Great boarding schools abound. The challenge is to find the right one for your child, and equally important, to get your child in. If the process starts early enough, we also guide your family in designing and building the most suitable experience and skill portfolio for your child.
Boarding schools are an environment for growth and development. They offer a range of courses that suit your child’s interests and abilities and have the resources to provide invaluable support. The diverse demographic of intelligent, driven children promise insightful exposure to new ideas and points of view. Beyond academics, there are wonderful opportunities for sports, arts and extracurriculars. And of course, living independently is an opportunity for character building and personal growth. Studying at a boarding school is ultimately an experience that develops your child not simply in academic performance, but as a well-rounded individual prepared to tackle the challenges of the world today.
Situations vary case by case and it is important to consider different needs and situations. What is your child’s English ability? Does your child have the maturity to study and live abroad independently yet? While some children begin studying abroad in senior boarding schools (ages 13-17), others are better benefitted by going abroad earlier to attend junior boarding schools (ages 8 -13). At Foundation, we work closely with both student and parents to help you make the best judgment through a comprehensive understanding of your child.
Getting into great schools require much attention to details. We work closely with both student and parents to cover every aspect of the process together. We help you build a multi-year education plan for your child, evaluate top education systems and corresponding entry points, compile a list of suitable schools and establish your child’s key positioning and training focus. Our role is to help the student not just get in to a great school, but also receive an education that best fits the student and best prepares the student for qualities that top universities will value.
It is now not uncommon for parents to plan and prepare for their child’s overseas education four years in advance. Foundation offers a through-train service assisting the student’s family with the entire process of overseas secondary school (or university) selection and application. We recommend that the family embark on the process 12-18 months for US schools or 24-36 months for UK schools prior to the student’s proposed entry.
Over the past decade, the number of boarding school applicants has increased tenfold, yet the number of boarding schools has remained largely the same. More than ever before, every detail in an application matters. At Foundation we believe that every student has a unique case to present. We conduct an in-depth analysis for every student and consider their academic achievements, interests, personality, upbringing and family background; no stone should be left unturned. With this information we develop a tailor-made strategy and personalised training program to help the student reach maximum potential in the application process.
Foundation’s affiliation with boarding schools can be traced back to the 80s, when our founder and director Mr. Daniel Szeto attended boarding school in the US. Since Foundation’s establishment in 2001, we have collectively completed more than 1000 boarding school campus visits in the US, Canada, UK, Switzerland and Jordan. We understand our schools, and we truly know our students. There is a school for every student, and we want to help you find the best fit.
We aim to develop a long-term relationship with each and every family. Education is a never-ending journey, and a child’s development only takes shape over time. We take it upon ourself to promote the importance of establishing solid fundamentals such as language ability, presentation skills, reading and writing habits at a young age. Our experienced teachers and counselors equip students with the necessary skills so they are prepared to present themselves confidently and effectively.
From junior schools to colleges, student contribution is a major area of consideration for admissions officers. How will the student perform inside and outside the classroom? Is the student a good fit in our school? How will this student contribute to our school? Character matters, and schools are constantly looking for individuals who will bring unique and diverse contributions to the community. It is therefore important that a student’s trains shine throughout the admission process. Whether it is in sports, arts, music, or other activities, our counselors are here to help students develop their portfolios to best showcase their talents.
Interviews are arguably the most decisive factor in the boarding school admission process. We offer an effective training program, which has a proven track record for over 15 years. Our workshops and one-on-one training cover comprehensive grounds from positioning, profile building to communication skills. The key is to have students present their strengths and experiences effectively, while letting their personality shine through.
A good essay is about more than grammar and writing skills. Every personal statement tells a story. It is a chance for students to demonstrate their strengths and unique qualities. Our counselors do not merely teach ‘English writing’, but guide students through the process step-by-step, from overall positioning and brainstorming to effective writing. We go beyond the surface to help students utilise their experiences thoroughly so that their personal statement demonstrates intellectual maturity and self-understanding.
Being true to the spirit of an independent consultant, Foundation does not solicit or accept compensation from any institute for student placement. While our obligation to our clients is to recommend schools most suited for the students’ individual needs, we also work hard to ensure students we refer to any institute are school-appropriate and are positioned for continuous success after enrollment. Foundation counselors collectively spend more than 300 days visiting the campuses of schools and universities, as well as more than 2000 hours connecting with admission officers each year - all part of our effort in constantly renewing our knowledge and understanding about each institute to form the best match between students and schools.
