Zhang Ran, currently in the United States, provided beautiful photos of the Cornell University campus for reference. "Grades aren't everything, but without them, nothing is possible," a student half-jokingly said, vividly reflecting the requirements for admission to prestigious foreign universities. What kind of transformation must middle school students undergo to study abroad? What qualities do these renowned foreign universities value most in candidates? And how do those who have successfully applied feel about their overseas educational journey? Over the past few days, after contacting many sources, I interviewed several Henan students currently studying at prestigious foreign universities, listening to their stories and uncovering their highlights, hoping to provide some inspiration for countless "followers."
### If You Want to Study Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know
#### A. How to Prepare for Applying to Foreign Universities?
What preparations should high school students make if they want to apply to foreign universities? Zhang Huimin, manager of Zhengzhou projects and chief consultant for the American department of the well-known education intermediary company, IDP Education, introduced that generally it can be divided into four steps:
1. Through consultation, online research, etc., fully understand the school information and determine the target schools.
2. Apply, providing academic transcripts, proof of current enrollment, bank deposit certificates, etc., in addition to language scores. Depending on the school, candidates may also need to provide recommendation letters, personal essays, etc.
3. If the application is successful, candidates can then schedule interviews and prepare accordingly.
4. After passing the interview and obtaining the visa, candidates can begin preparing for departure, such as purchasing necessary items.
#### B. Language Proficiency is a Must
High school students applying to foreign universities need not only TOEFL or IELTS scores (choose one) but also SAT or ACT scores (choose one).
In fact, almost every respondent stated that mastering the language is an essential hurdle when studying abroad. Therefore, in their suggestions, they all mentioned: "First, you must pass the English proficiency test."
"Before leaving, although my language scores had reached a certain level, after arriving in the U.S., I realized that when English becomes your first language, our English skills are far from enough. So, I always felt that attending a Sino-Canadian class was a wise choice. Starting from high school, we used original Canadian textbooks, all courses were taught by foreign teachers, and there were various activities that allowed us to immerse ourselves in foreign cultures, laying a good foundation for future university studies." Zhang Hanzhen, a graduate of Henan Experimental High School and currently studying at the prestigious Georgia Institute of Technology in the U.S., said.
#### C. What Do Foreign Universities Value When Admitting Students?
Unlike China's college entrance exam which determines a student's entire future based on one exam, top foreign universities require good scores as a necessary condition, but not the sole one. Zhang Huimin explained that, taking American universities as an example, their admissions criteria can generally be broken down into three main parts:
1. Academic performance, including standardized test scores and regular grades.
2. The applicant's strengths and specialties.
3. What the applicant can bring to the school.
The third point overlaps somewhat with the second, but places more emphasis on the applicant's uniqueness.
In fact, due to the difference in admission standards, some peculiar phenomena have occurred: some domestic college entrance exam champions have been rejected by world-renowned universities when applying for overseas study, experiencing a "Waterloo"; while some students with average grades domestically have surprisingly been admitted to top global institutions.
### Examples of Successful Overseas Study Experiences
#### A. A Student Obsessed with Taoism - Studying Taoism Since Junior High, Admitted to a World-Renowned University
During the interviews, the reporter heard a "legendary story": There was a student with average grades who started studying Taoism since junior high school. Because his father was the president of a chemical company, and as everyone knows, Daoist alchemy has some connection with modern chemistry, this became the root of his interest. It was precisely this study of Taoism that became an important basis for this student being admitted to a world-renowned university.
This incident corroborated the importance of "what the applicant can bring to the school." However, some people reminded that similar cases are rare and not worth emulating.
#### B. A Henan Girl’s Path to Cornell University - Comprehensive Quality Made Her Stand Out
Take Zhang Ran, recently admitted to Cornell University in the U.S., as an example. Her grades were not the best; according to her mother, Mrs. Qiu, she was a "close follower of the first group."
However, Zhang Ran's comprehensive quality was particularly commendable: she practiced playing the guzheng and ballet since childhood, served as a class learning committee member multiple times, participated in numerous social activities, and benefited greatly from them. In her mother's eyes, Zhang Ran was a very sunny and confident girl, with wide-ranging interests, willing to help others, fond of new things, especially enjoying showcasing herself, willing to share with others, and able to make friends wherever she went. "Zhang Ran might not have the highest intelligence or the best grades, but she is a very well-rounded child," Mrs. Qiu evaluated her daughter thus.
Zhang Ran herself believed that it was precisely this comprehensive quality and positive, optimistic attitude towards life that made her stand out among many applicants and be selected by Cornell University.
#### C. A Mother’s Experience in Raising Her Child - Fully Respect the Child's Opinions, Let Them Make Decisions
Zhang Ran's parents are enlightened intellectuals who deeply understood that parents are the child's first teachers, and what they say and do often manifests in the child.
"Childhood is crucial for cultivating living habits, followed by good study habits," Mrs. Qiu said. They fully respected their daughter's opinions, letting her decide on everything: playing the guzheng, dancing, going abroad...
"As long as you finish the homework assigned by the teacher, the rest of the time, you can do whatever you want," Mrs. Qiu agreed with her daughter, encouraging her to improve learning efficiency. This allowed Zhang Ran to experience a happy, stress-free childhood. At the same time, it gave her time to travel, learn the guzheng, dance ballet, making her a multi-talented girl.
"We never easily say 'No.' If the child's idea is truly unreasonable, don't directly reject it with a 180-degree turn; instead, twist 45 degrees first, then another 45 degrees... This way, the purpose is achieved, and the child is easier to accept." Mrs. Qiu introduced that she and her daughter were like friends, maintaining good communication.
"Don't be too utilitarian." Under good family education, this phrase almost became Zhang Ran's catchphrase. Whether helping poor children at hope primary schools or participating in other social activities, she always approached with a mindset of learning and improving herself.
"In the summer of 2010, I attended a summer program at Cornell University and met some professors. During the learning process, they gradually got to know me, not only recognizing my learning ability but also highly praising my distinct personality. When applying, two professors wrote particularly outstanding recommendation letters for me," Zhang Ran introduced.
### Advice from a Current Overseas Student
(From Yin Chenman, a graduate of Henan Experimental High School and currently studying at Queen's University in Canada)
1. Improve English speaking and writing abilities; just excelling in exams is far from enough.
2. Before choosing a school, figure out what your passion (interests, hobbies) is; studying what you love provides the greatest motivation.
3. Read widely; before going abroad, try to learn as much as possible about foreign culture and customs through books, the internet, or by communicating with peers currently studying abroad or with study-abroad experiences, preparing early to reduce cultural shock.
4. Stay optimistic and work hard to adapt; when you enter a new place, follow its customs. I really like this saying, and I'll share it with everyone: "If you don’t like anything, change it; if you can’t change it, get used to it, don’t complain." (If you don't like something, try to change it; if you can't change it, get used to it, and don't waste time complaining.)
(Reporters: Wu Zhanzhao, Interns: Tian Yuchen, Zhang Hongtao)