Feb
2025
28
Fri
SAT vs. ACT: Which Test is Right for You?
The SAT and ACT are accepted by US universities but differ in structure, content, and scoring. Let's explore which test aligns better with your strengths!
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Apr
2022
06
Wed
Want to get into the Ivy league? Failure could be the key
In my years working as an admissions counselor, I have observed something unique to high school students in Hong Kong- they are fearful of taking on new projects just in case they’d fail. Yet, none of us is ‘bubble-wrapped’ in real life, and we often learn the most out of difficult situations.
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Mar
2022
19
Sat
Which Curriculum Should I Choose? Any Tips?
Recently, I have received several inquiries from freshmen or sophomore students (i.e. Form 3 and 4 or Year 10 and 11) on picking their future curriculum among HKDSE, A-Level, IBDP as well as AP. There is no perfect answer! Let me use this opportunity to briefly introduce all of them to you.
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Mar
2022
11
Fri
Where to Start Searching Passion and Interest? Does Pandemic Matter?
When asking what a student would like to do in the future or what he or she would like to choose as a major in the college, over 80% of the students will say that they are not sure. In fact, all curriculums in Hong Kong do not provide any career guidance components to help students neither in identifying their strengths nor confirming their talents. As a result, very few students will be able to understand their own dream or desired occupation during their high school life.
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Mar
2022
11
Fri
Chasing Dream vs. Chasing Shadow
Stepping into March, a new admission cycle for colleges and universities starts again. For both junior students, you should have started to think about your school list no matter for going to US or UK. While compiling this strategic school list, you will probably receive a lot of information from different sources that contains various opinions. Since most of the information available to you may not be accurate, it might affect your decision on your school list. That’s what I refer to “dream” vs “shadow”!
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Feb
2022
23
Wed
What is Your Intention for Pursuing Elite School Admissions?
I have been asked for so many times how to build an attractive and invincible student’s profile for applying Ivy League schools and G5 universities. The answer seems simple, but it is difficult to understand. It requires students to have a very thorough self-understanding and strong self-awareness to answer that question. You need to understand your true INTENTION for pursuing elite school admissions.
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Feb
2022
23
Wed
7 Must-Read Books for Aspiring College Students During Holidays
Enhance your college readiness this winter break with these 7 must-read books. From classics to contemporary non-fiction, expand your mind and prepare for college success.
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Feb
2022
15
Tue
Can there be a “Capstone” Project in the Student’s Profile?
In the past few weeks, several parents asked me to help their child to build a “capstone” project during their high school journey for college admissions purpose. To be honest, it is quite shocked to hear such request. Building a “capstone” project is a very low-level arrangement for competitive profiling strategy nowadays. The so-called project shouldn’t be able to be recognized as a “capstone” since it will be too “artificial”. It will be too easy for an experienced admissions officer to spot that. If you were the admissions officer, would you still call that capstone project a passion? Probably NOT.
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Feb
2022
09
Wed
Why There Is A Need For Engaging An Independent Admissions Counselor At Early Stage Of High School?
In the past three years, more and more inquiries from students who were studying in first or second year of high school came in. It’s not hard to understand the happening. Since academic performance is no longer the sole determinant for the elite universities to admit an applicant. Studying the applicant’s background and growth during the 4-year high school life will be the only area the adcom can try to figure out the true potentials of an applicant. It makes creation of an outstanding student’s profile being the key to successful admissions and it is quite necessary for students and families to have a dedicated person who can help them to ASSESSS, PLAN and MONITOR the whole profiling process and make sure nothing goes wrong. Here comes the role of independent admissions counselor!
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Feb
2022
06
Sun
The Best Teacher To Ask For A Recommendation
When it comes to asking for recommendations for US college applications, your first instinct may be to ask the teacher who has consistently given you an A. But consider the following carefully: could he or she give admissions officers context beyond your academic performance, speak to your character and growth? In my experience, the best recommendations often come from teachers who have seen students struggle with a particular subject and how these students overcame these challenges, including seeking extra help.