Campus visit is an indispensable part of the application. It provides the opportunity for families to experience the school while on-campus interviews also give the schools a first-hand understanding of students. Every year we organize campus tours for families and accompany them on the journey. Our counselors provide extensive information as well as on-the-road training so families get the best out of their visits.
Ms. Liang (Parent of Boarding School Applicant), US
"Choosing the right consulting firm is not easy for any family. I still remember how I bumped into Rae last spring at a seminar. She made time to meet with our family the same evening. Rae has addressed our concerns not only at the beginning, but also during the whole journey. Her advices have always put us at ease. After careful comparison and consideration, we decided to go ahead with Foundation, which one year later, delivered everything they they had promised, in the most professional way.. The team consisting of experts in all areas related to boarding school application acted right away with applicant strength analysis, interview preparation and planning of campus visits in the summer. The earlier the stage, the more clueless we were, but Foundation has helped our kid to clearly understand and present his uniqueness, which is the foundation for upcoming interviews and essay preparation. Foundation also helped me to know more about every step of the process. Time flew by really quickly, and Foundation has been holding our hands with schools selection, Vericant preparation, SSAT score evaluation, continued interview preparation, school research and campus visit planning, as well as essay preparation. Along this journey, Phan, the Head Coach, poured his heart and wisdom into every lesson he taught, and every essay he inspired my child to...
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...
Mrs. Li (Parent of Boarding School Applicant), Chengdu, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): The Webb School, TN, US (2015 Fall G9 entry) "The most memorable in the past year when we were preparing for high school application should be the campus visits and on-campus interviews. Foundation has helped us arranged the itinerary with reasonable meeting times. The most helpful part during the process would be all the training and coaching in different areas, such as interview training, and this includes different portions with different coaches. And the most difficult part of the process, I have to say it’s how to arrange all those coaching and training. Because I am a boarding student, if I want to complete all the training, I would have to take a lot of leave days at school, or even use my class time or evening studying time. But all the coaches at Foundation were very kind. No matter how late it was, they followed my time table so that I could reach the expected level. Sometimes they even had to work during the weekends. They were working really hard. I feel like I know myself better after the trainings and the application process, because I need to really know myself and dig deep into my experiences to write good essays and complete the interviews. So I gradually learned to use my unique...
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...
Mrs. Chen (Parent of Boarding School Applicant), Guangzhou, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Westtown School, US (2015 Fall G9 entry) During last summer vacation, Andy decided to attend high school overseas. He didn’t have any particular preparation for his standardized tests (TOEFL and SSAT), oral English or comprehensive English skills. Andy’s fundamental English was not very outstanding because he attended a public school in Guangzhou. We were in a hurry as we only had about six months – from last August to this January – to boost his scores in TOEFL and SSAT, enhance his English speaking and writing ability, choose boarding schools, and prepare for Vericant and final interviews. We’ve been through various difficulties, challenges and gladness throughout the journey. Fortunately, Andy got into his ideal Westtown School thanks to the responsible and professional help, guidance and encouragement from counselors at Founation. From training his oral English and English writing to the preparation of Vericant and interviews with schools, the professional know-how and strong responsibility of counselors at Foundation earned my trust. We felt that it is not only about our own effort but also the endeavor of everybody involved in the process. Catherine, Andy’s teacher and friend, showed her solicitude for him. She often communicates with us to discuss and solve problems after work or even on weekends. We were deeply touched. We would like...
A. Chen (Student, Boarding School Applicant), Guangzhou, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Westtown School, US (2015 Fall G9 entry) "I was admitted to Westtown School this year. Though it might not be particularly excellent for others, it is my favorite choice and the school that suits me the best. Under the condition of having lower standardized test sores, my interview performance significantly contributed to the admission. Catherine, my counselor at Foundation, is a careful, patient, responsible and caring person. She was meticulous during the application process, informing me about document requirements of application and emails from schools immediately – it is difficult to use Gmail in China. In order to give me more time for test preparations, she tried her best to complete basic procedures and submit additional information for me. My father, a perfectionist who seldom praises anyone, often speaks highly of Catherine. During the interview with schools, Catherine, Zion and Chris helped my parents show their appreciation to the school. It was very important. In terms of the interview, I think it’s good to be down-to-earth. Prior to the interview, Catherine practiced it with me several times and read through the school’s information. Try to be natural and confident when talking with the interviewer. Even though I don’t have outstanding standardized test scores to be proud of, I tried my best to show the...
