Finding the Best Fit - Students Share Their Early Acceptance Stories

Although COVID-19 has changed certain aspects of evaluating and applying to universities, one thing remains the same - our students’ ambitious focus on finding the best-fit university and our counselors’ support of that focus!

So far, the Class of 2021 has been offered 56 acceptances in three countries. The majority of acceptances are still to come as applications continue to be submitted and processed.

Finding the Best Fit

In determining their best-fit schools, students are supported by our dedicated University Counselors. Having worked with the students since Grade 9, the counselors get to know them well and can highlight universities and paths that the students themselves may never have considered. 

“SSIS was definitely a great resource for me to find my university fit thanks to the professionalism of our college counselors, the support from teachers and alum, as well as everyone’s genuine desire to help me succeed. I cannot thank Ms. Braun and Mr. Jeong enough for answering all my questions about different colleges to the best of their abilities so that I could determine my top choices."

As four seniors reflect on their time at SSIS and what influenced them in choosing schools and paths, one thing is certain: our ambitious students’ goals and interests are as varied as the schools to which they apply. 

The Changemaker

“The extracurriculars like Student Council, Dragon Crew, and the charity clubs at SSIS helped me grow and develop the Core Value, "Dedicated Service.” I wanted the school I chose to have several opportunities that help me get in touch with the wider world and give back to our community.” 

Intending to learn how societies can progress and interconnect through economics, governments' policies, and anthropology, this student plans on majoring in Economics with a minor in Public Policy and Anthropology. She has decided that this interdisciplinary route will help her create a holistic view of the world and engender change.

Some of the factors that she considered in finding a best-fit school were strong student-faculty relationships, a welcoming and accepting student body, and plenty of opportunities to give back to the community.

Ultimately, she credits her deep understanding of the SSIS Core Values, particularly “Balance in Life,” with leading her to the conclusion that Dartmouth would be the perfect fit for her. 

Accepted at: Dartmouth College (USA)

The Entrepreneur

“By trying different things [at SSIS], I found out what I was most passionate about and what I wanted to do after high school.”

This student credits the “tremendous opportunities at SSIS” with allowing him to experience a wide variety of things. He’s had the opportunity to be a TEDx speaker, mathematician, scientist, marketer, student council leader, and finally, an entrepreneur. 

Further, the student shares that it was the variety of extracurricular activities at SSIS that helped him find his best fit. He plans to study business, specifically management, and says he is very interested in running and investing in startup companies. 

Accepted at: University of Pennsylvania - Wharton Business School (USA)

The Artist

“Though short, my time at SSIS has been memorable. I love how the school has a lot of art resources and classes I could take, and I know that I developed a lot as an artist here. I am glad that there were so many options I got to explore.”

Wanting mainly to study in the US, this student says she chose schools in the center of urban cities. Both of the schools that she has been accepted at offer reputable animation courses, which is the field she plans on pursuing. 

She’s very happy with the various opportunities the art classes at SSIS gave her to experiment with new approaches and techniques in drawing, 2D design, and printmaking. From her time at SSIS, she says she is most proud of her digital collages. 

Accepted at: Pratt, Maryland Institute College of Art/ MICA (USA)

The Psychologist

“SSIS was definitely a great resource for me to find my university fit thanks to the professionalism of our college counselors, the support from teachers and alum, as well as everyone’s genuine desire to help me succeed. The very active alum network and teachers were also helpful when I reached out with questions about schools they graduated from.”

This student credits SSIS’s supportive environment with enabling her to find the best fit. From teachers to alumni, she always knew she had someone to turn to, someone who could help her understand the cultures of the schools she was considering.

She has been passionate about psychology since first encountering it in high school and plans to major in it at university. She plans to return to Vietnam and use her expertise to address the stigma associated with mental disorders and treat patients with such illnesses.

Accepted at: University of Michigan, University of California - Berkeley (USA)

More Voices on Acceptances and Future Plans

We encourage all of our students to share the stories of their acceptances and future plans. Here are other students we have heard from. We look forward to sharing more impressions as the acceptances continue coming in.

