Coming from a family of scientists, I knew there was one thing I wanted to do at college – undergraduate research. With most universities running undergrad research programs under a variety of names, e.g. Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP), Student Opportunity in Academic Research (SOAR), Undergraduate Research Grant (URG), it has never been easier for students to get involved with undergraduate research. Doing research at university can be an enriching experience – not only can you expand your own academic

It can be difficult to determine what to write in your Common App Personal Statement; there is not a lot of wiggle room in 650 words! Finding the right topic to write about can sometimes be challenging. As admissions consultants, part of what we do is help our students brainstorm different ideas and find the perfect one for you.  Here are a few pointers in helping you get started with yours:  1) Focus on topics that matter to you!  These

One of the first and most significant hurdles students must jump over in applying to the US is the Common App Personal Statement (CAPS). The personal statement is 650-word essay that shows schools who you are. But summarizing your whole life into 650-words can be very difficult! Though that might sound scary, worry not, the essays are the part of your application that you have the most control over! The main reason why we have our students start with the

One of the many highlights of boarding school was the first night of snow, junior year. With all that snow outside—pristine, untouched—evening study hall was quickly forgotten. Soon the entire dorm, from the youngest freshman to the oldest senior, was playing gleefully in the snow, despite ongoing study hall. The dorm faculty, who were supposed to be enforcing it, instead watched from the sidelines, smiling begrudgingly. I remember thinking at the time that this was what boarding school meant—what I

More and more families and students have become interested in applying to boarding school. In fact, there has been a 20% increase in boarding school applications to the US since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many parents look to boarding schools to provide their children with different kinds of experiences and opportunities that might not be available here in Hong Kong. Aside from that, parents also hope that the fully immersive nature of going to boarding school can allow

Whether or not to apply Early Decision (ED) is a question that students agonize over every year, and it’s never an easy decision. As admission consultants in Hong Kong, we ensure our students make the choice that best fits their needs and situation. First of all, what is Early Decision, and why is it such a big deal? ED is a binding admissions pathway run by many, but not all, universities where students, their parents, and their school counselors sign