S. Xue (Student, Boarding School Applicant), Shanghai, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Mercersburg Academy, US (2016 Fall G9 entry) The journey of the school interview across 6 States in the warm winter is the most memorable memory for me in the past year during the application process. And I found planning of the application with Foundation is most helpful. As for the most difficult part of application, I have to say preparing for the TOEFL and SSAT test when we have a very demanding school course load and I couldn't give up. There are no shortcuts but to keep doing. After the application process, I feel like I build up more confidence on challenging myself, and I know myself better. I think now I can cope with more works in such a pressure after this experience. If you ask me to describe my relationship with the head coach(responsible teacher), I will say it's very good. They helped me in a variety of ways in terms of English oral communication as well as interview skills. One advice I'd like to give to other students who are applying to high schools just like what I did last year, was always to be better yourself. Parents’ testimonial: We appreciated mostly that the communication between us go very sincerely and smoothly, which is the key part of the mutual trust...
Mrs. Chung (Parent of Boarding School Applicant), Shenzhen, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Salisbury School, US (2013 Fall G9 entry) "The most unforgettable part during our boarding school application last year, was the feeling that we need to constantly remind ourselves to calm down, get down to business, and stick to our path and long term goal that Foundation helped plan for us. I'd like to express my thankfulness to Foundation for the help and professional advice they provided throughout the whole process. Raymond has made great progress in English thanks to Foundation's coaching services in essay writing, interview preparation, and oral English training. In school selection process, Foundation helped us a lot in understanding each school's education ideals and systems, as well as the comparison and weighing between schools. I have been frequently communicating with our counselor at Foundation regarding the comprehensive assessment of Raymond's personality, hobbies, strengths, and future expectations. They were able to give very professional and sincere advice, and working together, we finally came up with a satisfactory school list that best fit Raymond's needs. I witnessed great progress in Raymond, in terms of time management and taking initiatives in his academic schedules. I could tell Raymond now has a better understanding of himself and critical thinking ability. Through Foundation's patient and planned coaching, Raymond now can truly concentrate and has a clear...
Mrs. Deng (Parent of Boarding School Applicant), Shenzhen, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Darrow School, US (2013 Fall G9 entry) "Foundation's detailed planning was the most satisfying part throughout the boarding school application process. They were very professional in school selection, and we are very happy with the schools they recommend. Moreover, they are extremely patient and experienced with children both in communication and in coaching sessions. We and our counselor were like friends. We can talk about anything we have concerns or just thought about. Our counselor is extremely responsive when we need her/him. We communciate through phone, Skype, and WeChat. I have to say that Foundation has helped Frank a lot. Needless to say, I see great progress in Frank's oral English expression and academic essay writing. Frank has also learned about cultural habits and social manners."
B. Zhang (Student, Boarding School Applicant), Shenzhen, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): North Country School, US (2013 Fall G9 entry) Blair Academy, US (2014 Fall G9 entry) "Through the process, the recommended list of schools Foundation gave us helped us gradually understand our child and find a school that matches her interests. Our counselor was able to effectively communicate with us, and we obtained a more reasonable list of schools. In the course of boarding school application, Foundation provided great help to our family given their expertise on boarding schools. The cooperation and detailed planning of the application team allowed the quick and accurate delivery of information to parents, which improved the chances of success to boarding school admissions."
T. Lan (Student, Boarding School Applicant), Zhongshan, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): St.Andrew's School, US (2014 Fall G9 entry) "I have received very good training from Foundation. The help my head coach provided has a positive, long-lasting influence on me. Not only did he focus on interview techniques, but he also helped me shape my personality, explore my strengths and potentials, and enhance my English speaking skills. After the trainings, I feel like I have become more active and humorous, as well as a better sense of what US high schools are like. My conversations with my head coach are not restricted to only school-related topics, but we include other meaningful subjects such as the NBA. I really enjoyed the whole training process, and as time went by I gradually learned more about who I am and what I want. "
Ms. Zhang (Parent of Boarding School Applicant), Shenzhen, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): North Country School, US (2013 Fall G9 entry) Blair Academy, US (2014 Fall G9 entry) "Throughout the process of boarding school application, our counselor at Foundation was very professional, and one part we are most satisfied with was the communication between us. Foundation was very sincere and there was complete transparency in information between the school, our counselor and us. One big challenge for Chinese families in boarding school application is that we are not familiar with American boarding schools and the overall environment. Therefore, it is of grave importance that the communication between the education consultancy and the school is accurate and transparent. This can not only represent Foundation's integrity and profession, but more importantly, truly help our child to find the best fit school. We agree with the concept of "matching" a child to the best fit school, and we are very thankful to the help and recommendations Foundation has provided. They came up with a good school selection list after thorough consideration, and we are very interested in quite a few of the schools. Moreover, our counselor was able to provide a lot of soft information through their personal experiences or campus visits done by other counselors. This is extremely helpful to us in confirming our thoughts and answering our questions....
