Cheltenham Ladies' College vs Cardiff Sixth Form

Ruby1219

wow I saw half or more than half are Chinese??

bobbycheung

回覆 Ruby1219 的帖子

I heard that they really drill you there and you would become an "exam machine".  That's how the kids get top grades there which is fine if that's the approach that you want.  Perhaps that's also why you hardly see any English names there.  The thing is we must know the different "culture" of each school and make a choice accordingly.  There is only one thing in common though - all top schools are extremely competitive.   So don't expect a walkover.

Choisumwong

Top students in ordinary school might have many ECA !!

Choisumwong

I think Cardiff is not bad for hard-studying students with limited finance resource. At least, it provides 'open' environment and convenience setting.
I have to declare that I have no interest in Cardiff.

bobbycheung

回覆 Choisumwong 的帖子

I was saying top students in schools like CLC need to excel in BOTH studying and ECAs.  I don't understand what it has to do with "top students in an average school doing lots of ECAs".   Could you please elaborate?

spiderlily

In my opinion, top students must be all rounded.  I know a few top students who have demonstrated excellence in both academic and ECAs.

Choisumwong

回覆 tcmsung 的帖子

In reality, students in elite boarding schools have other expenses e.g. flight tickets, school trips, private tuitions, donations ect, which cost more than a million for two-years A-level. My opinion is Cardiff is 'relatively' not so expensive. Of course, if choosing DSE, you could save a lot of money.

Choisumwong

回覆 bobbycheung 的帖子

I don't know whether you have kids in boarding school or not. I don't know whether your kids are top students or not.  It will be the time and boaring constraint which can not allow students (top or not top) to have many activities. The inceasing work load to be spent on pre-time leaves students not much time to do ECAs. The girls who study very hard are from DX and St X Co-edu. Do you mind saying which schools having top students with many ECAs ? I am humble to hear.

bobbycheung

回覆 Choisumwong 的帖子

In fact, the school fees of top boarding schools like Westminster School, St. Paul's School, Wycombe Abbey, CLC.......are approximately GBP33,000 a year.   
http://www.westminster.org.uk/admissions/fees.html
http://www.stpaulsschool.org.uk/admissions/fees
http://www.wycombeabbey.com/admin_procedure/Fees_23.php
http://www.cheltladiescollege.org/about-us/facts-and-figures/

So we are talking about an extra of HK$40,000 a year in school fees. For those who could afford to spend more than HK$1,000,000 for a 2 year A Level course, I doubt it will make a lot of difference.  

Choisumwong

回覆 bobbycheung 的帖子

I doubt how many HK students can be admitted to the schools you mentioned. If it is very easy, of course, it would be better to study in the schools. If not, then it is meningless.

bobbycheung

回覆 Choisumwong 的帖子

My kids are neither in boarding schools nor top students.  But common sense tells me that top students in top schools like CLC, Wycombe Abbey and Westminster School etc. need to be excel in BOTH studying and ECAs.  Which HK schools the girls came from makes no difference.  They may study 24 hours a day, 7 days a week in HK to become a so-called "top" student academically in HK.  But if they go to UK top schools and use this same approach (with no time to join any ECAs), I am sure no one (perhaps apart from you) would rate them as top students.  In fact, I wonder why the school admitted them in the first place.  As I said, 70% to 80% of the candidates in CLC get Grade A* or A in A-Levels. In Wycombe Abbey, 41.3% get Grade A* in A-Levels and those who got Grade A* or A are 86.3%.  Are you telling me that all these top girls who got Grade A* have no time to join ECAs?  

Choisumwong

回覆 tcmsung 的帖子

Sorry I have no information about it.

bobbycheung

回覆 Choisumwong 的帖子

You were the one suggesting Cardiff is not bad for students with limited finance resource.  tcmsung then pointed out that it would cost HK$800,000 for the 2 year course.  You then "clarified" your meaning but saying Cardiff is 'relatively' not so expensive even though it would cost more than HK$1,000,000 for the 2 year.  I then pointed out that the other top schools would cost an extra HK$40,000 per year at most for the 2 year course.  Now you say it is not easy to get into these schools. I don't understand what it has to do with your "limited finance resources" or "relatively inexpensive" argument.  If that's what you had meant, perhaps you should have started off by saying Cardiff is not bad for students who can't get into other top schools.  (No offence meant to Cardiff.  Just to illustrate my point)  By the way, may I ask how many HK students get admitted to Cardiff each year?  Is it very easy to get admitted to Cardiff?

Choisumwong

回覆 bobbycheung 的帖子

I am sorry that your common sense is in fact misunderstanding  or no knowledge for top students in top UK schools. Many students can only maintain one or two activities after school because of really no time. There are many constraints in boarding houses. So far I only know students in Westminister, Eton, Wycombe Abbey, Winchester, CLC, Sevenoaks and Tonbridge.

Choisumwong

回覆 bobbycheung 的帖子

I clarify again I have NO interest/benefit in Cardiff Sixth Form !! Don't ask me about Cardiff !!!!!!

bobbycheung

In HK, we might describe a student as a "top student" if he excels academically even though he joins no ECAs.  But in UK and especially in US, such a student is not rated highly.  In fact, there is no chance of him getting into a top US college because academic excellence is just a minimum requirement.  Everybody is competing on ECAs etc. as well.  Even in HK, if you want to compete in eg. HK Outstanding Students Award, the assessment criteria is that "applicants are required to have outstanding academic records as well as active participation in community services and extra-curricular activities."
http://www.youtharch.org/osaapp_e.html
So ECAs is not a bonus but a requisite.

spiderlily

Perhaps, there are different meaning on top students.  Top students to bobbycheung are those demonstrated excellence in both academic and ECAs.  Isn't it also a requirement for getting 42+points in IB diploma?

bobbycheung

回覆 Choisumwong 的帖子

There is a huge difference between those who has no time to join ECAs and those who maintain one or two activities.  If you have to excel in something, you have to remain in focus.  That is why these students are concentrating on one or two ECAs.   It's the depth that counts, not the breadth.  As to those who do no ECAs, they have neither the depth nor the breadth.  I wouldn't describe them as top students and I don't believe the schools you mentioned would.