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On December 15th, Dalian American International School Class of 2023 students started receiving Early Decision offers to top-notch universities in the US. Congratulations!
Eileen Wu has been accepted to the College of Engineering at Cornell University - an Ivy League university ranked #17 out of 443 National Universities in the 2022-2023 US News edition. She will be studying Operations Research and Engineering.
Sam Wang got an offer from College of Arts and Sciences at Emory University – a leading research university in Atlanta, Georgia, #22 in National Universities (US News Best Colleges). Emory University is one of the 25 outstanding US schools named a “New Ivy” in 2007 by Newsweek. Sam will be majoring in Applied Mathematics & Statistics.
Evelyn Jiang has been accepted to Boston University's College of Communications. Boston University is ranked #27 among Best U.S. Colleges by The Wall Street Journal/Times Higher Education. Evylen chose the advertising program there.
We interviewed the students to learn more about the university application process and their secrets to success.
Eileen：I decided to choose this major when I was researching different options at the College of Engineering. Operations Research and Engineering is an interdisciplinary field that focuses on data-driven decision-making, machine learning, and mathematical modeling. I believe that having decision-making skills is especially essential in supporting me to adapt to the technology-driven economy.
Sam：I’m intrigued by the patterns and trends in applied mathematics and statistics, and I aspire to leverage my quantitative skills to address pressing societal issues. I believe that statistics is more than just a collection of math models; it is a powerful tool for explaining common challenges and combating societal problems.
Evelyn：My advertising side began in 2018 with social media operations such as TikTok, Xiaohongshu, and Sina Weibo, and it had flourished since 2019 when I started making money through these channels. From my experience working at Brandy Melville in Shanghai, I’ve witnessed how the innovative adverting approach has changed young Chinese women's fashion choices, inspiring them to be more confident in their individuality, open to new experiences, and unconstrained by convention. My motivation for advertising extends beyond simply increasing sales; it also includes changing the ideological zeal of an entire generation or society. So that's basically why I decided to major in advertising.
Eileen：During the application process, Ms. Sun always encouraged me and cared for my stress level when editing personal statements and many other supplements while dealing with some AP transitions. I was especially thankful for her support during distance learning when we had to move counseling meetings online and work on shared documents. Ms. Sun has given me lots of effective suggestions on improving my essays until the very last version, and she helped to make sure teachers’ recommendation letters were ready to go.
Sam：The counseling staff was really helpful and vital to my application process. I must express my gratitude to Ms. Sun, my counselor, for her great support. We started working at the end of the junior year to develop ideas for my personal statement and plan for the summer. Whenever I had a question about Common APP or the school student portal, Ms. Sun always responded immediately to provide the most effective solution. Additionally, Ms. Sun assisted me in getting in touch with my math teacher from my junior year to obtain my recommendation letter, which was crucial for me as a math major. She also worked closely with me to address my Chinese public school background and to ask the university admissions officer questions directly. I couldn’t have got into Emory without her support.
Evelyn：Ever since I transferred to Dalian American International School in 2021, the counseling staff has been a huge help to me. They have given me lots of guidance on everything from picking classes each semester to looking into universities. My counselor Mr. Donagher gave me many suggestions and assisted me in revising my personal statement and each university's supplemental essays even though my GPA seemed not very high, my AP scores seemed not very exceptional, and I didn’t take the SAT. As a result, my application essay and activity experience were very important. I am therefore very appreciative to our counseling staff for their support and encouragement throughout my application process.
Eileen：Firstly, don’t be stressed out or too anxious. It’s very easy to be peer-pressured, yet the easiest way to calm yourself is to focus only on your progress and achievements instead of constantly comparing yourself to others. Focus on what you can control, leave what you can't. My second piece of advice would be to not procrastinate. Though there is a tendency for everyone to put things off until the very last moment, make a to-do list and start your application preparation as early as possible. I started writing essays in the summer and continued to edit my main personal statement and finished most supplementary essays by the end of September. Summer is a comparatively free period where you can get a lot done. For example, try to engage yourself in community services, or major-related activities, or simply figure out your school list and interest in your major.
Sam：Do not PROCRASTINATE!
Evelyn：My biggest piece of advice to the juniors is not to be anxious, to maintain a positive attitude no matter what, and to remember that everything will work out for the best. Another crucial piece of advice, in my opinion, is that if you already know what major you want to pursue in college, you should start engaging in activities that align with it rather than focusing on winning “pointless” accolades. Examples of such activities include internships, part-time jobs, and social activities that deepen your understanding of the major.
Congratulations to our amazing Class of 2023 students! We cannot wait to hear more acceptance news from you soon.