle at top universities because their profiles were built only around scores.

At its best, international education is about finding the right fit for the right student. That has always been my north star… and the more I learn, the more I realize how much there is still to learn.

In your opinion, what are some advantages of a U.S. education?

The United States remains one of the most compelling destinations, and not just because of prestige. Its greatest strength is flexibility. Students don’t have to have everything figured out from the start. They can explore, change directions, and shape their academic identity over time. For many Pakistani students, that freedom is transformative.

The research culture is also really powerful. Students engage in meaningful work early in their academic journey. And beyond academics, the unmatched diversity of the classroom builds confidence and perspective.

I’ve seen this firsthand. Nearly 80% of my students who receive US offers choose to go — and they thrive in ways even they didn’t anticipate.

And this is personal for me too. As a prospective PhD candidate, America is my top choice. I advocate for it not just because I’ve seen its impact, but because I believe in it enough to choose it for myself.

What is one piece of advice you’d like to share with students (or parents)?

If I could share one piece of advice, it would be for parents. I say this with deep respect, as someone who has lived it: the world has changed, please acknowledge that. When it comes to the future of your children, you need to make it a shared conversation, not a unilateral decision. Children today are more aware, more driven, and more globally conscious than ever before. They don’t need to be told what to become — they need to be heard.

And perhaps, most importantly, parents need to understand that anything is possible in this day and age. A student from Lahore can study marine biology in San Francisco. A first-generation kid can secure a full scholarship to one of the most selective institutions in the world. The ceiling has lifted. What students need now is belief from the people closest to them.