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Tiếng Việt
Student Profile:
Student Name: Isaac
Admitted to: Fay School, Bement School
We had the chance to speak with the mother of a recent Ivy Talent student, Issac, who was accepted to both Fay School and Bement School. She walked us through her family’s journey, from learning about the U.S. middle school system for the first time to navigating the application process and eventually receiving the admissions results.
The Research Process
Last summer, my husband and I discovered the unique advantages of the American middle school system, particularly the multiple admission pathways that give students greater access to top schools. Initially, we planned for our son to apply directly to high school in the United States. But the more we learned about the middle school experience, the more we felt it could better support his growth and development.
Like many parents, we initially felt uncertain about how to plan the next steps. We received some preliminary information through a consulting company in Hong Kong; however, the service felt lackluster, and the advice wasn’t tailored to our specific situation. As a result, we continued our search for a different company.
From last fall through early this year, I spoke with seven or eight different consulting companies over the phone. Most of them offered similar services, all at fairly high prices, which didn’t feel like a good value for the cost. This made it difficult for us to move forward, and over time, we became increasingly frustrated with the process.
By late August, we knew we couldn’t delay the process any longer, as our flight to the U.S. was booked for the end of September. However, we still hadn’t found a consulting company. I took it upon myself to start researching schools and scheduling meetings, spending hours emailing and organizing everything. But I soon realized that handling it all on my own wasn’t practical, and it became clear that managing the process smoothly would be challenging without expert help.
I discovered Ivy Talent through a student case study. Although I hadn’t heard of the company before, their success story of a student from Shanghai applying to U.S.-based programs through Ivy Talent last year caught my attention and made me see them as a promising option. After doing more research, I decided to get in touch.
Working with Ivy Talent
I contacted Ivy Talent through a QR code and had my first phone consultation with one of their consultants, Jessie. From the beginning, it was clear that Ivy Talent stood out from the other consulting companies we had spoken to. Jessie took the time to carefully listen to our family’s situation and made sure to understand Issac’s background and unique qualities.
Our main priority was to find a consulting company that genuinely focused on our child’s needs and development, providing practical and professional services, rather than emphasizing “connections” with schools as its main selling point. In our discussions with other agencies, many immediately highlighted their strong ties with schools. We felt that approach was too reliant on traditional methods, rather than focusing on the actual growth and potential of our child.
Ivy Talent’s clear and honest approach immediately put me at ease. Jessie took the time to thoroughly explain the American middle school education system, addressing the potential challenges and opportunities we might encounter. What impressed me the most was their focus on the student, which was a refreshing change from the other agencies we had spoken with.
My husband and I discussed it that evening, and the following day, we decided to move forward with Ivy Talent. We were confident this would be the strongest foundation for our child’s journey. Once we signed up, Jessie promptly put together a team to support us through the application process, with the China and U.S. staff collaborating effectively.
The team took the time to help us understand the requirements of American middle schools and developed a personalized, straightforward application plan. Their professionalism gave us greater confidence in the process, and we became more confident that partnering with Ivy Talent was the right decision.
Issac’s Story
Our son has always been a curious and well-rounded individual, with a passion for a wide range of activities, including sports, music, charity work, and technology. While he hasn’t won major awards in any one area, his diverse interests earned him respect from both teachers and peers. He’s kind-hearted, responsible, and excels in team activities.
Throughout our conversations with Ivy Talent’s consultants, whether over the phone or through other means, I was involved in every step of the process. I could always sense the care and attention they gave to our child. They asked insightful, focused questions that encouraged him to reflect on his potential. It was evident that their guidance helped him achieve a deeper level of self-awareness and personal growth. As a mother, this made me feel hopeful and confident about his future.
Ivy Talent’s teachers were particularly skilled at finding the hidden strengths in Issac’s experiences and helping him articulate them. Thanks to their guidance, our son strengthened his sense of self and grew more confident in sharing his thoughts and feelings. It was a truly eye-opening experience for our family, as we had never approached his personal growth in this way before and didn’t realize how much he could discover about his own abilities.
We identified several key qualities that highlighted Issac’s strengths and helped showcase his potential in his application materials:
- Team Spirit: Ivy Talent’s consultants highlighted how Issac demonstrated leadership and responsibility in team activities. I was particularly impressed when Jane, one of the consultants, helped him reflect on a challenging experience where he persevered through an intense rugby match and led his team to victory. Those heartfelt stories were skillfully integrated into his application essays, showcasing his character.
- Diverse Interests: The team didn’t simply list Issac’s interests like rugby and music. They demonstrated how these activities inspired him and contributed to his growth, showcasing his well-rounded personality and enthusiasm for both individual and team activities.
- Resilience: During interview coaching, the team helped Issac find his true voice and express his authentic personality. They believed he was the kind of student who would thrive in a boarding school community. Through multiple mock interviews, my son gained confidence in his experiences and personal story. By the time of the actual interview, he was poised and self-assured, impressing the admissions team and ultimately securing a spot at his dream school.
Our Experience
From my first conversation with Jessie to the ongoing guidance we received from Jane, I experienced an unmatched level of professionalism and sincere service from the Ivy Talent team. Their focus on practical results and their honest, realistic advice gave us confidence throughout the process.
One of the most valuable aspects of their support was the process of identifying and refining Issac’s strengths. As a parent, it was difficult for me to systematically analyze his traits, especially given the limited time and scattered information. The team quickly helped us extract the key elements of his personality, set clear goals, and create a manageable plan.
Looking Back
The entire application process was an unforgettable journey for our family, full of anticipation, anxiety, and challenges. But it also brought unforgettable moments of warmth and growth.
I’ll always remember the week leading up to the January 15th admissions decision. Parents in the community groups were anxiously asking for updates, but I felt an unexpected sense of calm. It wasn’t that I was unconcerned about the outcome, but that I trusted Ivy Talent completely. From our initial conversations with Jane to our in-person meeting with Jenny in Boston, I knew that they had done everything they could to ensure the best possible outcome for our son.
This case study has been published with permission from the student and his family. To protect his privacy, we use “Issac” in place of his real name and refer to him as “Issac” throughout.
