Enhance College Application with Chinese Language and Culture Experience

Colleges pay close attention to students' course selections, particularly favoring those who challenge themselves with rigorous coursework. What exactly do we mean by "rigorous coursework"? Well, they include AP courses, other honors courses, and dual-credit courses. Now, why do colleges place such importance on course selection? In today's educational landscape, GPA inflation is rampant, with many students boasting a perfect 4.0 GPA. Here's a thought-provoking statistic: what percentage of American students do you think have an average GPA of A? The correct answer is 50%! Yes, you heard that right—half of all students in the United States have an average GPA of A. So, it's no surprise that highly selective colleges struggle to differentiate students based solely on their grades. That's precisely why they place such emphasis on the courses students choose, especially those that challenge them academically.

Another avenue to consider is volunteering abroad. Before the Covid pandemic, we facilitated trips to China for three weeks each summer, where students taught local children English and experienced homestays. Our former student Krupali, admitted into Harvard, participated in one summer, while another student, admitted into UC-Berkeley, volunteered for two summers. If you have the means to participate in a summer program abroad, consider choosing one that allows you to work while also experiencing a homestay with local families. This immersive experience is more valuable than solely focusing on studying Chinese language in a dormitory setting.

#5. Essay

Now, let's dive into the topic of essays. Many universities allow students to submit additional essays beyond the main one. If you have any multicultural experiences, the essay is an excellent opportunity to showcase what you've learned from these experiences. Here's a tip for essay writing: avoid duplicating information already provided in other parts of your application package. Each year, many students make the mistake of simply copying and pasting information from other sections of their resume. With only 650 words at your disposal, use this opportunity to provide the admission committee with insights about yourself that cannot be gleaned from other parts of your application. 

#6. Stay Connected

Next up, let's discuss some tips on how to stay connected with college admission teams and demonstrate your strong interest in their schools. If financially feasible, consider visiting the colleges you are genuinely interested in and be sure to sign in at their reception desk. If there's a particular major or lab at the college that piques your interest, schedule an appointment to meet with the professor. The admission committee takes note of these interactions and considers them as indicators of your level of interest.

Many colleges send their admission committee members to host seminars in high schools each year. Attend these seminars and ensure you sign in with your name and email. In the past, highly-qualified students have missed out on admission opportunities simply because they failed to attend these on-campus seminars. Remember, the individuals hosting these seminars are likely the same ones who will review your application and make admission decisions. 

Lastly, once you've signed up for colleges, you'll start receiving emails from them, including marketing emails. It's important to open every email and click on all the attached links because colleges can track whether you've opened their emails and engaged with the content. This engagement is also considered when measuring your level of interest. 

Case Study

Alright, we've wrapped up our analysis on integrating Chinese language learning and cultural experience into every aspect of the application package. Now, let's delve into four case studies to examine how Chinese language and cultural experiences influenced the college admissions of these four students. We've organized these four case studies in order from a relatively weak resume to the strongest. This way, you can get a clear sense of how the resume progresses towards acceptance into the most elite schools in the U.S.

Case 1: UT-Austin Girl

Let's begin with the first case study, focusing on a former student who was admitted into UT-Austin, majoring in Design and Fine Arts. She achieved an unweighted GPA of 3.98 from a small private school with fewer than 20 students in her class. Her SAT score was 1310, with math at 620 and verbal at 690. Her transcripts showcased high school Chinese levels 2 to 5 from our school, Westlake Chinese Academy, including an AP Chinese course at level 5, though she did not take the AP exam. Additionally, she volunteered as a camp counselor at our Chinese camp in Austin for two entire summers. In her essay, she eloquently expressed how this counselor experience shaped her leadership skills and fostered a globally minded perspective. It's important to note that this student did not have access to other AP or honor courses due to her school's limitations. Furthermore, she did not receive any awards and had minimal extracurricular activities beyond submitting several pieces of her artwork. However, both the student and her parents acknowledge the significant role that Chinese language learning and cultural experiences played in her admission to UT-Austin. Additionally, she secured a substantial scholarship that waived her entire freshman year tuition. 

Case 2: Duke Girl

Next up, we have a former student admitted into Duke Kunshan University, majoring in computer science. Duke Kunshan University is Duke University's new campus located in Kunshan, China. Students who attend Duke Kunshan receive the same diploma as those studying at Duke's main campus in the United States. Duke Kunshan is a unique campus, with two-thirds of the students being Chinese nationals and the remaining one-third being foreign students. All classes are conducted in English at Duke Kunshan.

This student boasted a weighted GPA of 4.0, ranking in the top 4% of a large public high school with approximately 1000 students in her class. She maintained straight As on her high school transcripts. Her SAT score was an impressive 1490. She took five AP courses, including Physics, Calculus, Chemistry, English, and Chinese, and achieved high scores of 5 in most of them. 

Additionally, she received several notable awards, including the National Merit Commended Scholarship for ranking in the top 3% nationally on the PSAT test, and the AP Scholar with Distinction award for scoring 3 or above on five or more AP exams. Furthermore, she received a tennis scholarship from her high school. In terms of extracurricular activities, she volunteered as a counselor at our Chinese camp in Austin for one summer. 

This student received admissions offers from both UT-Austin and Duke Kunshan University. Admission to UT-Austin was automatic due to her high class ranking. For Duke Kunshan University, she underwent a successful interview focusing on her motivations for joining the university. 

She obtained recommendation letters from her AP English, AP Calculus, and AP Physics teachers. It's worth noting the importance of including recommendation letters from liberal arts subject teachers, even when applying for STEM majors. As we discussed earlier, college admission committees seek well-rounded individuals, not solely focused on one dimension. Chinese language learning and cultural experiences played a significant role in her admission to Duke Kunshan University. Later, you'll learn about another student who also gained admission to this university. Duke Kunshan actively recruits students with proficiency in Chinese to ensure effective communication on their China campus. They also value relevant cultural experiences, which demonstrate the applicant's interest in Chinese culture.

Case 3: UC-Berkeley Girl - Cara

Next, let's discuss our former student, Cara, who was admitted into UC-Berkeley with an initial major in Chinese. However, after one year in college, Cara switched her major to Neuroscience and added a minor in Chinese. 

Cara achieved a weighted GPA of 4.2, placing her in the top 11% of her public high school class. Her SAT score was 1370, and she scored a 31 on the ACT. She pursued several honors courses, including AP Environmental Science, in which she received a score of 5 on the exam. Additionally, she took AP English 1, 2, and 3, although she did not take the exams for these courses, and she also completed AP World History with a score of 4. Apart from these AP courses, Cara enrolled in numerous classes at a community college, significantly bolstering her weighted GPA. For recommendation letters, Cara obtained them from her biology and chemistry teachers. 

Cara received admission offers from seven universities, including three from the University of California system: UC-Berkeley, UC-San Diego, and UC-Riverside. Additionally, she was admitted to NYU and Stony Brook NY.