Hamilton Gregg is the founder of International Educational Consulting and has worked in education since 1985. He helps students and their families understand their personal and educational needs and find the right school to meet their requirements. If you are a student or parent who would like to ask Gregg a question on our blog, please email hsgregg45@gmail.com
What inspired you to go into education?
After several years trying out various careers in business – in mining, hospitality, financial services, and advertising, I realized that the business world was not for me. I had never thought of working in education until my father suggested it to me. He was right and for the last 28 years I have been involved in education in a variety of ways.
How did you get into education consulting specifically?
I worked as a college counselor for three international schools, with The International School of Beijing being the last. I saw there was a real need not just in Beijing but across China for an ethical, knowledgeable college counselor servicing families interested in going overseas. I later expanded my services to include boarding schools as part of my offering.
Who are your clients?
My clients are typically a mix of expat and Chinese families interested in boarding schools and universities abroad.
What services do you provide?
I provide a wealth of services from helping research schools, developing a shortlist, coaching on essays, scheduling visits and overseeing applications.
What are the typical demands and frustrations that accompany the university application process?
There are many frustrations, the largest being the competitive nature of admission to top schools – both boarding and university. However most of the time students and families find that there is more than sufficient breadth and it’s always possible to find amazing choices. The other frustration is trying to help families understand that ranking is just a number that rarely has anything to do with quality of education in the classroom or how well a school will actually prepare their student. There is a lot of misinformation around ranking and sadly rankings become the de facto reason for applying to a school. Of greater importance is what the school actually has to offer or the exceptional qualities a school may have that cannot be ranked.
What’s the most satisfying part of your job?
Working with students. That is my real passion. Helping students find their success is the best outcome possible.