Dear SSIS Parents,
Happy Lunar New Year, Chúc Mừng Năm Mới, Gong Xi Fa Chai! I wish you all a very happy, healthy, and prosperous 2019!
As all of us prepare to celebrate the Lunar New Year, our grade 12 students continue to work on their university applications. This is an exciting, and sometimes nerve-wracking, time for them as they reflect, research, apply, interview, and wait patiently – all the while keeping up with their studies and other interests. I am very impressed with how our students support each other as they go through this process. They want the best for each other and often wait by each others’ side to receive the news and then dance for joy or hug for encouragement. Our seniors also speak very highly of the help they receive from the University Guidance Office. I am happy to share a glimpse of the progress to date of the class 2019 university admissions successes.
The results are very impressive. These acceptances are the outcome of a combination of hard work and clear goals from students and excellent support from the University Guidance Office. As SSIS is an international school with students applying all over the world, students apply at different times of the year, depending on the country. Students who applied to colleges and universities in the early round of admissions were able to articulate and define their fit for each institution. Reflecting a combination of academic, social, financial, and geographical fit, students chose the the schools that were most aligned with their goals and aspirations. Students were encouraged to think about all aspects of their choices to make sure they would be successful in college and beyond.
Our students have been extremely successful in gaining acceptance into great universities that are a perfect match for them. One student wanted to continue her research into environmental sustainability, while also studying the chemistry of baking. Another student wanted to learn journalism while also giving back to the community through his interest in community service. Another student thinks that pharmaceutical studies to help find drug combinations that fits eastern and western medicine is the right place for her, and yet another is an aspiring game designer who wants to create strong narratives in games. When applying to universities most schools will ask “why this university” and these students took time to research, assess the fit, and define why each university was the perfect match for them. The admission process asks students to look deeply at themselves and what they can offer to a university as well as to look at what the university can offer them. Ultimately our acceptances reflect students who know themselves, who have pursued their interests, and who have strong academic records.
For our Korean students, we have already submitted the Seoul National University (SNU) and Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) applications to Korea. Applications for Korea University and other Korean universities will open in March. Likewise, students applying to Dutch universities, many US universities, Hong Kong, Singapore, Japan, and other countries continue to submit their applications according to required deadlines. By April 1st, we will have more information on college admissions to share with our community. In the meantime please take a minute to appreciate the diverse group of excellent schools our class of 2019 have already been accepted to.
| Baylor University – USA | Cologne Business School – Germany |
| Boston University, USA | Universidad Anahuac – Mexico |
| Dartmouth College, USA | University of Edinburgh – UK |
| Northwestern University, USA | University of Hong Kong – Hong Kong |
| Princeton University, USA | Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Hong Kong |
| Rochester Institute of Technology, USA | University of Manchester – UK |
| Rutgers University, USA | University of Melbourne – Australia |
| School of the Art Institute of Chicago, USA | University of Sydney – Australia |
| SUNY Binghamton, USA | Waseda University – Japan |
| SUNY Stony Brook, USA | |
| University of Chicago, USA | |
| University of Georgia, USA | |
| University of Illinois at Chicago, USA | |
| University of Massachusetts, USA | |
| Wellesley College, USA |
These early results are on par with any great high school anywhere in the world, including regional schools, international schools, and US boarding schools.
SSIS prepares students to go to university anywhere in the world. We continue to offer one-on-one support for seniors to help them find the right university, to write excellent essays, and to guide them through every step of the university process. The University Guidance Office is also working with students in grades 9-11 on course registration. For many students, this is the beginning of their university process and SSIS will provide individual support to every student. In addition, our dedicated social/emotional counselor provides support to all of our students in grades 9-12. Even greater support will be provided to our students next school year when we add the additional social/emotional counselor to the high school counseling team.
Our favorite thing to do is to celebrate with students. You’ll often find the University Guidance Office doing happy dances and clapping for students who have received acceptances to their university of choice. Most of our students will end up with a hard decision to make, to which one of these great universities do I go? We want all of our students to have that dilemma of choice.
Thank you, parents, for all of your support through your children’s education at SSIS. Our partnership with you allows your children to thrive and to have great opportunities at, and after, SSIS.
All good wishes for a happy and prosperous Lunar New Year! Chúc Mừng Năm Mới!
Dr. Catriona Moran
Head of School
