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Emory

CANDIDATE: SK, Singapore

CURRICULUM: IGCSE, IB

SCHOOL: UWC South East Asia

SUBJECTS: HL: Math AI, Economics, Geography; SL: English, Spanish, Biology

AP SUBJECTS: None

PREDICTED GRADES: 41/45

SAT/ACT SCORE: 34 (ACT)

INTERESTED MAJOR: Political Science, Economics

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Approach

SK joined us in Grade 9 shortly after relocating to Singapore, requiring support in transitioning smoothly from his previous national curriculum to the IGCSE framework. Early on, he demonstrated strong potential in economics and political science, and we guided him in developing a focused and distinctive profile around these interests. As his academic strengths and extracurricular involvement evolved, we helped curate a list of universities where he would thrive both intellectually and personally. Under our guidance, he carefully shaped his application narrative and essays to reflect depth, authenticity and a clear commitment to his chosen fields.

JOURNEY

GRADE 9

  • Joined DoverMUN Club; participated as a delegate in multiple conferences.
  • Volunteered with Magic Bus Singapore, supporting underprivileged children through education and sports.
  • Played squash at Ignite Academy Singapore.
  • Wrote for Dover Today, UWC SEA’s school newspaper.
  • Reached semi-finals (top 100+ teams) at India’s National Speech and Debate Tournament.
  • Earned Certificate of Distinction, UN Future Leaders Program (top 20% globally) newspaper.


GRADE 10

  • Trained 60 students as a senior member of the DoverMUN Club; chaired HRC at DoverMUN 2024
  • Organised events and raised funds for Magic Bus Singapore.
  • Supported migrant workers at ItsRainingRaincoats by managing the essentials store inventory.
  • Continued writing for Dover Today.
  • Studied finance and trading at Columbia Intro to Business, Finance & Economics summer course; managed $100k mock portfolio and conducted diversification case studies.
  • Competed in Qon Round 1 Plate (draw of 32), Singapore Junior Squash Open 2023.
  • Won “Most Diplomatic Delegate” in Security Council, MUNOFS 2023 (1 of ~30).


GRADE 11

  • Mentored students at DoverMUN; earned three honours and Director’s Certificate of Commendation.
  • Researched tax, service and tourism incentives at FTWZs in the UAE and Singapore; proposed FTWZ development in the Andamans as an intern at NITI Aayog.
  • Analysed policy challenges and political incentives behind GIFT City; evaluated Australia’s inflation and interest rate policy as a research intern at DBS Bank.
  • Led planning and execution of 20 events for 1,000+ attendees, raising USD 6.5k for a community centre in India at Magic Bus; coordinated between Singapore and Kolkata offices.
  • Contributed to Groove for Good, delivering biweekly music lessons for migrant workers at ItsRainingRaincoats.
  • Researched Ukraine war and South China Sea dispute impacts on Asian bond markets; studied 10-year effects of US monetary policy on treasury bonds as research intern at Bond Blox. 
  • Organised annual events, including LIFECON; hosted weekly discussions on global economic trends; recruited 7 new members via media outreach at UWC Global Economics Society.
  • Wrote 8+ articles over 4 years for Dover Today on economic trends, policies and international affairs.
  • HL Economics Certificate of Commendation.
  • Certificate of Commendation for commitment and contribution to MUN Training Programme at UWC Dover.

OUTCOME

Offers from

Emory
new york university

CANDIDATE:  
AN

GRE/GMAT:
Did not take

GPA:
3.43/4.0 (as per her WES evaluation)

Qualification:
BA Economics

Work Experience:
Less than six months

Admitted to:
NYU

Background

AN aimed for an MS in Marketing in the US and the UK. The applicant was prompt in balancing the WES evaluation and other application components. However, while brainstorming the SOP we encountered a challenge. The applicant lacked sufficient work experience, which is gained through internships. They only had a two-month marketing internship in a finance company. However, as an undergraduate, the applicant was editor-in-chief of the college magazine, co-authored academic papers and hosted an Instagram series on mental health, diversity, and the LGBTQ+ community.

Approach

While storyboarding, we strategically guided the applicant to match their academic endeavours with their desire to become an inclusive impact marketer. As an editor, writer and social media content creator for diversity and inclusivity, AN developed excellent communication skills, an understanding of different people, and concise and compelling storytelling abilities. We advised the applicant to position themself as a collaborative marketing person who understood diverse needs, has problem-solving skills and was familiar with contemporary communication platforms.

Key Takeaway

AN exemplifies how storyboarding with expert counsellors can help applicants identify experiences that align with their goals. Our strategic advice proved valuable, and the applicant received offers from programmes of their choice. It reinforced the fact that transferable skills, like problem-solving, communication, collaboration and technical proficiency, are greatly valued and can compensate for work experience.