A HK student in the UK coming back to HK...

kanaustin

Hi, everyone! I am now doing GCSE in year 11 and have been studying in the UK for 5 years now. However, as my grandpa is very ill, I have decided to come back to HK after GCSE this year. I have applied for Canadian International School (grade 11), German Swiss International School (year 12) and Chinese International School (grade 12). But I have heard many people say that they are extremely competitive and difficult to get into (and a long waiting list), so I am very worried that I won't be able to come back this year... Therefore, can anyone please advise me what to do, or suggest the possibility of me getting into these schools?

I have done about 45% of my GCSE so far (including exams and coursework), and all my results have been A*, apart from in my Business Studies coursework (but I still got an A).

Thank you so much!!!

LCH_LCH

HI Kanaustin,

All IS in HK are very competitive and difficult to get in. As you are under the UK school system, I think you will have more chance for those IS school in HK which is under the same ed system, such as GSIS and ESF, or even Harrow, the new IS in HK. You exam result is good, try to send letters to ESF and Harrow too, don't just focus on few.

Good Luck !

lottieclee

Your best bet would be ESF... If I were you, you should submit an application with them AsAP.  I was in the same boat, and they took me right away.  But that was 20 years ago!

kanaustin

Thank you so much!

But did you mean that it would be very, very difficult for me to get into the international schools that offter IB DP? Or even impossible? Because my parents have already spent $9500 (HKD) just to apply for these three schools, and I really don't want them to spend anymore...

And if I were to apply for ESF, I would have to apply for West Island School since I live in its school zone... But can anyone please tell me something about West Island School? Or shall I also apply for Singapore International School as well just to maximise the chance of coming back to HK?

Once again, thank you so much for your help!!!

錢錢媽

Application fee for esf schools should not be too expensive.  In my memory, primary school app fee was about 150 or 300 hkd.  Further, if u do concern about money matter, u should be better off studying in esf (in terms of school fees).   Good luck.

LCH_LCH

you can also try to apply Renaissance Collage (RCHK), it is an esf school and is IB. Application fee is only few hundred dollars. As said, if you are so eager to come back, you need to apply few more school which have higher chance for you. Don't throw the money to "salty sea" !

kanaustin

Thank you all of you!!! You really have helped me a lot!!!

kanaustin

Oh yea, does anyone have any comments on West Island School? Because I have heard my friend say that it has a reputation of drugs and alcohol... and she also said that it is not doing particularly well academicaly... Thank you so much!!!

lottieclee

I would tell you any international have a reputation of this and that when it gets to the secondary level.  Whether you do well in schools is up to you.  I was at KGV and I turn out ok.  I have a doctorate and you can judge whether my academics have brought me far enough.

If I were you, apply ESF.  As you already know, applying doesn't mean that you will get in.  It's best that you have an offer in hand then you decide whether you are coming back to HK or not... otherwise, it's just all talk and you would find that it's too late for anything.

whitesky

Have u thought about French International School? But it seems their no. of class is small. SIS, CIS - heard they require to seat for Chinese test? Is your Chinese good?

kanaustin

To be honest, I am extremely desperate at the moment... After having done a lot of research on the internet in the last few weeks, it really seems impossible for me to get a place, as all the websites just keep saying there are hundreds, or even thousands of applications for just about a hundred vacancies... Although they do not say what year group that is... I am so worried that there would also be many applications for year 12 (UK system) or grade 11(IB DP) with limited, if any, vacancies as well... Furthermore, Chinese is my first language and my parents do not hold any debenture.

But I really need to come back to Hong Kong for my grandpa, what should I do? Please advise me what to do... Any help would be truly appreciated!

lottieclee

Apply to ESF.... Because you are at school in UK already, it puts you in Cat 1 and top of the list that you cannot fit into the local system.  Besides, WIS may not have a space for you, but they would transfer you to any ESF that has space in the system.

FIS should have spaces too, but they are v expensive to apply, about $6000 to apply.

Also apply to Kellett.  They may have a space for you, but they are expensive.

kanaustin

Thank you all of you so much... Thank you!!!

tamtamchan

Try International Christian School (ICS) as well.  My relatives from the US applied last year and they both got admitted right away.

dada

The ESF schools now adopt a centralized application system.  You may try their online application (check the ESF website).  As I know, many ESF secondary schools are offering IBD in the upper forms including the West Island School.  Good luck to you.

Ann0805

Yes, please also try International Christian School.  It is a very good school too.  But it is in Shatin, may be a bit far from where you live (I guess you live on the island side?)

slamai

RCHK is a private independent school offering IB DP but it seems to be too far away.  Victoria Shanghai Academy and Independent Schools Foundation Academy are the equivalence in Hong Kong island, in the order of increasing costs.

LCH_LCH 發表於 12-2-2 18:43
you can also try to apply Renaissance Collage (RCHK), it is an esf school and is IB. Application fee ...