If you’ve got a high schooler at home, one of the topics that’s constantly on your mind is college. Recently, we came across a website that may spark some interest if your child is planning on continuing their education in China. Campus China is a platform dedicated to promoting scholarships and educational opportunities for international students in China.

Campus China is a government website that serves as a consolidated resource for international students interested in studying in China. The website provides information about scholarships at universities all around the country, as well as information on their academic programs.

For students who have already adapted to life in Beijing, staying in China for university can be a seamless transition. They’ll be able to build on their existing knowledge of the language and culture while gaining a globally recognized degree. It’s important to note that the eligibility and requirements for each scholarship vary. Some may be only available to foreign students who are not currently residing in China, while others, like Renmin University of China’s “Belt and Road” scholarship, is only eligible for students from Belt and Road Initiative countries.

If your child is planning on continuing their education in China after high school, use Campus China as a starting point to research scholarships, universities, and programs that align with your child’s aspirations. It’s a decision that could shape their future in ways you’ve only begun to imagine.

Images: Campus China, Pexels

One day you’re holding them in your arms for the first time, and the next day they’re off to university. You look back at the memories; from the delivery room where you met, to the seemingly endless days and sleepless nights spent knee-deep in poo, diapers, and breastfeeding, as hormones flew every which way.

When they start elementary school, the diapers and poo are replaced with crazy mornings filled with breakfast, lost socks, and getting lunch boxes ready. Days are occupied with grocery shopping, PTA meetings, and answering school emails. Evenings are for chauffeuring them to after-school activities, helping them with homework, making dinner, and doing laundry. 

By this time, you can barely remember what it was like not to have children in the house. Sometimes, you harbor thoughts of selling your soul just to have a few weekend hours alone in the house, without the kids (or husband for that matter).

But suddenly… They’ve successfully navigated the ups and downs of high school and you’re sending them off to university. No more mess or noise in the house. No peanut butter and jam sandwiches to pack, spilled juice or milk to clean up, no more shouting at them to, “For the umpteenth time, take a shower, brush your teeth, and go to bed!” 

Suddenly… You’re not needed anymore. You can no longer ask them where they are or what time they’ll be coming home. Simply put, they’re beginning a life of unfettered independence… a life away from you.

So what’s next?

Parents experience feelings of extreme sadness and loss when their first, last, or only child leaves home. For so many years, a parent’s identity is wrapped up in working unbelievably hard for their children. So, when the kids are off to adulthood, parents may lose their sense of meaning and purpose because a phase of their life is all but gone. Of course, if you’re anything like my mum and have ten children, you’ll be shouting “hurraaaaaay” from the rooftops – or in a mental hospital – by the time the last one leaves home. But that’s a story for another blog.

At any rate, I asked four Beijing parents (with less than ten children) how they feel about their kids flying the coop. We discussed what they’ll miss most about their children, and what they’ll do when the kids are away.

The Sampa family. Originally from Zambia, they’ve been living in Beijing for 18 years

“Chichi is my first child to fly the nest: She is off to university in Europe. I have two boys to go so I’m not exactly an empty nester. Before she graduated high school, I had spoken to friends who have been through the same experience with their children going off to college. One thing was evident – they all felt a sense of loss and absolute sadness. And no amount of emotional preparation is enough to prime you on how you’ll feel when they leave home. To cope, I just resolved to spend as much time with her as possible and give her the best of home life so she can carry those memories with her to uni. 

I’ll miss our girl time, sharing make-up, clothes, and shoes, our esoteric jokes, her loud music, her smell, smile, calmness, resilience, and beautiful gorgeous giving heart. And her brothers are suffering as much as I. They love her to bits and will miss her dearly.”

– Muby Mulenga

The de Beer family. Originally from South Africa, they’ve been living in Beijing for 2 years

“Carmen is my last daughter leaving home, so I am a bonafide empty-nester. 

I never prepared for anything. I did have days where I thought how my life would change when we have no children home – when there would be no cleaning the kitchen and carpets, cooking, playing games, a full dinner table with all of us together, trying to figure out who had the last piece of Biltong, sweets or leftovers.

All three girls will be in the same country back home in South Africa, while their dad and I will stay here in China. I am glad they all have each other in one country.

I’ll miss the ‘silent treatments,’ eye-rolling, untidy bedrooms, and messy kitchen. But what I’ll miss the most are the hugs, fun lunches, and lying by the pool together. All the memories are engraved in our minds and hearts.

I will miss the last girl as much as I do her older sisters. But I am looking forward to spending more quality time with my husband – just like old times BC (Before Children). I also intend to get out of my comfort zone and learn some new skills, do more exercise, and stay fit and healthy.”

– Aletta de Beer

The Wong Family. Originally from Hong Kong, they’ve been living in Beijing for 14 years

“Curtis is my first child leaving home for university in the UK. I still have his younger sister Kelly at home. A few of my friends have older children who are already in university. They had shared their experience with me, so I somewhat knew what to expect. However, the feelings and emotions I had when my boy graduated high school were way more intense than I had anticipated. After his graduation ceremony, he left for his senior trip for a week, and even then, I was emotional saying goodbye to him.

What I will miss most are the moments when Curtis and his sister are together. Curtis and Kelly are 20 months apart and they are thick as thieves. Of course, they fight like any other siblings but they are also very close, and understand and support each other.

We have shared a lot of special mama/son – as well as family – moments over afternoon tea and at the dinner table and I will miss that. 

I am excited to see my boy enjoy university, experience all the exciting things in life, grow into a mature fine man – and him telling me all about it when he comes back home from uni. 