D. Zhang (Student, Boarding School Applicant), Shenzhen, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Christ School, US (2014 Fall G10 Entry) "Foundation assigned a Head Coach for me, who helped me greatly improve my interviewing and essay writing skills. My Head Coach and I were just like friends. Whenever I sought him out for advice, my problems were always solved. His constant encouragement has motivated me to be persistent in the process. Throughout the application process, the interview was my biggest fear and challenge. I was not good at presenting myself in front of strangers, thus conversing with the interviewer was an obstacle I had to overcome. I have benefited greatly from Foundation’s interview coaching service. My interview training sessions were filled with lively, rich and intriguing topics, which left a lasting impression."
J. Wang (Student, Boarding School Applicant), Huzhou, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Garrison Forest School, US (2014 Fall G9 entry) "During the campus tour, the counselors helped me practicing and revising thank-you letters, which helped me the most. I felt good about interview, though I got a bit nervous sometimes. The tour coach and I studied the school website for a long time and because she knew the school so well was able to help me understand more about the schools."
Mr. Lan (Parent, Boarding School Applicant), Zhongshan, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): St.Andrew's School, US (2014 Fall G9 entry) "Our head coach was not only helpful in terms of the application process, but he was able to put himself in our shoes and fully understand our perspective. He was very hardworking and did a great job communicating with us. But most important of all, he helped us relieve our emotional stress. In my opinion, Foundation is experienced, responsible and reliable, which is why I have recommended Foundation to many other parents."
Ms. Wen (Parent, Boarding School Applicant), Guangzhou, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Garrison Forest School, US (2014 Fall G9 entry) "Due to the lack of English proficiency and professional knowledge, we didn’t know much about US schools. With the help of Foundation, we realized that our daughter will benefit more from finding the best fit instead of only focusing on school rankings. The list of schools recommended by Foundation were customized to her. Moreover, the counselor accompanied us for the US campus visits and interviews, which has helped us find the best fit school for us as parents as well. Foundation’s training has also helped my daughter to become more confident and self-disciplined. She has learned about teamwork and broadened her horizons through the experience."
Mrs. Xue (Parent of Boarding School Applicant), Beijing, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): St. Andrew's School, US (2013 Fall G9 entry) "As an admission counseling organization based in Hong Kong, Foundation has many years of experience in boarding school admission counseling. Not only do they know schools, they know Chinese and this is exactly why they are most helpful in communication between us and the schools we wanted to apply to. Unlike an agency, Foundation provides the guidance in essay writing and interview coaching to better equip and prepare children beyond the application. Our daughter Grace is rather introverted. She is very shy, and we were anxious about her ability to confidently express herself and exhibit her strengths and uniqueness in the 20-30 minutes interview. With the help of the interview training provided by Foundation’s coaches, Grace finally opened up her heart and moved beyond her fears. She started to speak fluently and confidently. The counselors at Foundation are not just doing a “job”, they try their best to understand our children. They couldn’t have done such an amazing job without tremendous communication with us and the schools. The application process can be stressful and is truly exhausting. As a parent, there were times when I was irrational and irritable. They have been very patient with me, with smiles every time I meet with them. That is...
Ms. Yamao (Parent, Boarding School Applicant), Hong Kong
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Port Regis School, UK (2012 Fall Year 7 entry) Eaglebrook School, US (2015 Fall Grade 8 entry) Peddie School, US (2017 Fall Grade 10 entry) "The campus visits were great. It’s worth going on campus visits with Foundation. They helped a lot in regards to helping manage everyone’s expectations and supported us with answering all our questions when we arrived at each school. Since we didn’t know much about the place we visited, we felt more comfortable accompanied by someone who had been before and knew what to expect. As a family we decided early on to do campus visits, otherwise we would not have been able to decide which school to choose. Paper information and actual experience are quite different. We definitely recommend seeing the schools for yourself."
Mr. Zhang (Parent of Boarding School Applicant), Shenzhen, China
Enrolled School (Entry Year & Grade): Christ School, US (2014 Fall G10 Entry) "Foundation is a very professional education consulting company. What impressed us the most was the earnest, professional and meticulous service provided. The head coach and us were like best friends, and we communicated at least once weekly via texts, phone, WeChat and Skype."
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!"