Prepare before the storm. Drawing on more than a decade of experience from different university admissions directors across America, our counselors thoroughly understand the admissions process and the importance of starting early. Foundation’s planning program is comprehensive and built on your hobbies and interests as well as pinpointing areas fit for exploration. While most are familiar with research universities in the United States such as the Ivy Leagues, Asian families might find themselves less familiar with liberal arts colleges.
Liberal arts colleges provide a 4-year degree curriculum with a focus on the training of critical thinking and communication skills. Liberal arts colleges have a smaller student body of 1000 to 3000 which allows a high teacher to student ratio with a small class size of around 16 people. Unlike larger research universities, academic programs are not sorted into faculties and schools but are completely open for students to take classes across disciplines. For example, a Biology major could take classes in mechanical engineering, visual arts, marketing and vice versa. Some liberal arts colleges do not have core distributive requirements and some even allow students to create and design their own degree.
Classes in liberal arts colleges usually take place in the form of interactive, discussion based seminars and students are expected to volunteer and give their opinions in class. Professors (even those who are Nobel Prize winners) teach all the classes personally which fosters close relationships with their students. Graduates from liberal arts colleges consider these network most valuable no matter for those who are looking to secure internships, research opportunities, those who are proceeding into the job market or even those looking for graduate school opportunities.
Since graduates from liberal arts colleges are highly skilled in critical thinking, writing and communication, some companies and organizations specifically prefer candidates from liberal arts colleges for their outstanding soft skills. 65% of CEOS from Fortune 500 companies are graduates from liberal arts colleges. Famous politicians such as Barack Obama and Hilary Clinton are both alumna from liberal arts colleges.
Liberal arts colleges and bigger mainstream research universities are suitable for different students, depending on their preferences for the size of schools, curriculum, research opportunities, reputation and needs. It is therefore recommended that families visit different types of colleges before application. Families could also seek advice from education consultancies for their professional recommendation. Let us build your story with you.
Every student is unique. We conduct in-depth analysis of every student’s academic achievement, interests, personality and strengths to recommend a tailor-made application strategy. From the type of schools to choose from to managing the application timeline, we guide our students through every step of the application process.
Academic scores are an essential part of a student’s profile, which includes school grades, course rigor, standardized test scores, and the high school reputation. What tests does the student need to take? When is a good time to take the tests? What classes should the student take at school? We look at the student’s academic profile holistically and recommend the best academic strategy.
Character matters. Besides academic achievement, personal character also weighs heavily in the admission process. Character is expressed through the student’s extracurricular involvement. Whether it is in sports, arts, music, or other activities, we have counselors in specialized fields who help students build their portfolios to showcase their strongest talents.
Experience matters. Here at Foundation, we believe that students are more likely to find their academic and career interests by experiencing first-hand. The summer break provides a good opportunity for students to focus on a particular area of interest. Based on a student’s academic and career orientations, we recommend summer school and internship opportunities that help the student strengthen both his intellectual curiosities and application profile.
Seeing is believing. Even with the wealth of information we provide for each university, nothing can be as powerful or as conclusive as a campus tour. Not only can you show your commitment to a particular institution by having an on-campus interview, but also detailing specific parts of the university that you are enthusiastic about is a sure way to make your application stand out. Beneath the surface. Foundation’s counselors provide extensive supplementary information as well as guide you in personalized interactions with university staff and students. With us, campus tours are more than just a visit; they are a comprehensive experience.
We look for the best fit. Our school selection process is comprehensive and highly individualized. We take into account the student’s academic profile, career orientation, personality and interests. Using our professional experiences, we help students identify major directions and recommend school choices. By finding the most suitable schools, students not only maximize the likelihood of being accepted, but also ensure the best possible university experiences.
Colleges want to know your personal story. The personal statement gives students the opportunity to tie their passion, interests, and values into a cohesive image. After evaluating the student’s overall positioning, we help students brainstorm for potential topics that best fit their application profile. Subsequently, we provide detailed guidance and feedback to our students as they share their personal narratives through writing.
An interview serves to prove that a student is very much the individual his application claims. In particular universities, an interview can make or break an application. Our personalized interview training program helps students build up confidence by enhancing their communication skills and interview etiquette.
J. Tang (Student, University Applicant), Shanghai, China
Enrolled University (Entry Year & Major): Boston University, US (2016 Fall entry) "During the process, I do think the weekly conversations with counselors and teachers were really helpful. The conversations did not only improve my writing skills, made myself a better in presenting myself, and I gained so much confidence. It was a great pleasure to have someone like the counselors to lead me through the whole season. They really helped me a lot with all kind of problems and questions I had. My biggest issue while applying to college was that my testing score was not high enough. They spent lots of time with me before my SAT test going over questions that I usually make mistakes on and was confused about in the reading sections. They also taught me lots of techniques on how to deal with questions that I was not sure about the answers. Even after I was accepted to BU, the team kept in touch with me to give me suggestions on how to select courses and how to make the most my college life."
Mr. Lu (Parent of Boarding School and University Applicant), Shenzhen, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Shattuck St. Mary's School, US (2012 Fall G10 Entry) Enrolled University (Entry Year & Major): University of California, Santa Barbara, US (2015 Fall entry) "Thanks to Foundation’s comprehensive training, we enjoyed a smooth application process. Thankfully, we were able to start preparation at an early stage so my son’s writing could improve a lot. They also gave us very good advice on school selection. The results speak for themselves. Our family was very satisfied when our son received offers from so many universities: We didn’t expect this at all!"