Kelly will be a junior next year. I will still stay in Beijing until she leaves for university. Two years ago, I went back to work part-time and I think I will keep this routine even when I’m an empty nester.”

– Kathleen Wong

The Domingo Family. Originally from South Africa, they’ve been living in Beijing for 5 years

“Nadine is our first one to leave home for university. We still have one boy at home. 

As much as I think I’m ready for this transitional phase of my motherhood journey, a part of me is still in complete denial that my baby is weeks away from flying the nest. I knew this day would come but I am running between worry, panic, and excitement of letting her go into this vicious but wonderful world. It gives me sleepless nights. She’s off to a college located 10,277 kilometers away from me (yes I did count it all). Knowing that I’ll not be seeing her every day torments me. I’ll miss her infectious laugh, our conversations, and her warm hugs. The only thing I’ll look forward to every day will be her calls updating me on what is happening with her life at uni. 

Whilst dealing with the cracks of her absence, I’ll certainly try to travel and read more.”

– Jenifer Domingo

Smile, it’s not all bad

Look at it all as their big and exciting adventure, a true rite of passage. Let them blossom. You’ve done whatever you possibly could to prepare them for the real world. You’ve (hopefully) taught them how to boil an egg, operate the washing machine (or hand-wash their clothes if they are living in certain parts of the world), handle money matters, and have had the big talk on how not to screw up their lives with drugs and drinks. 

Time to adjust 

• Shed a tear or two. Go to the local pub and down a few drinks of your choice. Take time to adjust and acknowledge this new phase of your life – as well as theirs. According to psychologists, it can take up to two years to adjust to no longer being an involved mother or father. Disclaimer: If after two years, the self-pity symptoms of crying or drinking don’t subside, seek medical advice. 

• They are millennials. Gen-Zers. They can operate 15 screens simultaneously – sometimes while sleeping. So, try to catch up with them; familiarise yourself with the latest tech and social media apps like Facebook, Skype, and Teams. You’ll not only be able to regularly keep in touch with them, but you will also be able to spy on them 24/7 (they won’t appreciate the latter though). 

• Think about how many things we say we will do “when we have time.” Well, now you have all the time in the world. That yoga app subscription you’ve been renewing for the past 15 years but barely used because there was no time? Well, nothing’s stopping you now. That book you’ve been meaning to write? Get typing!

• Marriages and children change us all (bodies, mental state, sleep, sex lives, the whole enchilada). Sometimes we are so mired in parenthood that we barely notice how we’ve changed, that we aren’t the same people we were pre-kids. When kids are off to adulthood, it may be time to renew a bond you once had with your partner; a hobby you once shared can be resurrected. That dream holiday you always wanted to take? Well, now is the time (if your bank balance is smiling at you of course).

• Let your kids know that they can return home whenever they like: Nothing like mama and papa’s homemade meals instead of leftover french fries, burgers, and Coca-Cola.

See? Parenting duties never really end.

KEEP READING: Talking to Children About Discrimination

Images: Pexels, Kathleen Wong, Jenifer Domingo, Aletta de Beer, Muby Mulenga

It isn’t quite summertime, but we’re all looking forward to a little rest after the tumultuous year and a half that’s past. Some families treat summer like a lazy time, others as the fourth semester of school, but we all know that come July, some kind of break from the norm is in order. That’s where here we at Jingkids come in, ready to rock your scheduling world with these summer camp highlights. Each week we’ll go behind the scenes of a camp so you can make the right choice for your family.

Pingo Space Survival Camp

You might hear survival camp and think you’ll get put through endurance tests before being voted off the island or win a large cash prize. But Jennifer Holstein, Human Resources Manager and Event Planner of Pingo Camp, assures us that it’s really just a chance to connect kids in Beijing to the nature they don’t get every day from living in the city, “This camp is so valuable because kids will be able to get down and dirty and learn real-life skills that can help them in any outdoor situation and last for a lifetime… Some campers have never seen half the things they get to see at camp. Kids will learn how to build fires, build shelter, filter water, build rafts, and more!”

Some of the benefits of this camp are its authenticity; for instance, campers will get to sleep at the camp and will learn how to “survive’ (in teams and with help) in the wilderness. Don’t worry if they’ve never slept away before, because Holstein says that “Most campers cry when they go because they don’t want to leave their parents, and cry when [their parents]come back because they don’t want to go home.”

You still get the “Survivor” or Lost Boys experience after your training, though. Holstein says that “On the last day of camp, campers get to go to a nearby survival island with lots of awesome games and activities.”

Summer Camp Facts

Who: Pingo Space 平行国
What: 5 fun-filled days of outdoor survival camp where campers learn skills to survive in the wilderness
Where: Huairou, Beijing campsite, at night campers bunk with one other person in an air-conditioned room with a private bathroom
When: Jul 19-23, Jul 25-30, Aug 1-6, Aug 8-13, Aug 15-20, Aug 22-27
How: WeChatID: jcourt
Ages: 7-14 years old
Teacher to Child Ratio: 1 Lead instructor, 2 assistant instructors, 12 campers
Prices: RMB 7580-8980
Curriculum: Fire building, water filtration, building rafts, building shelter.
Conclusion: Survival camp completion certificate|
About: Highly experienced outdoor guides with wilderness first aid certifications. This is the third year Pingo Space has been running this camp. All staff and instructors are highly experienced.

Your UK Summer in China at the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo

Summertime is usually a time when expat families return to their home country and refresh a bit in more familiar surroundings. With travel restrictions still in place, however, the University of Nottingham Ningbo China stepped up to “offer an authentic British-style university experience from the safety of China. This program is also highly practical, with every element designed to help students who wish to apply to overseas universities in the future,” said Julian Fisher of the Venture Education.