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Jan
2022
25
Tue
How We Can Distinguish Between a Good and Bad Student’s Profile? Mimicking vs Transcending
Targeting elite US colleges or UK universities is very common among the high school students nowadays. There is no doubt that you will be one of them. During the research process, it is not hard to see that all those elite schools are looking for global leaders with specific talents. It comes across a very important discussion here. How to build a highly effective profile for the adcom to consider your application?
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Jan
2022
18
Tue
Is ‘All-Rounded’ Extra-Curricular Profile ‘Perfect’ for Top US Colleges?
When talking about student’s profile, most of the students and parents will refer to the extra-curricular resume immediately and try to build up a ‘perfect’ invincible one to showcase how ‘all-rounded’ they are. For tier two US colleges and boarding schools, this strategy might be working. However, it is guaranteed to be failed for US top colleges and top boarding schools. Let us have a look at what extra-curricular activities mean.
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Jan
2022
11
Tue
What Elite Schools (Universities) are looking for?
During the COVID-19, not only the economic activities are changing but also the elite school admissions are transforming. With the cancellation of public exams and test optional policies in the past 2 years, student’s profile becomes the sole tool for the elite schools’ admissions committee (adcom) to rely on their recruitment process. However, what do you know about the student’s profile? Let us reveal the true contents of a student profile.
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Jul
2021
27
Tue
Junior Boarding Schools. The Best-Kept Secret (Part 2)
Junior boarding schools’ excellent matriculation is not solely down to their reputation, but more importantly, the environment they provide enables students to excel, particularly in the form of leadership. Since Grade 8 and Grade 9 students have the most senior standing in junior boarding schools, they are naturally appointed to take up leadership roles at school, including student government, student council, leaders of clubs or captains of sports team. In comparison to Grade 8 and Grade 9 students studying at an international school in Hong Kong, who are more likely to be just members of clubs and associations, they will rarely have such leadership opportunities, as these roles are assigned to more senior students, namely Grade 11 and Grade 12 students.
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Jul
2021
26
Mon
When the Student is Ready, the Teacher Will Appear
This is a common saying that is attributed to either the Buddha or Confucius, but regardless of the source, it contains a lot of wisdom whenever I think of it in my many years of teaching experience. This gem of truth is applicable to all teaching and learning situations, including SAT/ACT test-prep. To many parents, the first question on their minds is whether the teacher is qualified, how the teacher is going to teach and help the students to learn, how the teacher will motivate or discipline the students when necessary. Don’t get me wrong. These are all valid questions, but the most important question is still: is the student ready to learn?
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Jun
2021
28
Mon
Junior Boarding Schools. The Best-Kept Secret (Part 1)
From the families who seek boarding school consultation services, the majority of them are looking at Grade 9 entry. That is the ideal entry point for senior boarding schools as it is the grade which accepts the most applicants. However, as you can imagine, if a majority of families adopt this strategy of Grade 9 entry, the number of applicants increases, making the application process more competitive, leading to entry into senior boarding schools all the more difficult. To overcome this congested path of entry, there is an alternative route that can increase your chances of getting into a top senior boarding school. That route is junior boarding schools.
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May
2021
28
Fri
Why Canadian Boarding Schools are a good option?
Frequently, I meet with parents and students to discuss their progress and they often provide feedback on their SAT/ACT lessons: focus more on concepts; teach more problem solving techniques; teach them skills to answer the questions; emphasize more on testing strategies etc. Whenever I hear these feedback, I wonder whether they know what exactly they were talking about when the use these terms very casually. We really don’t have a standard set of definitions on these terms, much less a good understanding of what they are. So, in this article, I will try to define these terms as I know them and apply them to SAT/ACT test-prep just to clear the air.
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Apr
2021
15
Thu
Coach or Tutor?
Without a doubt, I think most students join SAT test-prep courses to improve their scores. But even with such a simple goal in mind, the expectations and roles of the students and teachers could be varied and far apart. Some parents expect the students to learn the materials that they have not learned in school so that they can fill-in these “gaps” in order to score higher. Others come in with a certain score range in mind and expect the teachers to “train” their children so that they can attain their dream score and go to a dream college or university. Both are very common and typical expectations, but it’s the confusion and the inter-mixing of these roles that could be problematic.
