With the entrance to top-notch universities over the world getting more and more competitive, students and parents ought to have a clear direction before and when applying to schools. Increasingly, parents nowadays are shying from local schools where rote learning and examinations are prevalent, and opting for international schools instead.
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“Besides giving their students a global outlook on life, international schools facilitate a seamless transition to studying abroad in the future,” says Jason Lee, Founder and Lead Instructor at Lee Educational Consulting, an admissions counseling and tutoring centre specializing in universities in the UK, the US and Hong Kong.
“One distinct advantage is that the programmes adopted by international schools, predominantly the IB, IGCSE and AP, are highly recognized worldwide,” Lee explains.
On the keys to entering Ivy League universities in the UK and the US – such as Cambridge, Oxford and Stanford – Lee says that while ‘good grades’ are the minimum requirement, a big part of what universities look for in an applicant is their compatibility with their major choice.
“Applicants should demonstrate their interest in their respective field through inside of school and outside of school opportunities,” says Lee. “The students who really stand out are those who show leadership capabilities, and are able to apply their talents to contribute to their community.”
One of Lee’s students, who entered Harvard for International Relations a few years ago, was the captain of his school’s debate team, a leader of his Model United Nations team and a founder of a charitable organization.
Another student, who was admitted to Princeton for Biochemistry, recently spent a whole year in a laboratory researching DNA amongst professors and masters students. He also founded a non-profit organization that offers free STEM courses to underprivileged students in Hong Kong.
Both motivation and academic ability, Lee points out, are equally pivotal in the eyes of the admission officers, especially when applying for overseas institutions.
Lee hence advises students in their last three years of high school to start thinking about their career interests, and strategize how they can participate in extracurricular activities that could help them gain experience and exposure in those areas.
To navigate through the complexities of school application and decision making, many students enlist the help of education consultants who can equip them with the necessary tools to succeed on their own.
“As counselors and teachers, we are responsible for our students’ academic and personal growth,” says Lee. “We make sure they can pinpoint their own strengths and weaknesses, and therefore know what goals will be realistic and how to proceed with a concrete plan.”
Lee Educational Consulting is an admission counseling and tutoring centre dedicated to helping students enter the best universities in the US, UK and Hong Kong. Schedule a free consultation to learn more about portfolio building and university admissions.
Lee Educational Consulting
Address: 1625A, 16th Floor, Star House, No. 3, Salisbury Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Hong Kong