“UNNC is welcoming two cohorts of bright young minds to our British-style campus this summer, David Foster, the Director of Business Development Office, University of Nottingham Ningbo China told jingkids. “The courses are selective and students must pass an interview to attend, but there truly is no better way to prepare for overseas study in the future than working alongside top academics surrounded by cutting-edge research in STEM, Business and Social Sciences.”

With “taster sessions” in the STEM or Business and Social Sciences subjects, 40 hours of academic English classes, and activities like sports, games, a Masterclass Series with UK university admissions experts, workshops, this camp aims to show students what kind of experience they would have at an overseas university.

All students will also sit the Morrisby assessment, a psychometric test common in the UK, which is used to highlight a student’s strengths. These are then compiled with their most suitable choices for degrees and careers in a bespoke 20-page report for each student.

Summer Camp Facts
Who: University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo
What: An international, English-language university experience in China this summer.
Where: University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo
When: Jul 19 – Aug 6
How: Visit the website: www.nottingham.edu.cn/en/business-development/summer-school.aspx
Ages: 14-17
Teacher to Child Ratio: 1:30 (various expert teachers for the different workshops and classes)
Prices: RMB 32,000
Curriculum: Two courses:
A: STEM
B: Business and Social Sciences
Students choose one of these two options when they apply. They will undertake projects which will serve as taster sessions to various subjects within these areas.

Projects include (subject to change):
STEM – Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality, Electronic Circuits and Drones
Business and Social Sciences – Language and Linguistics, Marketing, Economics
Each course will also feature 40 hours of academic English classes and 3 bonus IELTS classes run by former IELTS examiners.
Conclusion: All students will receive a certificate for completing the course. There will also be awards available for the best performers according to certain criteria which will be laid out in the student handbook given to students before the course. Tied to these awards will be personalized letters of recommendation from professors, which students can use to support their applications to overseas universities.|
About: With a beautiful campus designed in the image of the University of Nottingham UK, British-style teaching, and a multicultural environment with 284 foreign academics and students from all across the world, UNNC Summer School is a truly authentic representation of a British-style university.

KEEP READING: Summer Camps Preview: A Royal Summer Camp and Inclusive Cycling

Images: Canva, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, Ningbo

Thursday we did a short biography of Chen Shu who helped create an iconic traditional Chinese art form, and today we want to feature a modern Chinese artist who just might change art history again.

Mier Tang is a force of nature. She is young, ambitious, and looks to advance Chinese animation to give it the global recognition it deserves.

A graduate of The Academy of Arts and Design, Tsinghua University here in Beijing, and the prestigious Academy of Art University in San Francisco, she holds both a BFA and MFA, has worked for multiple international publishing houses, created and produced countless animation projects, started Floating World Animation in 2015 and is now giving back by helping to educate and inspire the next generation of Chinese animators.

Her business partner Dalton Grant told us “[Tang] is pretty innovative because she has a different way of thinking about the markets. She intrinsically knows how to identify flaws in logic while having a passion for finding solutions…Her ability to remain flexible makes her an awesome partner in an ever-changing market, in the Chinese animation community and the international world of animation in general.”

Despite being young they have garnered several awards for their work including such high-profile festivals as The Comic-Con International Independent Film Festival and EXPOTOONS International Animation Festival. And they have already signed a deal with Tencent for upcoming projects.

I sat down with this modern artist and businesswoman to find out what’s new and what’s next in the world of animation.

Jingkids (JK): Everyone’s passion gets ignited somewhere. What got you interested in Animation?

Mier Tang (MT): I started to get really interested when I was in college. There was “The Art of the Film” as an elective course that really sparked my interest. My college major was Visual Design, but I was more towards graphic design. Out of all the classes in school, my favorite was “film and illustration”.

In the last two years of college, I started some freelance work as an illustrator for magazines, publishing houses, and advertising companies where I got to use visual imagery to tell stories in different ways. And my boyfriend at the time is one of the most talented concept artists I’ve met. He was recommended for post-graduate work in Animation but his teachers had never worked on animation productions before, so he pretty much taught himself through school and I was learning with him at the same time.

JK: So basically, you two had to self-teach even at the college level? That’s amazing. Is that part of why you are starting on this new project to help educate the next generation of animators?

MT: Yes! The industry changes so fast. It’s hard for students to have access to the most recent technology and techniques. We are working with college students to give them internships and practical hands-on experience learning from current artists and filmmakers, so they can have the most recent industry knowledge, access to the newest technology, and build their resumes before they even enter the workforce.

We are hoping to expand programs to middle and high school students soon with a focus on basic animation and storytelling skills.     

JK: Speaking of being a kid, what did you watch growing up and what kind of content do you want to create for modern children and families now?

MT: We didn’t have a lot of Chinese animation options when I grew up. Most were foreign shows like Transformers, Tom and Jerry, The Smurfs, Lulu. But there are a couple of Chinese animation shows like Black Cat Sheriff.

The content we want to create for kids needs to be fun and inspirational. We want it to deal with things like problem-solving, open-mindedness, and creativity.

JK: You certainly have the talent pool to do that. You have an international team of incredibly well-respected animators, directors, and writers so you could have chosen anywhere in the world as home base. Why set up your studio in China?