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Mar
2021
22
Mon
Growth Mindset for Better Learning
Who cares if we were born smart? Do yourself a favor and embrace the growth mindset. Perhaps the simplest yet most powerful concept I have encountered in college is the idea of fixed and growth mindset, proposed by Professor Carol Dwek at Stanford University. Essentially, the notion of fixed and growth mindset surrounds how we view talents. In contrast to believing that talent and abilities are unchangeable and determined by birth, individuals who embrace the growth mindset believe that their qualities and intelligence can be developed over time. Rather than fixating on big questions such as “Am I intelligent? Am I successful? Am I good enough?” to prove one’s self-worth, individuals with a growth mindset attend to effort, learning, and persistence. They ask questions such as “What is the value of this opportunity? What can I learn from my mistakes? What is the bigger picture despite the obstacle I may face?” They recognize challenges and setbacks, and see those as opportunities for betterment. Compared to individuals driven by the fixed-mindset, individuals who are propelled by the growth mindset don’t strive to earn validation for their intelligence, personality, or character, but to learn over time with resilience, good strategies, and input from others.
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Mar
2021
08
Mon
Feb
2021
24
Wed
Alternative Pathway to Get into Your Dream College
Choosing a college for the freshman year is especially difficult these years and a backup plan may certainly make students feel less nervous about the admissions. The pandemic has brought intensified anxiety to the college applicants. The SAT, ACT test dates have been canceled, most of the top colleges have changed to test-optional, high school graduates decided to take a gap year in 2020 and defer their application, the knock-on-effect may change the admissions in a couple of years. Do you have a backup plan if you do not get accepted into your ideal college? A 2+2 transfer plan might be an option for students who couldn’t get an offer or being deferred from the Early Decision (ED) and don’t have an absolute confidence on being admitted by those ideal colleges from your school list.
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Feb
2021
19
Fri
How Much Can Your SAT Score Improve?
I have been an SAT/ACT tutor for more than 10 years and have interacted with many parents and students throughout this period. One of the most common question on their minds is how much can the student’s SAT score improve? This is one of the more difficult question to answer, but the short answer is: it depends. “Depends on what?” you may ask. It depends on a number of factors: the current capabilities of the students and the effort that they are willing to put in. But before we look at these factors, let’s get a major myth out of the way first.
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Jan
2021
28
Thu
GMAT Reading Comprehension Tactics
As you evaluate answer choices on GMAT Reading Comprehension questions, keep in mind that the language that the test-makers use in incorrect answers is often similar to the language that people use when they are exaggerating or lying. The same kind of language that would make you doubt the veracity of someone’s account should also make you suspicious of answer choices on the GMAT. There are three categories of language that should make you doubt an answer choice on the GMAT.
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Jan
2021
21
Thu
Online or In-person? Which is Better?
Since the outbreak of the covid-19 pandemic, teachers and parents have worked to help students keep learning. Within that period, we have experienced online learning more than in-person learning sessions. As of this writing, schools in Hong Kong have been mostly closed to in-person learning, the same as bars, gyms, and beauty salons. Before the pandemic hit in early 2020, most educators were optimistic about the benefits of online learning and many believed that it could replace all in-person learning.
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Jan
2021
21
Thu
Your IELTS Band 7
How can I make my band 7 dream a reality? Do you need to have mastered English fully to obtain a band 7, or can you achieve a band 7 by developing IELTS specific skills which can push you over the band 7 boundary? I would like to start off by emphasizing the value of long-term perseverance and commitment to anything which is worthwhile, of which learning English certainly is. Furthermore, the more fluent and generally proficient you are in English, the more likely it is that you will be able to adjust and incorporate the following tips and suggestions into your language arsenal.
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Jan
2021
21
Thu
Summing up 2020 Admissions Challenges
2020-21 admissions cycle is a really tough one for everyone, including students, parents and admissions counselors. First of all, I would like to this opportunity to say congratulations to all our students who have successfully submit their college applications and UCAS application! All of you not just did a great job but also successfully exceeded your limits and demonstrated the quality of an elite.
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Jan
2021
14
Thu
Early decisions aren’t getting any easier – what should you do?
