How international schools open doors to top universities

03 Jul 2018

Every parent wants the best for their child. Whether that means giving them the very best home, upbringing or education, every parent wants to see their child develop and thrive as they grow.

It can be hard to know where to turn when you want only the best for your child. Do you send them to government schools that may not nurture them to their maximum potential? Or do you send them to a local private school where they might not be fully integrated into the school’s culture?

If you think about the end goal of a good education – getting your child into a top university – you might find your decision becomes easier. Helping your child get into the best university is a priority for many parents – it increases job prospects, income potential and general life quality, making it a valuable experience.

In fact, university graduates typically earn 56 percent more per year than high school graduates in the US, according to the Economic Policy Institute, meaning university-level education is the first step towards success.

Source: British School of Beijing, Shunyi

And it’s not just about the money – a study by the Higher Education Funding Council for England found graduates tend to feel more satisfied with their lives than non-graduates, on top of being more resilient in difficult life situations.

At an international school, your child will study with students from all around the world. This gives them the chance to develop an international perspective so valuable in the modern world. They will learn how to integrate with different cultures and build the confidence to start a new life somewhere other than home.

This experience is invaluable to getting into a top university as so many higher education providers welcome this global outlook. From Harvard in the US to Oxbridge in the UK, an openness to study abroad destinations will allow your child to make the most of top universities, rather than being limited to a select few.

Source: International Community School, Singapore

Combined with the added benefit that international schools often teach in English, your child will leave with the language skills needed to thrive at many universities in English speaking countries or at those that deliver in English.

The academic, social and personal enhancement your child will gain from an international school environment will prove invaluable when it comes to applying for universities, especially since top institutions are favourable to the skills they’ll have developed.

Your child will have already demonstrated the resilience to live away from home, the self-discipline to achieve without their watchful parents and the ability to mix with other people from a range of cultures.

All of this is attractive to a university, who will know your child can adapt to university life in a new country and has the motivation to academically succeed.

If you want to open doors to top universities for your child, consider these international schools to launch their academic journey…

BRITISH SCHOOL OF BEIJING, SHUNYI

The British School of Beijing, Shunyi is committed to providing your child with a rigorous academic programme, which will help them realise their maximum potential and raise their aspirations higher, from one-year-old to 18-years-old.

Source: British School of Beijing, Shunyi

Focussed on their ‘Be Ambitious’ philosophy, The British School of Beijing, Shunyi challenges your child to expand their horizons beyond their comfort zone. Through encouraging creativity, curiosity, personal growth and optimism, the school helps each child become the best they can be.

Your child will be encouraged to discover their own unique talents and areas for growth within the classroom and beyond. Respected as an individual learner, each student will be challenged and propelled to academic heights they never knew were in their reach.

By following the English National Curriculum, and the International Baccalaureate in the final two years of study, your child will have the core background necessary for academic and personal success in the future. Paired with the school’s esteemed collaborations with influential organisations including MIT, The Juilliard School and UNICEF, every child will be ready to turn their knowledge into action.

“Looking at her class photos and all those pictures she gathered and kept, we are certain she has had heaps of fun and learnt great values from the school to be an individual and to be ambitious,” said parents of a former primary student at The British School of Beijing, Shunyi.

SINGAPORE AMERICAN SCHOOL

The Singapore American School is committed to creating a community of academic excellence. With 94 students from the class of 2018 earning cum laude(GPA 4.0 or above), magna cum laude (GPA 4.2 or above), or summa cum laude (GPA 4.4 or above) distinctions on their diplomas, your child is likely to get into one of the world’s best universities such as Harvard, Yale or Oxbridge.

Source: Singapore American School

Extra-curricular development is also nurtured at the school through the comprehensive arts and athletics programme. Your child will be able to explore their natural interests and develop new skills in many areas including reading, critical thinking, cooking, dance and yoga among more.

To help your child put the excellence they’ve learned into action, students are teamed up with college counsellors who work with them to discover which universities suit them best, helping them prepare for admission tests and walking them through the application process.

This tailored approach is unique, and with 89 percent of students from the Singapore American School entering higher education immediately after graduation, your child’s academic and personal progression will be in good hands.

BANGKOK PATANA SCHOOL

Following the British school curriculum for children aged two to 16-years-old, before teaching the International Baccalaureate until 18, Bangkok Patana School has over 60 years’ experience educating children with one of the world’s most renowned education systems.

Source: Bangkok Patana School

The school is committed to producing life-long learners who do not only excel in their studies, but also become global citizens with a strong sense of identity and responsibility.

Children in the primary school are instilled with a love for learning, curiosity and creativity, providing the ideal blueprint to succeed later on. The high school prepares students for university in the UK or other higher education hotspots, with an English curriculum that’s tailored to reflect southeast Asian culture.

Sports and arts are also respected at the school, as students are encouraged to develop their individuality and confidence through the extra-curricular programme. Your child will have the opportunity to explore life beyond their studies in the evenings and weekends, whether they choose to engage with tennis, swimming, gymnastics, drama, music or the visual arts.

Academic rigor and personal development come together at Bangkok Patana School to provide your child with a holistic, UK-based education that creates able students ready to move onto the next stage of their life.

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY SCHOOL SINGAPORE

International Community School Singapore provides a Christian-centred education. This creates a deeply nurturing community that encourages students to grow spiritually, academically and personally.

Source: International Community School, Singapore

In line with the Christian ethos, students are encouraged to develop as whole individuals through God’s transformative power and love others in return. The emphasis on spiritual development overflows to all aspects of a child’s education. From pastoral support to extra-curricular development, love and support are central to the school’s community.

Based on the US education system, 80 percent of students at the International Community School Singapore continue their education at US universities, making it a great school to launch your child’s journey to some of the world’s best universities.

DWIGHT SCHOOL SEOUL

Founded in 1872, Dwight School has almost 150 years’ experience teaching and nurturing children’s academic development in preparation to attend a world leading university and have a successful life.

Source: Dwight School, Seoul

The school is built on the three pillars of personalised learning, community and global vision, providing a multi-dimensional education with a focus on igniting the unique spark of genius within every child.

The school believes education should encourage students to grow into global citizens with a desire to improve the world around them. Being a member of an international school, which also has branches in London, New York, Vancouver Island and Beijing helps foster this international perspective through exchange trips and digital interactions with students based around the world.

Learners here will study the International Baccalaureate, often considered the crème de la crème of high school academics, putting them in good stead when it comes to their university application.

This, combined with the university counselling service which helps students identify the institution that’s just right for them, studying at Dwight School Seoul is an impeccable start for your child’s education.

*Some of the institutions featured in this article are commercial partners of Study International