MT: That was actually part of my intention when I went to the US for my master’s degree. My college was a top art school in China, there were many talented artists around me, but the Chinese animation industry was in a very chaotic stage; there are big blank spaces in Chinese animation. It started in the 1920s, there was great animation created in the 1940s and the 70s/80s but after the 1990s there weren’t any animated movies or TV shows that stand out. I didn’t understand why all these great talents were here but weren’t producing good projects. So, I want to use what I learned from the US and help Chinese animation to grow. The Chinese market has grown so fast and has huge needs in the entertainment industry. There are good opportunities to build something we believe in in this market.

JK: What do you see as the future of animation? What is next for this art form?

MT: Technology is rapidly developing; Creating Animation could be easier in the future. Right now animation production is very expensive and time-consuming and a big team effort. But in the future, there could be some tools people can easily use to tell their stories in an animation format. No need for big production budgets or lifetime training.

We are currently developing an idea that can use AI technology to simplify some of the processes. This is just a very early-stage idea, I can’t get into a lot of detail at the moment, but we are excited about that. It’s going to require some innovative tech people to pull it off.

KEEP READING: Not “Just Playing”: Your Child’s Brain On Creative Arts

Images: Mier Tang

[Note: This is Part II of my travelogue-slash-case-study, sharing the perspective of a Beijing-based American father and essay-writing specialist. It’s full of lessons-learned and guidance for how college applicants – especially foreign students – can persuasively “market” themselves to US Admissions Officers. Click here for Part I.]

BOSTON – Before I chronicle more of our road-trip, be forewarned: this travelogue, overall, is a ringing endorsement of America’s elite universities. Without a doubt, they offer some of the highest-quality education in the world. With this travelogue, though, I aim to be fair. So, let me also air my overarching grievance about these schools: their cost.

On the one hand, I wholeheartedly recommend a US education for my son — who’ll soon apply there — as well as for any foreigner courageous enough to study abroad. International applicants seem to agree: the US remains their #1 destination, by far.

The Chinese, in particular, embrace the benefits: over the past decade, they’ve leap-frogged others to become the largest community of international students in American universities, comprising well over one-third of the 1 million now stateside. (Moreover, the Chinese lead the way among the growing number of foreign students enrolled in US high schools.)

Today, they continue to apply in large numbers, though their overall enrollment has slowed. Experts largely attribute this to the anti-immigrant tenor of the Trump Era. (In 2017, I wrote a column about the range of contributing factors, soon after Trump was sworn in.)

Educational quality aside, though, there’s the galling price-tag for this education. During our 10-day road-trip, we visited Boston University; Tufts University; Brandeis University; Babson College; Amherst College; Brown University; Columbia University; New York University; Swarthmore College; and, lastly, the University of Pennsylvania.

We heard average costs of USD 50,000 for tuition, every year, plus 20,000 for accommodations and other necessities. After four years, you’ll fork out some 300,000 for that degree, which is basically a piece a paper that you’ll frame and hang on a wall.

*****

As a parent, I try to process this jaw-dropping expense. But I’m unable to, frankly. I’m far from upper-class, but rather a divorced father of three who mostly freelances for not-for-profit universities, media, and other organizations. On the other hand, as an American who hasn’t even lived on US soil since 2006, I can’t help but wonder: Is this investment worth it? Sure, try to attend the best school you can. But at what cost? How many years of debt?

Moreover, is this cost even necessary – for an undergraduate degree? Will it make a substantive difference, in the real world of the modern American workplace? Would it gain my son – or your child – a foothold in the best internships? A leg up over competing students from other universities? Access to even better experiences, and professional contacts, that may lead to a decent first job, post-graduation? In the field of his choice? With a survivable salary? (For rent, firstly, but also to pay off any college debt he’s incurred.)

Or, can we avoid this pricier path, altogether? To (slightly) reduce this burden, would it be better for my son (and his brother and sister, down the road) to attend a terrific, but less prestigious – and less expensive – public or private university? Study hard, and maximize your opportunities, then compete for a job that way? Later, if truly impassioned about a subject, then shell out the big bucks for an elite Master’s degree?

On our tour, each school’s representatives were quick to reassure parents like me that there are seemingly so many chances for “needs-based” financial assistance. At some places, even a chance at “merit-based” scholarships – for deserving students. The Admissions Officers often made it seem as if USD 50,000 were just the official cost, or a starting-point: For your child, though – believe me – we’ll arrange to make it much less.

We’ll soon test out just how generous they are with the aid. It must be noted, however: financial aid is only available to American students. International students pay full tuition. That helps to explain why so many schools now welcome so many foreigners: over the past decade, most have doubled or tripled their enrollment. More than a vital revenue-stream for universities, foreign students reportedly injected $42 billion into the US economy, in 2017.

After hearing several schools reassure us of lower costs, I had an epiphany about the handful of Chinese parents we encountered on our tour, at every school we visited: Will your child’s tuition indirectly subsidize my child’s tuition? Yes, probably. For their part, though, Chinese parents appear to already accept their end of the bargain: $300,000 or so for a degree that’ll help their child – as well as their family – grow roots in America.

So, money. That’s my lone grievance, really. Otherwise, I was genuinely impressed by the intellectual atmosphere and energetic vibe at all 10 schools we hit. Each was identified by my son’s University Counselors – at his international school in Beijing – and he himself arranged all the campus visits. (I pitched in a little, like coaching him on how to write a compelling cover-letter/email, to introduce himself to them.)

While Amherst was the only school we skipped out on [see Part I, to understand why], we explored the other nine as thoroughly as possible, within our tight schedule. At each, we absorbed a formal introduction and campus-tour. At most, we also grabbed a bite or sat for a hot drink – to soak in more community life. And now, finally, I resume the travelogue.

