The 3Ps Ivy Leagues and Oxbridge look for

In my counseling career, I have developed, revised, and implemented the Passion, Personality, and Perspective (3Ps) framework, coaching students to prepare for admission to top universities.  

What are the 3Ps? And how do they work together?

Passion

When evaluating applicants, top schools would look for evidence that students have explored their academic interests in earlier years of high school, subsequently deepening their interests by taking relevant, higher-level courses (of course, students in different curricula, i.e., IBDP/A-Level/ HKDSE/ AP are offered different subject mix and flexibility). For instance, students interested in applying to Medicine should be taking the most challenging course in Chemistry and Biology their high school offers, while aspiring engineers would be taking the most rigorous math course available. Colleges would also evaluate how students use their time outside of the classroom – are students committed to extra-curricular activities related to their passion and future career goals? The key is to present a coherent story: a student’s high school subject mix, interests, super-curricular and achievements should align with the course/ major they are applying for.

Personality

Why do many straight As students apply for top schools, but they just can’t get in? Top schools are not looking for ‘study robots’. Remember, Ivy Leagues and Oxbridge get thousands of applications from academically qualified students! What differentiates successful applicants is often their abilities to show how unique they are, convincing the admission officers that their presence on campus can bring additional value to classroom debates, the student community, and more.

But how do universities measure ‘personality’? Essays and interviews are often the answer. So don’t take your admissions essay or statement lightly; they are often the differences between a rejection or an acceptance letter.

Perspective

A common flaw I have observed with students from Hong Kong is that they aren’t trained to formulate original opinions. At the notoriously challenging Oxford or Cambridge interviews, students are often asked these open-ended, bizarre brain teasers and/or their opinion on current affairs or social issues; I have seen many students from Hong Kong stumbling on these questions. Putting forward and justifying one’s point of view is one of the most critical skills students need to work on during their high school years! 

Contact Tina at Tina.Wu@kaplan.com

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