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Student Profile
Student Name: Brady
Elementary School: Wellington College International Shanghai (China)
Admitted to: Fessenden School (Massachusetts, USA)
In this year’s highly competitive U.S. junior boarding school admissions cycle, Brady, a student from Shanghai, earned admission to the prestigious Fessenden School in Massachusetts. Brady’s family is well-educated and globally minded, with a strong understanding of the U.S. education system, yet they chose to partner with a professional admissions consulting team. What led them to make that decision, and how did they strategically plan Brady’s academic journey?
Brady’s father shares their family’s experience.
Our Story
In 2018, I returned to Shanghai from New York due to work and family responsibilities. A year later, my wife and son, Brady, joined me in Shanghai so our family could live together again. Though Brady was born in the U.S. and attended preschool there, he spent the next several years attending an international school in Shanghai.
After closely observing his current learning environment and reflecting on our family’s long-term goals, we decided in 2023 to have him return to the U.S. for middle school, high school, and eventually college.
There were two core reasons behind this decision:
First, we believe in the value of a U.S. education. I earned mine from NYU after completing my undergraduate studies in mainland China, and my wife studied in Taiwan before attending NYU as well. Having lived in the U.S. for over 20 years, we’ve experienced both the Chinese and American education systems and find the U.S. approach, particularly at the K-12 level, better suited to fostering creativity and independent thinking, areas where our current school in Shanghai was falling short.
Second, the timing was right. Brady was about to start middle school, a pivotal stage in any student’s academic development. The structure, expectations, and social dynamics of middle school are very different from elementary school. We wanted him to be in an environment that would challenge him and help him build relationships with peers who can become part of his long-term academic and social circle, especially as his future will most likely be rooted in the U.S.
Working with Ivy Talent
Initially, we didn’t think we needed help. When we began exploring international options for Brady in 2022, we independently applied to United World College in Singapore. We handled the entire application process on our own, and Brady was placed on the waitlist before being admitted after we followed up with the admissions office. Ultimately, we decided that a school in the U.S. would be the best fit.
My wife took the lead in researching U.S. middle schools aligned with our values. Despite our academic background and experience living in the country, we soon realized we lacked detailed knowledge about the junior boarding school landscape and current admissions trends, especially from the perspective of students applying from China. We also hadn’t lived in the U.S. for four years, so we were no longer as up to date on the nuances of the American middle school system.
That’s when we decided to partner with a professional education consulting firm.
We compared several consulting companies, including those based in the U.S. and Shanghai. Ultimately, we chose Ivy Talent for several reasons: they had staff on the ground in both China and the U.S., making communication seamless; Brady learns best in person after experiencing three years of online learning during the pandemic; and their in-depth workshops and past client success stories gave us confidence. We even spoke with another agency based in New York that offered to help us target two top schools in New Jersey, but after comparing their approach with Ivy Talent’s broader strategy, we felt that Ivy Talent would offer Brady more personalized guidance and a greater range of school options. In the end, this decision proved to be the right one.
How Ivy Talent Helped
Having spent over two decades living in the New York area, we naturally first focused on schools in the tri-state area. But through discussions with our consultants at Lager, we were encouraged to consider schools in Boston and the greater New England area as well. They helped us analyze potential options not just based on current fit but also long-term trajectories for high school and college admissions. They introduced us to several well-regarded all-boys boarding schools known for their rigorous academics and emphasis on personal development.
In late November, we traveled to the U.S. to visit and interview at the schools we had shortlisted. We began in New Jersey, where the school we visited aligned well with our expectations. But as we toured schools in the Boston and New England region, we noticed a meaningful difference in educational philosophy, teacher engagement, and overall campus atmosphere. We took the time to speak with admissions staff, faculty, and even students, asking questions about everything from academics to meals and dorm life.
This hands-on research shifted our perspective. We initially believed there wasn’t much difference between schools on the East and West Coasts. Through these visits, we realized that New England boarding schools, particularly those for boys, offer unique methods for nurturing character, independence, and leadership. A conversation with the Director of Admissions at Fessenden, in particular, helped us fully understand how deeply these schools focus on the students’ holistic development.
By the time Fessenden extended an offer, we were confident it was the best fit for Brady and did not feel the need to wait for results from our earlier preferences in New Jersey.
Reflecting Back
We hadn’t returned to New Jersey in over four years because of the pandemic. During our school visit trip, we noticed just how much more competitive private school admissions have become. Even families whose children attended top public schools were now considering private education.
In such a competitive process, we’re especially glad we chose to work with experts who understand the U.S. admissions system, both from an American and international perspective. Their guidance helped us find the ideal educational environment for our child.