*****

How to decide which schools to visit? With such limited time, my son and I agreed that it’d be wiser to focus our college-tour on a few urban areas, and not “spread ourselves too thin” – driving maniacally through too many cities.

We started in New York City, because my family has long lived in its greater metropolitan area. I grew up in northern New Jersey, a stone’s throw from Manhattan. Two decades later, after living in Hungary for six years, I returned to the US with my Hungarian wife – that’s why both our sons were born in NYC. (So, they’re kinda-sorta “New Yorkers,” though they’ve both already lived on four continents in their teenaged lives.)

With the city as our anchor, we settled on a target-trio of Boston, New York and Philadelphia. While my son was keen to check out some big-name schools, my objective was much more than to merely hit the schools that most appealed to him. (He’s intrigued by a far larger swathe of primarily East Coast schools.)

Instead, I wanted to offer him a tasty “sampler platter” of American-university life itself. My son is actually a dual-citizen, of both the US and the European Union (courtesy of his mom). With that, he’s mulling the option of attending university in Europe – where tuition happens to be more reasonably priced. In this “competition,” though, I prefer he choose America. Not just for family reasons: If a kid’s interested in International Business, why not study – and grow roots – in the world’s largest economy?

With Chinese New Year having begun, my two sons and I flew from Beijing to New York, arriving Saturday night. We enjoyed the first half of Sunday with family. By late afternoon, my old buddy joined us, and we set out on our journey: toward Boston. Our first visit was scheduled for the next morning.

Boston, too, holds sentimental value to me. Though I feel as if I’ve never lived in the city, I was in fact born there. (My sister, too.) Specifically, in Cambridge, as my father pursued his Post-Doctorate degree in Organic Chemistry at Harvard University. I only spent my first two years of life there, until Dad launched his academic career in New Jersey, as a Chemistry Professor at Rutgers University– one of America’s oldest, finest state schools. Nearly 50 years later, he’s become a Rutgers institution.

As we grew up in suburban New Jersey, all the Boston-area universities were popular destinations for our peers. To my ear, Boston University had a solid reputation: in high school, as I dreamed of working as a serious sportswriter, BU’s journalism program was a leading candidate.

*****

First up on our college-tour, then, is Boston University, where we’ll learn three crucial lessons about “the right fit” for schools – and for you. Pertaining to: 1) diversity; 2) flexibility; 3) critical-thinking.

BU happens to be the largest of the 10 schools we visited, with 18,000-plus undergraduates and 14,000-plus grad students. BU also happens to be home to one of the largest foreign-student populations in America.

The size of student body is relevant, because as we drive through BU, then walk around, the school is unmistakably urban. Its campus is woven into the cityscape. Immediately, I’m smitten with all the old, elegant, red-brick buildings, whether for classrooms or student housing. As we’ll soon hear, “We want you to feel, as we do, that you’re a citizen of Boston – and member of the Boston community.”

Then there’s the school itself. Before we flew out of Beijing, I’d been in a rush to finish my work; honestly, I hadn’t done much of my own homework about the schools we’d visit. That’s why I’m now caught off-guard when BU informs us of their most famous alumni: The Rev. Martin Luther King.

As an undergrad, the legendary human-rights leader studied in BU’s venerable School of Theology. My mind wanders to MLK: at a time of hyper-partisanship in Washington, when political life is woefully lacking courageous leaders, I marvel that BU produced one of our nation’s greatest heroes.

At the Admissions Office, we and a dozen or so families are shepherded into a small auditorium. Up on the narrow stage, two people await us: A young man, who turns out to be an Admissions Officer, and a younger woman, who’s dressed like a student. She is, in fact, a “student-ambassador” to visitors like us.

At Boston University, an Admissions Officer introduces all the relevant facts about his school to an audience of prospective students – and their engaged parents.

Speaking of first impressions: it’s one thing for the stylishly-dressed Admissions Officer to have both ears pierced. More striking is his black nail-polish. That’s a bold statement by the school itself; it’s unimaginable that our roomful of parents and students will miss this detail.

The statement? That BU is a liberal, tolerant, open-minded school: Are we the right fit for you? If such values are meaningful to you, too: do you have concrete evidence, through personal experience, to prove they’re truly meaningful? If so, you should highlight this when answering their 250-word Why Us? essay, which they word as: What about being a student at Boston University would most excite you?

The Admissions Officer opens his talk with a breaking-the-ice activity: “Who thinks they’ve traveled the farthest to get here?” Up front, one young fellow with his parents, speaks up: Lima, Peru. My son raises his hand, which pleases me: Beijing, he says. For a second, I think he’s “won” this survey.

Behind us, though, others call out. In rapid-fire: Hong Kong! Shanghai! Shandong Province!

I smile. The Chinese are here! As I’ve learned from working and living in China, there’s no parent in the world more serious about their child’s education, than the Chinese parent. Quite a few Chinese are already in America – building (human) bridges between the world’s two-largest economies. Now we’re face-to-face with many more, banging on the door.

During our tour, all the Chinese we encounter are also seizing upon the Chinese New Year break. Yet they symbolize something more about China: they have the means for such a trip. Or, if they can’t truly “afford” this luxury, these parents prioritized this trip for their child – for some interesting reason.

At Tufts University, for example, we chatted with a Chinese mother and son, as the teen toted around a Georgetown University water-bottle. They’d just come from Washington. I was impressed. Then, a few days later, we bumped into the same friendly duo in New York. At Columbia University.

*****

Back at BU, the Admissions Officer has now made us well aware of how diverse we are. But for him, this is much more than an ice-breaker, to (successfully) warm us up. In fact, it’s his entry-point to spotlight a core BU priority: “We value the diversity of students, as well as the diversity of thought.”