As seniors anxiously await notification emails from their Early Decision (ED) schools this week, we are bracing for a surprisingly hard year for admissions to competitive schools. Across the board, elite colleges are reporting unprecedented surges in ED applications: Cornell received 9000+ applications this year (as compared to ~6600 applications last year); Duke received 5000+ applications (as compared to ~4200 applications last year).
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Dec
2020
22
Tue
Is Homework Always Useful?
Without saying, I think everybody knows that finishing a test within the required time is a very important element in getting a higher score. Because all tests have time limits, it becomes essential that we make good use of our time in the tests. In SAT and ACT tests, the time limit for each section is different. In some sections, students are given more time than necessary, but in others, students often complain that they did not have enough time to finish. The solution to test time management is pacing. In each section, students should pace themselves according to their abilities so that they can achieve the highest score possible.
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Nov
2020
19
Thu
“I love painting. Should I follow my heart?” Course selection dilemma – interests vs. prospects
Here’s the dirty truth – just because you’re passionate about something does not mean you’re good at it. Do you have what it takes? Have you not seen those contestants at America’s Next Top Model (and think about those you never get to see on screen as they did not make it to the show in earlier rounds of auditions)?
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Nov
2020
19
Thu
Debunking the Myths Of Student Profile
What does it really take to get into one of the US Ivys? If you have been studying your college options, you have probably heard the term ‘student profile.’ Besides getting stellar grades, the advice is often to show a wide range of interests, join multiple sports teams, and spend time on community services.
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Nov
2020
17
Tue
Debunking the Myths Of Student Profile
As you evaluate answer choices on GMAT Reading Comprehension questions, keep in mind that the language that the test-makers use in incorrect answers is often similar to the language that people use when they are exaggerating or lying. The same kind of language that would make you doubt the veracity of someone’s account should also make you suspicious of answer choices on the GMAT. There are three categories of language that should make you doubt an answer choice on the GMAT.
Read More
Oct
2020
16
Fri
Debunking the Myths Of Student Profile
What does it really take to get into one of the US Ivys? If you have been studying your college options, you have probably heard the term ‘student profile.’ Besides getting stellar grades, the advice is often to show a wide range of interests, join multiple sports teams, and spend time on community services.
Read More
Oct
2020
16
Fri
Passport to Advanced Math
Sarah (not her real name) was a very bright student since she started school. Her teachers said that she was very good in math and can compute all the problems and give out all the correct answers, all without putting anything down on paper. Other students envy her and consider her to be the smartest person in the class. She enjoyed all the attention and importance that parents, teachers, and students heaped upon her. But something happened when she entered secondary school. Her math grades started falling and she could no longer keep up with her work. She tried very hard but still, her grades kept falling. Parents and teachers were at a loss. They don’t know what has happened to her. How come a student who was so promising in math suddenly could not handle her math homework? What went wrong?
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Oct
2020
16
Fri
General Knowledge and Reading Comprehension
We will leave our discussion of the future of SAT/ACT (and standardized tests in general) for the time being and talk about a topic that is widely misunderstood by parents and students alike. It is also related to how students can further improve their reading comprehension scores after they have learned the techniques and developed the skills that we teach in SAT and ACT classes. A lot of parents think that if their children scored, say 200 points (out of 400 in SAT) today and 250 points 3 months later after some test-prep lessons, then in less than one year, they will be able to achieve a perfect score of 400. The answer to that question is not as simple because improving reading comprehension does not happen by itself in a vacuum. Other than the vocabulary and the cognitive abilities to understand the passages given, students still need general knowledge in order to score at the very high levels.
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Jun
2020
12
Fri
Is This the End of SAT/ACT?
The recent news about SAT and ACT have not been encouraging. First, because of the coronavirus, SAT and ACT tests have been cancelled from March to June. Second, the president of the University of California recently recommended that all UC schools will go test-optional for the next 2 years, followed by another 2 years of being test-blind for in-state applicants. Starting in 2025, SAT and ACT scores will be eliminated for all applicants. This may sound like good news for students because parents and students alike would think that it will relieve some pressures from the students. But if you think closely and look further into the details, you can clearly see that without these tests, students may experience more pressure and also may not have a better chance of getting into the universities of their choice.
