On the week of Jan. 20, Germantown Academy’s annual Curriculum Partnership Program (CPP) welcomed Capital Normal University High School (CNU) students from Beijing, China. The program consisted of a winter immersion program where CNU students lived with host families, learned about college admissions and visited local colleges and universities.
These students are interested in studying in English-speaking countries such as the US, Canada, and the UK. During their stay, students attended college counseling sessions where they learned about the US college admissions process.
“One thing we really talk about is holistic admissions,” Ms. Amanda Amorosi, CPP College Counselor, said. “It’s pretty unique to the US admissions process, and so things like focusing on personal growth and development, extracurriculars and leadership and some of the soft skills that universities in the US really value are things we try to foster, both in their curriculum and also just in our conversations that we have with them.”
Sarina Guo, a CNU 10th-grade student, is interested in psychology. Having been to the US in the past, where she visited Massachusetts Institute of Technology, she was impressed by the school’s advanced research programs, resources and work atmosphere. Guo, after visiting the US for a second time, talked about her thoughts regarding US admissions.
“I think the thing I like the most about American education is that it pays more attention to the progress and development of individuals,” Guo said. “It is different in China because China is more likely to select someone that has greater intelligence.”
In China, the admissions process is highly test-oriented, with a strong emphasis on the Gaokao, a rigorous and mandatory test that plays a decisive role in determining undergraduate admissions.
Similar to Guo, CNU 10th-grade student Su Yang has been to the US before, where he traveled to Seattle, Washington. He is familiar with the American education system and the cultural environment and by studying abroad, he hopes to one day live in the US.
Yang commented on the role of the Gaokao and highlighted the contrast between China’s exam-focused admissions system and the holistic approach used in the US.
“In Chinese education, most of your stress goes to the Gaokao. Chinese parents are all into the Gaokao instead of actually studying hard in university,” Yang said. “But in the US, it’s an application to enter a university where everyone can follow their activity, follow their interests. It’s more about fitting themselves.”