How to Get Your Child into the Best University?

By Mike Embley
Executive Principal
British School of Beijing

This question, asked by so many parents, is a complex one. We have to break this question down and do some really important background work before moving forward.

First: what exactly do we mean by ‘best university’?

Let’s be honest here. We have all heard of Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, MIT, Yale. They are quite deservedly famous, have superb facilities, excellent teachers and in some regards do represent a ticket to the high life for their graduates. In addition, there are famous universities in every country that have yet to achieve the high level of international fame of those mentioned above. Seoul in South Korea, Canberra in Australia, McGill in Canada, Leeds in England, Tokyo in Japan, Beijing in China. The list could go on for quite some time. These universities and many others are essentially of the same standard as internationally famous institutions.

However, a more subtle variation of the question, and one that is not always considered by parents as much as it should be, is:

“Which is the best university for MY child?”

The choice of university is a very personal one and the one-size-fits-all approach may not produce a happy and successful student. Factors such as how comfortable a young adult will be living very far from home; the international nature (or lack of) of a far-away city; the support services for international students; the availability of scholarships for international students – all of these are important. As are things such as the weather! It’s not a trivial matter for students from warm countries to travel to an extremely well-regarded university somewhere very cold.

Many parents underestimate the effect of the social conditions at a university on the academic progress of students. The drop-out rate for universities runs at around 10%, higher than many think. Social support and friendship groups are hugely important for all students, even the most shy and retiring introvert. A university with a tradition of accepting students from all over the world will be more welcoming to students from a diverse background than one without the same experience. Even students attending university in their home country can find such matters important. Students from a particular background might find more friends and a better network in one university than another. This doesn’t only apply to financial background, but also regional background, and even whether the student comes from an arty family or not.

Faculty and reputation are vital considerations for the long term. In certain careers and professions the university which one attended really can have long-term implications for success in later life. However, the choice is not always clear-cut. Certainly the top-tier universities are well known, but the choice is much wider than that. For example, in the UK Leeds and Edinburgh are recognised as superb centres of medical excellence, and a degree from either is an excellent passport around the world.

The key issue for parents and students is getting quality information. Often the best place to get this is through your child’s school. The advice given should be unbiased and wide-ranging. A careers and university counsellor with little international experience may only be able to give advice about one country and be weak when it comes to the others, which significantly reduces the options for students.

Another way to seek information is not necessarily obvious, but has worked very well for many families in the past. Ask the professionals! If your child is interested in design, call a design company and ask them their thoughts. The same with engineering, medicine or indeed any other career. Companies are in fact very willing to answer brief enquires and a little flattery can go a long way. Of course, you cannot expect them to provide detailed careers advice, but they will often be very happy to say, “Oh yes, I went to the University of Wisconsin in Madison as it has a superb biotechnology facility,” or “You should definitely study literature and politics at the University of Beijing, as it has a superb reputation.”

Fees

The issue of cost is a real one for many parents. Sending a child to university is not simply a matter of paying the tuition fees. Accommodation, food, travel, books – the costs mount up at a considerable rate. The cost of tuition is not always directly linked to the quality of education on offer, or indeed the reputation of the university in its own country. Careful research into the other indirect costs is vital when considering a university, even in one’s home country, as costs can vary considerably from city to city. Financial aid, bursaries and scholarships are more and more available, and looking into these can make a considerable difference to the overall cost. In many cases, it can make the difference between being able to attend a first-choice university or not.

The key factor here is to enquire early, in most cases three to four years before the intended entry date. This is simply an issue of practicality, as many scholarships have detailed requirements that might involve a number of years of service to a particular institution, or perhaps evidence of belonging to a particular community or service group. Sporting, artistic or even musical scholarships also often have these provisions attached to them. Many parents of talented musicians have made the mistake of thinking that scholarships are handed out purely on the basis of artistic ability. This is sometimes sufficient, but more and more often additional criteria must be met, and knowing what they are in good time will greatly increase the odds of financial aid being available.

Secondly, it is worth approaching a wide range of funding bodies. Even in these credit crunch times, many large businesses and organisations still have financial aid packages available for university students. Many do have strings attached, such as a requirement to work for the company for a period of time, but these strings could also be seen as benefits. One shocking fact is that each year 22% of scholarships remain unclaimed, mostly because of the simple fact that no one has applied for them. A simple Internet search is perhaps the best way to begin looking into the funding that might be available. Simply typing ‘scholarship’ into Google produces over twenty-six million results.

Universities themselves often have discretionary funds available to help undergraduates in times of financial hardship, but these are not available until the student is already enrolled, and university finance managers take a very dim view of ‘planned hardship’, so beware!

Curriculum and High School

There are numerous choices for students now. Far and away the most popular choice for international school students is the IB Diploma (the qualification of choice for many of the universities mentioned above) and students with the IB receive favoured applicant status at a number of high-profile institutions. Various national qualifications such as the American AP programme  or the British A-Level programme are of course valid and might still be a good option for a student considering a specific country, but the fact remains that the IB offers a far wider choice and indeed must be considered a superior qualification, purely in terms of university entrance. Even in the UK and the USA, the IB is often preferred to AP or A-Levels.

Except in a very few cases, the high school which a student attends does not have any great implications in terms of university entrance. Of the many thousands of high schools around the world, only around ten have meaningful relationships with universities, and these are all matters of local in-country tradition. The most influential part of a high school career is the quality of the school in terms of its delivery of the curriculum and the care and attention to students’ needs and careers guidance. A good school for your child is the key factor here. The school should nurture their interests and challenge them to do their best without promoting burn-out. You should also consider the pastoral care element. Keeping a student on a good path and promoting good behaviour and manners is important. For universities with limited places, a school character report can make the very real difference between acceptance or not.

Participation in non-academic activities can often make the difference between being accepted and being rejected. This is especially true for universities with more applicants than spaces available. Internships, community service, work experience, participation in high school-level competitions – all can count towards entrance.

Language

Many universities around the world, even in non-English-speaking countries, offer courses in English. Frequently, a minimum standard of English proficiency must be met. The most popular qualifications around the world are IGCSE (from the University of Cambridge and available at many good schools in Shanghai), TOEFL and IELTS. Some universities have a self-administered test that can be taken instead of these qualifications, but this is not always the case. Having a recognised qualification is in many cases the easiest or indeed the only way to open the door to the admissions process.

And Finally…

All the tricks, tips and hints in the world won’t be able to bypass the one constant in the process of finding and being admitted to the best universities. Academic grades will play a huge part in the admissions process; there is no way around this. However, should your child’s grades fall for any reason, don’t despair. A gap year is no blemish on an application and, if well spent, can be a real asset. Using a gap year well and then retaking examinations that didn’t go so well can be a very good use of time. Of course, not all retakes require a gap year and some can be done later in the same year. Also, don’t forget that there are many very good universities around the world that are not quite as famous as others, and thus have slightly lower requirements for entry. For some students these are not a poor second-place choice at all. A good school will of course give you sound advice on all possible avenues, whether grades exceed, meet or fall below expectations; you should at no point be left feeling alone.

Remember one thing above all: a little planning and a lot of hard work, combined with a quality high school that really cares for its students, will make all the difference in the world.

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