“Both of the schools that I have been accepted to have a vibrant school spirit, in addition to providing competitive environments for studying.”
Pepperdine University, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill (USA)

“I am an avid computer science learner and can devote ample time to better myself in this area. I plan to major in Computer Science / Artificial Intelligence. I enjoy the outside of the classroom learning aspect of these universities.”
Drexel University, Purdue University (USA)

“I am going into special education and will pursue dual licensure in Elementary Education and Special Education - Mild Intervention. The programs that Purdue offered corresponded to my interests.”
Purdue University(USA)

“I’ve been accepted to Waseda University in Tokyo. They offer an interdisciplinary field rather than having one major. They have an English-based program, so I can continue to study in English.”
Waseda University(Japan)

“The lovable community, emphasis on liberal arts to build a strong fundamental knowledge, [Tufts] strong nutrition program (even in graduate school) is why I chose that school.”
Tufts University (USA)

“My interest in supply chain management stems from internships that I have had, extracurriculars, and my AP Economy class!”
Northeastern University (USA)

“I want to learn about the business strategies to build a successful business of my own. I plan on majoring in Business Administration with a minor in Psychology.”
University of Oregon, Oregon State University, Seattle University, Miami University, University of Portland (USA)

Full List of Acceptances to Date 

Updated June 2, 2021

USA

Savannah College of Art and Design, University of California-San Diego, Cornell University, Princeton University, University of California-Berkeley, University of California-Irvine, University of California-Los Angeles, University of California-Santa Barbara, University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, University of Pennsylvania, Case Western Reserve University, Loyola Marymount University, Santa Clara University, University of California-Davis, California College of the Arts, Tufts University, Boston University, Clark University, Ithaca College, New York University, Drexel University, Purdue University-Main Campus, The University of Alabama, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, Gettysburg College, Lake Forest College, Union College, University of San Francisco, University of Washington-Seattle Campus, Fordham University, Northeastern University, Pepperdine University, Syracuse University, University of North Carolina At Chapel Hill, Northwestern University, Ohio State University-Main Campus, University of Colorado Boulder, Tulane University of Louisiana, University of Southern California, Johns Hopkins University, Brown University, Reed College, St. John's College, Swarthmore College, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, George Washington University, Maryland Institute College of Art, Pratt Institute-Main, Ringling College of Art and Design, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Purdue University Fort Wayne, Purdue University Northwest, University of Washington-Tacoma Campus, Chapman University, Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus, University of Illinois At Urbana-Champaign, Miami University-Oxford, Oregon State University, Seattle University, University of Oregon, University of Portland, Ohio University-Main Campus, University of North Dakota, Colorado College, Arizona State University-Tempe, Rochester Institute of Technology, Cypress College, Irvine Valley College, Boston College, University of California-Riverside, University of San Diego, School of Visual Arts, Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Daytona Beach, Florida Institute of Technology, Emory University, Kent State University At Kent, New Jersey Institute of Technology, Carnegie Mellon University, Indiana University-Bloomington, Dartmouth College, University of Nevada-Las Vegas, University of California-Santa Cruz, Bates College, Occidental College, Skidmore College, St Olaf College, Bentley University, Emerson College

UK

Aston University, Birmingham, De Montfort University, University of Brighton, The University of Edinburgh, Birkbeck, University of London, London Metropolitan University, York St John University, University of East Anglia, Uea University of Glasgow, University of Strathclyde, University of York, London South Bank University, Newcastle University, Ucl (university College London), Loughborough University Manchester, Metropolitan University, St Mary's University, Twickenham, University of Gloucestershire, Durham University, University of Greenwich University of Lincoln, Leeds Arts University, Birmingham City University

CANADA

University of Toronto, University of Alberta, University of Victoria, Brock University, Simon Fraser University, The University of British Columbia, Mcgill University, Western University, University of Waterloo, Mcmaster University, York University, Ryerson University

AUSTRALIA

The University of Sydney, University of Melbourne, University of New South Wales, Monash University, The University of Queensland, Macquarie University, The University of Adelaide

KOREA

Seoul National University

JAPAN

Keio University Shonan Fujisawa Campus, Waseda University

NETHERLANDS

Erasmus University Rotterdam, Tilburg University, University of Twente, Utrecht University, Maastricht University, Tilburg University, Leiden University College the Hague, University College Roosevelt, University College Utrecht

SWITZERLAND

Ehl Swiss School of Tourism and Hospitality

NEW ZEALAND

The University of Auckland

SINGAPORE

Yale-Nus, Lasalle College

PHILIPPINES

Ateneo de Manila University - Quezon City, De La Salle University

CHINA - HONG KONG SAR

The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, The University of Hong Kong

VIETNAM

RMIT University - Vietnam