在全球升学不确定性中，前哈佛招生官教你如何做出“不后悔”的选择

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如果学生10年级进入国际体系，是否需要考托福？ 什么时候考最合适？

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If my child enters the international system in grade 10, will he need to take the TOEFL? When is the best time to take the test?

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需要。如果学生没有完整的4年（9-12年级）纯正国际学校的成绩，都需要参加托福/雅思考试。建议最合适的考试时间为11年级结束后的暑假，且只参加一次考试。（因为每次考试的成绩招生官都可以看到，多次考试记录并不利于申请）

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Yes. Students without a full four-year (Grades 9–12) record from an international school are required to take the TOEFL or IELTS. The ideal time for the exam is the summer break following Grade 11. We recommend aiming to achieve your target score in a single attempt, as multiple testing records can be visible to admissions officers and may not be advantageous for your application.

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美国大学会看重学生所学的课程体系吗？不同的标化成绩在申请上有什么区别吗？会因为学习的课程不同有不同要求吗？

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Do American universities have a preference for different curricula? Will it have different influences when applying by using different grades?

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在录取评估时，大学招生官并不偏好某一类特定课程。无论是中国课程体系、IB、AP，还是美高文凭，他们都非常欢迎。招生官们更看重的是，在不同的教育模式下，去全面地理解和挖掘每一位申请人的潜力。同时Dr.Grace也提到，IB体系的学生会更容易受到青睐，因为他们的前轮技能更加完善。

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When evaluating applications, admission officers have no particular preference for any curriculum. We welcome students from all backgrounds, including Chinese national programs, IB, AP, and American high school diploma tracks. Admission officer’s priority is to deeply understand and uncover each student’s unique potential, regardless of their educational framework. Meanwhile, Dr. Grace noted that students in the IB system tend to be more favored, as they possess more “front-wheel” skills.

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参加目标学校的夏校等课外活动对学生是否有帮助呢？

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Will it be helpful for us to participate in extracurricular activities or summer school at the target universities?

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夏校是一把双刃剑。如果在参与夏校后再申请该所大学，你在夏校的成绩将被看到。同时学校也会收到一封来自于生活导师的报告，其中会包含你在整个夏校期间，生活以及学术上的所有表现。例如你是什么样的学生，你是否善于沟通？是否能与人融洽相处？这些都会被悉数记录。此外，如果你参与的是校内项目，但在读期间你选择放弃宿舍独自住在校外，这通常会导致更糟糕的结果，因为学校会认为你在刻意逃避融入集体。

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Think of summer school as a double-edged sword. If you’re aiming for that same university later, they’ll look far beyond your grades. The school will receive a comprehensive report from your residential advisor that captures the 'real you'—your personality, your communication skills, and how you get along with others. Everything is on the record. If you are joining an on-campus program, do not choose to live off-site. Staying outside instead of in the dorms is a huge red flag—it tells the school you’re avoiding the community and your peers. 

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对于一名八年级的学生来说，是选择前往波士顿读美高，还是留在西亚斯外籍学校，对未来申请哈佛等顶尖名校更有优势？

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For an 8th-grade student, is it more advantageous for an Ivy League track (e.g., Harvard) to attend a high school in Boston, or to remain at Sias IS?

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其实在哪里读高中的形式并不重要。如果学生在麻省读高中，她的身份就是“麻省申请人”。事实上，麻省当地的申请人数远超中国，竞争更为激烈。同时，许多就职于哈佛大学的员工子女也会申请本校，在无形中增加波士顿地区申请的难度。招生官看重的是学生个体特质，而非某个学校或地域。

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In truth, where you attend high school is not a deciding factor. If a student studies in Massachusetts, they are categorized as a "Massachusetts applicant." The applicant pool there is far larger than in China, making the competition even more intense. Additionally, the high number of Harvard faculty children applying locally further intensifies the competition in the Boston area. Ultimately, admissions officers prioritize the individual’s unique traits over a specific school or location.

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学生是否会因为身份或国籍问题在申请美国大学生时到不公平的对待？

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Do students face unfair treatment in the U.S. university application process due to their identity or nationality?

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大家要明确一个概念：招生官看重的是学生个体，而非某个学校或地域。很多中国背景的申请人学术成绩堪称完美，但文书却乏善可陈。究其原因，是学生缺乏自主思考，习惯于按照家长或老师的指令去完成任务。所以，大家常觉得身份问题会影响到录取，其实并非因为身份本身，而是因为很多学生没能展现出除了学术成绩以外的、独立鲜活的个性。

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It is important to understand that admissions officers prioritize the individual student's traits over a specific school or location. Many applicants from a Chinese educational background have perfect academic grades, but their application essays are usually quite poor because they don’t usually think independently. Instead, they are used to completing certain tasks after receiving instructions from parents or teachers. Therefore, the lower admission rates aren't about being Asian—it's about whether a student can project a vivid, independent personality that goes beyond their grades.

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近来AI越来越智能，会代替学生撰写申请文书，大学在未来会如何发展/避免类似问题？

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As AI becomes increasingly intelligent and capable of writing application essays, how will universities evolve or address this issue in the future?

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目前招生评估已经有了很大改进。有些学校已经摒弃了传统的文书，转而要求学生通过录制视频来展示自己。这意味着，你必须磨炼自己的口语表达。很多学生不擅长社交和沟通，或认为无意义的闲聊是浪费时间。其实，在日常生活中锻炼“Small Talk”的能力至关重要，这是与人建立连接的基础。此外，已经有部分学校会给学生设置一个20分钟的限时写作窗口，要求学生现场撰写一些内容。通过将现场作品与提交的长篇文书进行对比，招生官则能迅速发现其中的差距。

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Currently, there is a significant shift in how schools evaluate applicants. Some universities have moved away from traditional essays in favor of video submissions, making strong verbal communication essential. Many students struggle with social interaction or dismiss small talk as a meaningless waste of time. However, mastering the art of "small talk" in daily life is a crucial skill for building real connections. Schools are also implementing 20-minute writing windows. By comparing these live samples with the submitted essays, admissions officers can easily spot discrepancies. 

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在美国大学录取过程中，需要学生向招生官从更多维度的呈现自己，学生该如何做？

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In the U.S. university admissions process, students are expected to present themselves through multiple dimensions. What should they do?

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学生所需展现的是自己最重要的特质，通过他们的表达可以看到一个鲜活，立体，独特的个体，绝非平庸单调的故事。在展示过程中，重点并非强调学术成绩，而是体现学生的个性、创造力、幽默感以及主动性，并在故事中传达出自己的价值观与态度。文书不应该只是简单的阐释那些没有情节、没有情感、缺乏叙述性的故事，而应充分体现自己的热爱。其核心逻辑是让招生官感受到“对学生而言重要的事，对大学招生官同样重要。”

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Students need to showcase their most defining characteristics. Through their expression, admissions officers should see a vivid, three-dimensional, and unique individual, rather than a flat or monotonous story. The focus is not on highlighting academic grades, but on reflecting the student’s personality, creativity, humor, and initiative, while conveying their values and attitudes through the narrative. An essay should not be a simple explanation of a story lacking plot, emotion, or narrative depth; instead, it should fully demonstrate one's passion. The core logic is to let admissions officers feel that “what is important to the student is important to us.”