I turn to my son, who’s nodding and smiling. He likes the notion of “diversity of thought.” To me, though, this two-pronged meaning of “diversity” is immediately reflective of BU values – and offers great potential fodder for your Why BU? essay. Even the Admissions Officer’s outward look suggests that when it comes to diversity, including a wide range of accepted lifestyles, BU doesn’t just “talk the talk” — it “walks the walk.”

Again, imagine how you’d answer that 250-word essay for BU, or for any other school. As I coach my students: take the time to think about – deeply and introspectively – the real you. What makes you authentically you? What do you care about? What impassions you? And why, why, why? Why exactly do you think what you think? Why exactly do you feel what you feel? Why exactly do you believe what you believe? And so on.

Let’s say you feel that “diversity” is one of your defining character traits – whether it’s your embrace of, appreciation for, or curiosity about, diversity. (Or, perhaps all three?) In terms of your broader Strategic Communications and Effective Messaging, you should probably rank this trait among your most persuasive selling-points – whether it’s in your application essays, Skype interviews, CV, cover-letters, or in anything else that builds your own brand, and promotes what you’re “selling.”

In this market of American universities, when you find a consumer that specifically seeks out a product like you, how effectively can you convince them of your comparative-advantage and value-added, over other products? Can you mold a persuasive message, support it with credible evidence, and fold it all into a compelling story – to humanize yourself? That’s the stuff I teach and train others to do.

For BU, go ahead: Don’t just tell them you share their value of diversity. Show them.

*****

Now the BU student-ambassador weighs in: she’s an inspiring young black woman who jokes that she’s from a corner of rural Georgia where there are “more chickens than people.” Now a senior, she tells us how she started out Pre-Med, yet wound her way toward a History major – and a minor in African-American Studies. That minor degree is significant, as we learn how BU has nurtured her political awareness and activism. This included an internship in the Massachusetts Statehouse, where she learned how policy is produced.

Again, her own nurturing process speaks volumes about the school’s values. Do we match your values? More revealing, though, is her journey from one major to another, which she’s about to explain.

But first, some relevant context: BU offers students more than 300 “programs of study.” But they don’t require or oblige you to declare your precise, preferred program, before you arrive on campus. Instead, you can start out as an Undeclared major.

“And that’s OK,” the Admissions Officer tells us. “You can apply to a specific school within BU, then decide on your major later.”

Illustrating this flexibility, the young woman describes how she entered BU with dreams of becoming a doctor. But a tough Chemistry course soon punctured her ambitions.

She switched to International Relations. But this wasn’t the right fit, either. “I was confused, and felt a little lost,” she says. Until, an adviser sat her down for a chat. “She asked me: ‘What about International Relations attracted you?’ Even I wasn’t sure. Then she went through the full course-list – to identify which courses appealed to me the most. We noticed: they were all history-based courses.”

That’s when she became a History major: “BU gave me the space and time to figure it out.”

The Admissions Officer chimes in: “We want to make sure that every student finds their passion – and engages in that passion.”

I mention this “flexibility” issue for two reasons. First, because it sounds like an ideal option for many students. Especially, teenagers like my son. Imagine how much pressure that is, to place on a pair of young shoulders: asking a teen to state with (at least the appearance of) conviction, I want to do XXX with my life.

Second, this signals another potential essay, underpinned by a powerful message. Every school will also ask you to write a short essay that answers: Why Study This Major?

When I coach a student who worries they lack a clear-cut vision of their future, I offer two options: Either “Bluff your way through it” – which I don’t recommend. Or, “Turn a negative into a positive.”

For example, if the reality is that you find several topics intriguing, but can’t settle on one, we massage the message into something like: My intellectual curiosity spans so many topics, from XXX to YYY to ZZZ … That said, to prove you actually exert intellectual effort in these areas, you must produce concrete “evidence.” Or else your smart but skeptical audience – the Admissions Officer – won’t be convinced. They’ll think you’re bluffing.

Now, connecting dots to a school like BU, which offers you the “Undeclared Major” option, that’d work perfectly fine. You’ll clearly explain why exactly you’re declaring yourself Undeclared … for now. So, you could continue your messaging with: That’s why I’m so pleased to learn of BU’s ‘Undeclared Major’ option, because I know that your school will give me the time and space to discover my true passion …

*****

Lastly, the third lesson-learned at BU: about critical-thinking. Despite BU’s size, they say they maintain a 10-to-1 ratio of students-to-faculty. In these smaller, more intimate classes, you not only get to know your professors well, but also won’t be able to avoid their scrutiny.

Our student-ambassador cites one memorable example, involving her Professor of African-American studies. In class one day, he called on her, to contribute her opinion to the discussion. She went on to state what she thought. The professor wasn’t satisfied, so he pressed her for more: “But why do you think that?” Her reply: “Ummm, because I do.” To which he responded: “That’s unacceptable.”

She was struck like a lightning-bolt. This professor was pushing her to think more deeply, about why exactly she was saying what she was saying. That moment left a lasting impression, as it inspired her to improve herself. “Today, he’s not only my professor,” she says, “but my mentor and friend.” He’ll soon write her a recommendation-letter, too.

As I sit and listen, I’m smiling. As a teacher, these are precisely the sort of critical-thinking skills I teach my students. As a parent, I want my son to have professors who’ll similarly push him to sharpen his mind. And as a coach, this is another element of “right fit”: BU prioritizes critical-thinking, as a skill that must be cultivated among today’s youth.

