From May 31 to June 7, THIS Associate Director of College Counselling, Ms. Amy Zou went to the United Kingdom to visit with top UK universities admissions officers and learn more about how THIS can better support our students who are applying to top UK school.
Recognizing the increasing demand for non-US colleges, THIS felt it was essential to explore institutions outside the United States. To gain valuable insights and broaden our knowledge and perspective, the school sent Ms. Amy Zou to participate in a college visit trip to the UK and Ms. Amy Zou was able to schedule meetings with our alumni whenever possible.
Itinerary
June 1
Meet up with the following THIS alumni:
Wendy, Class of 2021
Didi, Class of 2020
William, Class of 2020
June 2
Kings College London, Stand Campus
Imperial College London, South Kensington Campus
June 3
Goldsmiths, University of London
Queen Mary,University of London
Meet up with a THIS alumni: Julia Liu, Class of 2023
June 4
June 5
June 6
University of Cambridge, Meet up with two THIS alumni:
David Lu, Class of 2023
Tina Cui, Class of 2024
Here are some questions we asked, and Ms. Amy Zou upon her return:
UCL admissions and other counselors
Question 1: What did you learn?
The best part of the trip was getting to see the universities firsthand and talking to the students who are actually living and learning there. Here's what I took away from it all:
Things are getting more competitive: The admissions folks are saying that it might be even tougher to get in next year. So, now more than ever, students need to know what they're passionate about, connect it to what they've done, and really show that in their applications.
Oxford admissions officer Tom Tower shared the following: "Summer programs are 'a big deal': There are tons of summer programs out there, but it's important to choose wisely. Think about why you want to go, and make sure it's a program that will actually help you explore your interests. Sometimes, just diving into a good book related to what you want to study can be even more valuable than some non-academic summer programs."
Tom Tower from Oxford admissions also shared, "prepare early for your admissions test and interview. The admissions test and interview allows the university to see your ability and potential."
Use those official resources: UCAS and the university websites are your best friends. They have all the information on admissions tests, interviews, and everything else you need to know. Practice, practice, practice!
A professor from Cambridge, Matthias Doerrzapf, shared that "AI is a tool, not a replacement for thinking: You may use AI to help with your writing, but don't let it do all the work for you. The admissions people want to see your ideas and your voice." He also mentioned that "Course is more important than college. You should have a preference and apply to a college. Do not do open applications to Cambridge."
Question 2: How can that help our community?
This immersive experience has given me a deeper understanding of what it takes to succeed at UK universities. I am dedicated to using this knowledge to support our students as they start their academic journeys. I also look forward to finding opportunities to share more details with my colleagues and the parents of our high school students.
Question 3: Can you share with us which admissions officers you met?
Tom Tower from University of Oxford
Matthias Doerrzapf from University of Cambridge
Jyoti Khan from Kings College London
Catherine Eames (International Student Recruitment Manager) from Imperial College London
Sunny Deng from Goldsmiths, University of London
Jasmine Bual from Queen Mary University of London
Simon Denton from St. George's University of London, Clerkenwell Campus
Lucy Brookes from Oxford Brookes University
A few words from our alumni:
Start cooking now! You can find good food in the UK, but it'll be expensive.
The UK system is pretty focused, so you'll mostly be studying the subject you applied for. Make sure you really love it!
Winter can be tough! It gets dark early and it's cold, so you'll need to find ways to stay social and keep up with your studies.
It's not common to share rooms in the UK. You'll most likely be living alone and it may be easy to retreat and avoid social contact, especially during the winter months and exam season. Try to actively make friends from different places (college, course, societies) and seek out social interactions with a variety of people.
From Ms. Amy:
I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the alumni listed in the form. They took the time to meet with me and share their experiences, both positive and negative. Their willingness to help students interested in studying in the UK is genuinely appreciated.