Ms. Liu (Parent, University Applicant), Shenzhen, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Loomis Chaffee School, US (2011 Fall G9 entry) Enrolled University (Entry Year & Major): Carnegie Mellon University, US (2015 Fall entry, College of Science) "The most helpful aspect of Foundation is the 4-year education planning they provide, as well as the preparation for university application. This is particularly useful for parents like us, who do not know too much about the complete process. Foundation was able to provide crucial advice in different schools’ extracurricular activities and their signature programs. They have also played a significant role in bridging the communication between us, our child, and our target schools."
Ms. Shen (Parent of University Applicant), Shenzhen, China
"During the university application process, the most difficult section for us was essay writing. Thanks to Foundation’s outstanding service, my son not only improved in structuring his essays and expressing his ideas, but he also has a better understanding of himself and the things he wishes to accomplish in university."
C. Chen (Student, University Applicant), Changzhou, China
Enrolled University (Entry Year & Major): University of Connecticut, US (2015 Fall Entry) "I really appreciated my counselor's step-by- step explanation of the application process and his guidance on essay writing. The counselors have very detailed records and understood all of the requirements for sending me to university. I learned a lot about the admission process because of their expertise."
E. Zou (Student, University Applicant), Shenzhen, China
Enrolled University (Entry Year & Major): Rice University, US (2013 Fall entry) "The last few days before the application deadline were very memorable to me. As Rice was my dream school, I wanted to make sure my essay was the best it could be, but since I was not confident enough with my written essays, as long as it was before the deadline, I wanted to rewrite it. I truly appreciate my teachers for their patience to guide me with my essay edits again and again. Although the process of applying to Rice was not easy and full of challenges, I was ecstatic with the result that I could finally get into my desired school!"
Mrs. Guo (Parent of Boarding School and University Applicant), Shenzhen, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Woodberry Forest School, US (2012 Fall G9 entry) Enrolled University (Entry Year & Major): University of California, Berkley, US (2016 Fall entry) "As April approaches, the competitive university application reaches the final stage of results release in the Untied States. The admission rate of top ranking universities are becoming lower and lower each year, but fortunately, our Stephen received several exciting offers, and chose to accept the offer by the University of California, Berkeley. Congrats! Being accepted by UC Berkeley is an acknowledgement of his good work at Woodberry Forest School. Here I must give my thanks to Foundation Global Education. It could be much more difficult when applying to American boarding school and universities if it was not with their help in planning and coaching! Foundation has helped to make this process much more smooth and encouraging! Thank you! Foundation helped us with boarding school application back then. It was such a pleasant and positive experience, and we trust them, we know them, therefore, we turned to Foundation again for our university application, hoping that Foundation could help us lead the way through the intensive academic and extra curricular activities in boarding school life. Foundation really did their amazing work! From course selection in the freshman year in senior high school, summer break...
Ms. Zou (Parent of University Applicant), Guangzhou, China
"Over the past year, we were preparing for college applications with the guidance of Foundation's consultants. The most obvious change I saw in my child was that she gradually learned to respect and make choices. Also, owing to our ignorance about US schools and our daily tight schedules, we as parents were less involved and relied on Foundation to manage the process. Looking back, it may have been this relatively ordinary piece that was able to reflect her passion and persistence for design, eventually gaining the recognition from Admission Officer. So rather than trying to be too different, I think it is more important to write something that is suitable and true to yourself. Looking back, the essay training transformed our daughter's relatively ordinary piece into something that was able to reflect her passion and persistence for design, eventually gaining the recognition from Admission Officer."
Ms. Peng (Parent of Boarding School and University Applicant), Shenzhen, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): The Webb School in TN, US (2012 Fall G10 entry) Enrolled University (Entry Year & Major): Cal Poly San Luis Obispo, US (2015 Fall Entry) "According to what I've seen, Foundation has a dedicated and professional team. Due to the fact most of the team of counselors and teachers studied and lived in the US, they are able to help Jason because they are all familiar with the application procedures. Whenever we had problems, they gave concrete, workable recommendations and we knew that we were in safe hands. With Foundation’s help, our family made it to the US and did 12 campus visits in January, 2012. Finally we were enrolled in a boarding school in Tennessee for 3 years (G10, G11, G12) after schools’ interviews and our screening. Jason graduated in May 2015, and is now ready to step into Cal Poly State University, San Luis Obispo, and explore the beauty of architecture. We signed another contract with Foundation for Jason’s university application, because our last experience with Foundation was such a pleasure, and we know that Foundation is professional and has years of successful experiences. This includes course selection recommendations and communication services with the school. I will elaborate Jason’s 3-year high school life and his university application process below. 2. US senior...
Mrs. Li (Parent of Boarding School and University Applicant), Shanghai, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Dana Hall School, US (2013 Fall G9 entry) Enrolled University (Entry Year & Major): University of Pennsylvania, US (2017 Fall entry ED, Digital Media Design Program) "Throughout the application process, Foundation’s essay coaching for Effie and the school selection we did together are the parts we appreciated the most. Our essay writing coach knows how to inspire Effie, and let her think independently to dig out her biggest potential through discussions and brainstorm. We know there are hundreds of boarding schools in the US, and every one of them is different. Foundation is able to select the schools most suited Effie’s interests, strengths, and personality, which is highly responsible for a child’s future. I feel like Effie has changed a lot after this application process. First of all, Effie has become more outgoing and confident. Our coach knows when and how to ask the inspiring questions like “why” “what experience did you get” and “what do we do in the future”. Those trainings help Effie to learn from her own strengths and weakness, and know how to take advantage of them. The positive reinforcement has led Effie to be more brave and like to challenge herself. Also, Effie looks more self-confident now because she knows how to learn from each lesson and do better...