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Jun
2020
11
Thu
What you can do this summer to narrow down your boarding school search
In this ongoing pandemic, many summer plans have had to be altered. Summer is usually a time where families can conduct an initial survey of several schools, in the process identifying and narrowing down their potential school list. However, in this testing time, we have all needed to adapt, whether it’s been changing from summer camps to virtual online learning or cancelling summer visits to the U.S. all together. At the same time, boarding schools are doing all they can to cater for prospective students. Since boarding schools are now closed indefinitely, the best approach to find out more about prospective schools is to make use of their virtual campus tour experience. Every school’s virtual tour experience is different, but typically, the following avenues will be offered in order for you to gain further insight about the school from the comfort of your home.
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Jun
2020
11
Thu
Truth be told - there’s really no such thing as the ‘best university’, only the right fit. How do you find a university that is right for you?
Before you know it, you are now faced with one of the most important decisions of your life – which university should you choose among thousands of them. So how do you begin your college search?
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May
2020
12
Tue
Standardized Tests, Anyone?
Once again, strange things happen in the year 2020: we experience not only the coronavirus pandemic but also its repercussions, some of which are only starting to surface. Through these, we can understand a lot more about the values of some of the things that we have taken for granted. One such thing is the standardized tests like SAT and ACT. We all know that these tests have been cancelled until late summer, and other tests that have also been cancelled include the International A-level Exam, which a lot of universities use to base their admission criteria on. The way that they handle the cancellation of these tests is worth a closer look.
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May
2020
04
Mon
Should I Go For Test-Optional Option in 2021 Admissions Cycle?
In recent months, the World’s economy has been hit by the COVID-19 badly and it has also affected the standardized test schedules. There was ZERO tests conducted for the first half of 2020. That makes our Rising Seniors with fewer test attempts and most likely affecting the original application timeline as well. In the light of this matter, Cornell is the first Ivy League school to offer test-optional option in 2021 admissions cycle for its potential applicants. We are expecting more colleges will follow this action. However, is test-optional really good for you as a Rising Senior (Grade 11)?
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May
2020
04
Mon
Rules on college admissions have changed. Are you changing the way you play this game?
Classes are moved online; SAT/ACTs are canceled, and your extracurricular activities are put on hold. But this could be a blessing in disguise, presenting a chance for you to differentiate yourself amongst other U.S. college applicants. Let’s take a deeper dive into the latest trends into college admission under COVID-19 and what you can do to get ahead!
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Apr
2020
08
Wed
What to Do During Coronavirus Quarantine?
The year 2020 so far has not turned out to be a good year. As most of us sit at home wondering what is going to happen next, we might as well do something more useful. It is not a time to panic, and certainly not a time to waste, especially for students going to take the SAT/ACT this year. It is now a time to press the PAUSE button, re-think, and plan for the future after the pandemic. It is believed that Newton formulated his theory of gravitation (while sitting under an apple tree) and finished his work on calculus during his “quarantine” for the Great Plague of London.
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Apr
2020
08
Wed
Boarding School Admissions - Why repeating a year is a compelling option?
International schools in Hong Kong place students in the appropriate grade according to their age, with the exception of some schools making exceptions based on the student’s background and academic ability. Similarly, UK boarding schools adhere to this strictly, with almost no exceptions granted. However, US boarding schools have the advantage of giving you the option to naturally progressing to the next academic grade or repeating the same academic grade. Upon hearing these options, most families’ reactions are, “Why would I want to repeat?”. The reasons for such a reaction stem from needing to pay an extra year of tuition, the student might experience social acclimation issues due to being older than his peers and the student may better use this year in gaining work experience upon graduation from university. Yet, in US boarding schools, repeating a year isn’t an anomaly. Why is that?
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Mar
2020
26
Thu
How will COVID-19 affect your college admissions? Let’s turn this crisis into an opportunity for success
Chaos seems to be the right word to describe the year 2020 so far. Amid the COVID-19 outbreak, classes are moved online, public exams and standardized tests are postponed or canceled, and most extra-curricular activities have come to a halt.
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