If this value mirrors yours, can you actually prove it? Again, with a molded message, backed up by believable evidence, wrapped into a memorable story about you – all of it aimed at convincing BU that you’re truly an ideal candidate for them.

It’s not just BU, of course. The same strategy holds for any university: show them, don’t just tell them, that you’re “the right fit” – for each other, in fact.

To contact Michael J. Jordan, email him at mjjordan2016@yahoo.com, or on WeChat, at mjjordan2323.

Photos: Courtesy of Michael J. Jordan

With the New Year, by the lunar calendar just around the corner, it is that time of the year to start thinking about an update to your applications – whether for boarding school or university. Both sets of schools are in the process of reading your application and no doubt there are a few things that you can report on since you submitted your application.

Why is this important? First of all this lets schools know that you are still thinking about them. It may have been quite a while since you last contacted your schools and most likely there are things that have happened they should know about. What should you update them on? Awards, projects, improved grades, special events, or even something like an important connection you have made.

What you shouldn’t do is send them packages, posters, food, or other gifts. Send a short, concise and well-worded email directly to the admissions officer at the school. If you interviewed with an admission officer, that is your contact. If you don’t know who to write – check the school’s website to see who covers your region or area.

Remember wording is about who you are as a person. If you are sending a letter to either a boarding school or a college, remember that this is a “professional’ email so the wording should reflect a professional attitude. This is not the time or place to blah, blah blah. Get to the point about what you are sharing. A bullet form email is a great idea to share those important aspects you are updating them on. Nor is this email to let them know XX School is your dream school. Your email is implying that they are a first choice school for you.

While you are thinking about updating your applications, it is also important that you monitor the status of your application. Check to make sure that all of your materials have been submitted. By this time test scores, letters of recommendation, transcripts etc… should all be in your file. CHECK your Spam email to make sure that you have not missed an email from any of your schools.

If you are missing something, please speak with your counselor if it is a school-related document like a transcript or letter of recommendation. A reminder that sending scores from College Board (SAT) or ETS (TOEFL) take some time to arrive at their destination. In the world of immediate communication, it is important to remember that some things do take time – test scores are one of those take time things.

If you are currently a Junior or in the process of thinking about applying to any school, now is the time to start doing some research as well as applying to Summer Programs. There are literally thousands of options for both. Be aware that some summer programs have very strict deadlines and for very competitive programs that deadline may have already past. It is also important to note that it is not where you go for summer programs, but what you do and what you learn. And, not everything has to be about schoolwork. Go do something really interesting. Too many students do the same thing and come across as robots rather than individuals.

So while you’re on vacation for CNY, spend some time getting either research on schools done or applying to summer programs. Preferably both!

Spend some time with family, enjoy the celebration and Xin Nian Kuai Le!!!

Photo: cambridge-news.co.uk

There was recently a post by an education firm that seemed to take a rather cavalier attitude toward early decision agreements for universities in the US.

First of all, what is early decision (ED) as compared Early Action (EA)? The main difference is that ED is a contract between the student, his parents, the school that student attends and the school to which they are applying. The purpose and point of the contract is that a student agrees that admission is binding and the student will commit to attending that school. Further, the fact that the student, the parents and the school counselor sign the ED Agreement is so that everyone is aware of and understands what the contract states and further that the family has considered all the issues related to applying under such conditions, including financial obligations. Students may only apply to one school ED.  It should be very clear to all involved that this is not an agreement to take lightly or to use as a way to game the system or weigh ones chances versus another college. Finally, a student must withdraw all other applications if made and may not apply to any other schools. They are done and in to their first choice school.

Early Action on the other hand is not as rigid. It is basically an early application so that a student may know early in the admission process that they have a school in their pocket. Some schools do have a slightly more rigid Early Action program called Single Choice EA. Under this application students may only apply to this type of school early i.e. no ED and no other EA applications may be submitted. This choice is so that the student may know early and be able to make choosing this school with out conflict with other early applications. Schools like Stanford and Georgetown have this option.

Back to the post about ED. The point that it seemed to be making was that there really was no repercussion if a student decides not to attend if accepted. The article points out that there are no legal repercussions and that the contract is more like a “Gentlemen’s agreement.” Nothing could be further from the truth. Let’s break this down a bit further. Choosing a school ED is something that should come from a students research. They should, by choosing a school ED, have concluded that this school is: 1. The Best School for them 2. The school has everything they need and want from a school – including location, size and academic programming. The fact that three different people sign the agreement should indicate that this is the family’s First Choice – there are no other schools that come close to fitting the student and that of course, if admitted they will attend if accepted. Basically, there should be no reason at all to second guess this decision.

Furthermore, the college counselor is directly involved in the process of this type of application and by virtue, the school that the student attends is part of this choice. Basically, there are a lot of people, not just the student, in completing this agreement. If the college counselor is doing their job correctly, they will have advised the student along the way, agreed that this school is a good choice for ED AND explained the language of ED to the student.

So what happens if a student reneges on the ED decision? As was stated in the article, schools talk to one another, particularly in the early process. If a student backs out of the commitment, that college may inform other schools that the student has applied ED. There are two reasons for this – 1. to check that the student has not applied anywhere else ED. 2. to basically have dibs on that student early in the admission process. But in the event that the student backs out, to inform other schools that this student has not lived up to the binding agreement and beware.

Further, while not committing may have little or no repercussions on the student other than they may not get in anywhere else, opting out affects their current school. The ramifications may be felt for years to come and it would be doubtful if any student ever got in to that school in the future. The school has basically been blacklisted into the future. Oh, and the same could be said for the college counselor.

