We know that parents start planning their child’s future from an early age, but can’t always find the information they need to inform their choices. In response, we hosted a Parent Academy event last Tuesday, ‘Supporting Your Child’s Journey to a Top University’, which aimed to answer all their important questions.
Our expert panel included current parent Ms. Shaying Tang, University and Career Counselor Ms. Ruru Huang, Deputy Head of Senior School Mr. Will Hutchings, and Dr. Zhang Xiaolu, Senior Advisor for Chinese Education from Education in Motion (EiM), which oversees the Dulwich College International family of schools.
The event attracted around 220 parents to the theatre. The discussion topics were thought-provoking, and the hour-long session was rich with insights on key topics below.
Attributes for UK and US university applications
For US universities, the essential attributes for students to display are Leadership, Impact, Initiative and Dedication (summarised as LIID).
In contrast, UK universities primarily focus on academic achievements, simplifying their application process.
Comparing AP, A-Level, and IB. And why choose IB?
- International Baccalaureate (IB) develops research skills, critical thinking, and a global perspective, making it a well-recognised pre-university qualification.
- AP offers college-level courses, but requires a separate high school diploma.
- A-levels align with the UK curriculum.
Universities have no preference about the curriculum a student has followed. Nonetheless, although the IB is often seen as challenging, it rigourously prepares students for top universities, with research showing they are better equipped to choose multiple subjects or switch majors. Therefore, for those aiming for elite institutions in the US, UK or elsewhere, the IB may be the best option.
The IB is very much in keeping with our mission to put students first and to ensure that they have the skills and motivation to make a positive difference in the world.
You’ve heard from the experts, but what do our graduates think about their education at Dulwich Pudong? We spoke to Stanford student and Class of 2020 Jay Yu.
For the past three years, our students have achieved the top IB average score in China.
For more information about our IB curriculum and support for students preparing for university, please read the article here.
