中文
Tiếng ViệtStudent Profile
Student Name: Alice
Admitted to: Western Reserve Academy
About Alice
Alice grew up in a smaller city in China, but after realizing that the local public school system didn’t quite match her personality or learning style, she transferred to a bilingual school in Beijing. There, her strengths in subjects like math quickly stood out, even though she was still working to improve her English. Around that time, she began thinking seriously about applying to U.S. boarding schools. For her family, it was an unfamiliar path, and they weren’t quite sure where to start.
Alice’s mother had always thought about sending her abroad, but the plan was originally for college, not high school. She was concerned about safety, maturity, and whether Alice would have enough emotional support. But Alice was confident about what she wanted. At one point, the family visited Singapore to explore other options, but they found that the educational resources were quite limited. There were only about 20 international high schools, and just 5 or 6 were considered top tier. Most of the schools followed the IB system, and after evaluating it herself, Alice felt it might not be the right fit. After returning from Singapore, the family had a serious conversation and ultimately decided that U.S. boarding schools would provide more opportunities for Alice to grow both academically and personally.
Alice and her family made the decision in August, which was quite late in the admissions cycle, and didn’t begin working with Ivy Talent until September. At the time, she hadn’t taken the TOEFL, SSAT, or Vericant interview, and only had a few months to prepare for an extremely competitive application season.
Working With Ivy Talent
After speaking with several other organizations and independent consultants, Alice’s mother chose to work with Ivy Talent after meeting one of their consultants, Jessie. She was impressed by their professionalism, knowledge of U.S. schools, and thoughtful approach. Knowing that they had offices in both China and the U.S. gave her extra confidence in the level of support we could provide. Even though the application timeline was tight, the team made sure the family felt supported and informed from the beginning. Alice and her mom visited their Beijing office, met with the consulting team, and signed with Ivy Talent right away.
The process came with a lot of pressure. At times, Alice felt overwhelmed, anxious, and even broke down emotionally. During these moments, her Ivy Talent consultant was always there to help. She would talk to Alice patiently, help her analyze the situation, and guide her through what was going well. Afterward, she would also speak with Alice’s mother, since Alice didn’t always want to hear advice from her parents but was more open to guidance from her consultant. The Ivy Talent team also reminded Alice’s mother not to let her own anxiety add more pressure, and over time, she learned to stay calm and supportive.
From start to finish, the Ivy Talent team offered steady encouragement and reassurance. They helped the family stay on track and take each step with clarity. Alice’s mother later shared that beyond the professional guidance, it was the emotional support that made the biggest difference. Even at the most stressful points, the consultants remained calm, kind, and confident. Knowing they had that kind of support behind them made all the difference.
How Ivy Talent Helped
Alice’s standardized test scores didn’t match the typical benchmarks for top U.S. boarding schools. But instead of focusing solely on numbers, the Ivy Talent team worked with her to highlight what truly made her stand out—her passions, activities, and character.
Alice had a strong extracurricular background. Since seventh grade, she had been competing in Chinese debate tournaments and later took part in English-speaking competitions that covered topics in economics, humanities, and STEM. She often traveled alone to different cities for these events, staying up late to prepare her materials, driven purely by her own interest and motivation.
She also volunteered for several education-focused initiatives, including teaching English during the pandemic and leading STEM workshops for girls in rural Hainan. These experiences reflected her values and sense of purpose. Her consultant helped bring these stories forward in her application, showing her not just as a strong student, but as someone with leadership, drive, and independence.
At the beginning of the school selection process, Alice was drawn to Emma Willard School, an all-girls school known for its strong focus on leadership. She had developed an early interest in women’s issues and female leadership, so her family believed it could be a great match. Even though admission wasn’t guaranteed, they felt it was worth applying to get a better sense of what top girls’ schools were like.
But after visiting Emma Willard in person, Alice realized it wasn’t the right fit. She found the environment a bit too structured and quiet for her personality. Alice is naturally energetic and curious, and she thrives in settings that are more dynamic and diverse. While she respected the school, she didn’t feel that sense of connection.
Things changed when she visited Western Reserve Academy. From the moment she arrived on campus, she felt a strong sense of belonging. She was especially intrigued by the school’s bioengineering and cancer immunology lab. These were subjects she hadn’t explored before, but they sparked her curiosity right away. She also liked the atmosphere of the town and felt comfortable walking around the campus. The student tour guides were confident and approachable, and the teachers came across as warm and kind. For the first time, Alice felt emotionally connected to a school.
Just as everything seemed to be falling into place, an unexpected challenge came up. A snowstorm hit the area on the day of her interview, and the school had closed its campus. The admissions office had emailed applicants to recommend canceling unless they were already nearby.
Alice, her mom, and their Ivy Talent consultant decided to go anyway. They told the school they were nearby and would come as planned. They made it through the snow and got to campus. The admissions officer appreciated their effort, and the family was touched that staff came in during their break just for the interview.
During the interview, Alice spoke about her ballet background and how she often traveled alone to competitions when she was younger, which showed her independence and perseverance. When asked what kind of project she would want to start, Alice immediately shared her idea for a “free hug” campaign. It was something she had wanted to do during the pandemic but never had the chance to carry out. She explained how she had seen videos where strangers broke into tears after receiving a simple hug, and how she believed many people grow up without enough emotional connection. The story was simple but heartfelt, and it left a strong impression on the admissions officer.
Alice ultimately received offers from several boarding schools, including Western Reserve Academy, Tabor Academy, and The Stony Brook School. For her family, these results brought more than just relief. They were a clear reminder that passion, authenticity, and resilience can be just as powerful as numbers.
Reflection
Alice’s mother shared her thoughts on the experience and the role Ivy Talent played throughout the journey:
“I’m especially grateful to the Ivy Talent team for their support throughout the entire process. We faced many unexpected challenges during our trip to the U.S., but they were there to help us every step of the way. I still remember when our flight from New York to Chicago was canceled due to a snowstorm. I was incredibly anxious. The driver told us it would take 15 hours to drive, but that would’ve left Alice too exhausted for her interview. The Ivy Talent team quickly stepped in, searched for options, and managed to book us new tickets for that afternoon. Without their help, especially with the language barrier, I don’t think we could have handled it on our own. When we arrived at the airport, it was still snowing and very crowded. We thought we would miss the flight, but the Ivy Talent team helped communicate our situation to the staff. We were allowed to move to the front of the line, and we boarded just before the doors closed. I was so moved by their effort and the kindness we received. In February, I knew they were doing everything they could to help Alice with her application to Western Reserve. I found out about the good news a little earlier but waited to tell Alice until the official notice came through that night. When she saw it, she screamed with excitement. At that moment, I felt everything we went through had been worth it. It really felt like a dream.”
– Alice’s mom
She learned three key things along the way:
- Start early. A late start adds unnecessary pressure and limits flexibility, especially when standardized tests, interviews, and application materials all need to be completed within a short time frame.
- Choose the right support. A knowledgeable and dependable consulting team makes a real difference—not just in the planning and execution, but also in managing the emotional ups and downs that come with the process.
- Visit schools and interview in person whenever possible. For students like Alice, who connect easily with others, those in-person moments help admissions officers understand the real person behind the application.
Alice’s journey shows that success in admissions doesn’t require being perfect on paper. Sometimes, it’s about being genuine, understanding your own story, and sharing it with clarity.