While it is true that a university cannot force a student to come, there are a number of people affected by one student’s poor decision. But one may ask if there are any conditions where it may be ok to not accept an ED offer? Not really. As I jokingly tell my students, the only possible reason is because you’re no longer alive. Beyond that, there really is not a reason. Not because your SAT scores went up in December, not because you’ve decided it is not the school for you – that should have been figured out long, long before.

Often students, particularly international students forget that applying to and attending school in the US is not a right, but a privilege. Being accepted to any school should be viewed as an honor and nothing less.  It is exceedingly distasteful that some students try to game the system and forget the seriousness of what applying to university actually means.  All too often admission feels like it is a mission to collect acceptances and fully consider that other people are involved in arriving at an “admit” decision – other students for whom that school actually was their dream school, the admission committee, their school, their counselor and finally their own reputation.

Applying ED is an adult decision, not a willy-nilly I think I just apply ED to see if I can get in. In fact, applying to college is an adult decision, so students please take responsibility for your choices.

Photo: ilumineducation.com

Over the last couple of weeks colleges and boarding schools have been descending on Beijing, Shanghai, and other parts of China. It is always interesting to see the wide diversity of schools coming but also the intensity with which students and their families take advantage of these opportunities.

Families have so much choice with leaves me with this musing about a university fair at Harrow last night. There were over 100 universities from the likes of the US, UK, Canada, Hong Kong, Korea, the Netherlands, and France. Such a wide range of opportunities! There were great workshops on “What is Liberal Arts”, “Studying in the Netherlands”, “Why Business School in Europe”, and several others; All to whet the perspective appetites of attendees. Several things were noticeable –

1. Despite the current issues between China and the US there seems to be no waning of the interest in attending schools in the US. Their tables were packed. The UK was also a significant draw as well especially given the caliber of schools attending – several Russell Group Schools. All suggesting that these two countries are still very much on families’ minds as they look to their future educational paths.
2. Other regions still had a draw, but certainly not like the US and the UK. Which is interesting given the prestige of some of the schools attending many of which are in the top 100 or so of World Ranking.

For students who are thinking a year or two ahead of the admission process, it is curious that students are not taking advantage of considering a wide range of options. In one conversation the topic was the narrow focus of where people consider being “good” schools. And the range seems to get narrower and narrower as admission rates to those schools gets lower and lower. One would think that at this time in a student’s investigation process they would think out side the norm and learn what is available.

Having said that, there remains the whole hole of rankings. Just the other day Inside Higher Ed released an article focusing on a study by Stanford Graduate School of Education titled “To Find the Best Fit, Ignore the Rankings.” The first remarkable thing is that this is from Stanford. It is so refreshing that an educational leader is taking this stance and the hope would be that people take notice. A key part of the article is that based on the extensive analysis of their research the many factors students and families consider when looking at college – student learning, job satisfaction, well-being, and future income, these factors are not considered or used in developing rank. Further, “Research tells us that the most successful students, both in college and beyond, are the ones who engage in the undergraduate experience regardless of how selective a school may be. This is almost always the case whether a student attends the top-ranked or 200th-ranked college” Denise Pope, Senior Lecturer.

So we come back to the premise – do research, visit schools, weigh options that will engage you and where you will be happy. This applies to boarding schools or any school for that matter. But, in being able to see what is available, one must step beyond what one “knows’ or thinks they know. We attend classes because we want to learn, but strangely in thinking about school operationally people have a hard time being open minded to the enormously wide range of opportunities the world has to offer.

Some other minor musings, not really related to this topic but two weeks ago at the National Association of College Admission Counselors Conference in Salt Lake. The big topic of conversation in some sessions and a national committee I sit on was around testing. Colleges and universities are beginning to relook at the importance and value of testing in the admission process. The University of California, one of the main users of SAT will convene a committee to look at testing as related to admissions at the Provost level (Provosts are top dogs in a university). So this along with more schools going Test Optional or dropping the Writing Section is bringing to the front the concerns of many in the field. The International Initiatives Committee on which I sit gave NACAC the go ahead to open an investigation into the cost international students bear in testing, the costs which are much higher than domestic students.

The world is changing, how will you take advantage of the coming changes and be prepared for that future!

Photo: toptenscu.com

Every year in June, scores of Chinese high school students take the gaokao, a notoriously complex university entrance exam that determines possible prospects or lack thereof. Only one percent of test takers have what it takes score-wise to get into a top school in China, and almost 1.5 million retake the test to plump up low scores. Countless others get scores that can only grant them admission to more obscure colleges and universities, thereby limiting educational prospects with little recourse available.

However, prospective university students now have other high education options available with their gaokao scores: studying abroad.

According to the New York Times, The University of New Hampshire will begin accepting gaokao scores for Chinese international student enrollment. Currently, several schools in Europe, Australia, and Canada are already accepting gaokao scores, and given that more than a third of international students in the US are Chinese, many more American schools of higher education can be expected to follow suit.

Chinese International tuition rates are high; at the University of New Hampshire, Chinese students admitted under the gaokao program can expect to pay over $45,000 a year for tuition and housing, which isn’t even terribly high compared to many other American colleges. These generally sky-high tuition rates can greatly boost a school’s ability to provide better services and facilities to all students, so courting Chinese admissions has become a necessity for US schools.

Benefits of the gaokao admission are many. For students who are accepted with their gaokao scores, English proficiency, especially spoken, can be a common problem. Gaokao admitted students could also receive earlier admission dates, which is perfect for additional English prep classes and other mandatory exams before freshman semester begins. It also allows time for students to acclimate to the cultural differences of living in the West, make friends and feel more comfortable before they begin their American university experience.

Photo: nytimes.com