Cambridge offers are never coincidences｜Renee L, Terry Z's holistic development
Dulwich International High School Programme Suzhou is proud to celebrate two outstanding offers from the University of Cambridge this year, a milestone that reflects not only academic excellence, but also the strength of a supportive and holistic school environment.
- Renee L - Natural Sciences
- Terry Z - Mathematics
An offer from Cambridge is never a matter of chance. It reflects the long-term, multi-dimensional growth fostered through a Dulwich education:
- Academic depth: developing rigorous and well-grounded conceptual understanding within a demanding A Level framework;
- Character and responsibility: cultivating resilience and a sense of purpose through challenge and practice;
- Professional guidance: gaining clarity of academic direction through structured and sustained university planning;
- Global perspective: building confidence and an open worldview within a diverse and international learning community.
When these dimensions take shape over the course of four formative years, entry to the world’s leading universities becomes a natural extension of the journey.
Renee L | Natural Sciences
In the view of University and Careers Counsellor Ms Chen, Renee's development clearly reflects the way Dulwich integrates academic rigour with open-ended exploration.
"Renee's growth journey vividly demonstrates Dulwich’s educational philosophy of combining high academic standards with exploratory learning. In her studies of mathematics and physics, she has shown a strong sense of self-discipline and depth of thinking, consistently engaging with fundamental principles, model construction, and independent reasoning. Supported by a flexible yet challenging academic pathway, Renee has been able to move beyond course boundaries at her own pace, gradually forming a clear and mature academic direction.
Beyond academics, Renee has also been a highly engaged and active member of the school community. As a Model Student, she has participated extensively in activities including the school band, boarding leadership roles, High School Team Maths, the Shakespeare Festival, stage performances, rock climbing, and the EPQ, approaching each experience with openness and curiosity.
The supportive environment at Dulwich encourages students to participate widely and explore diverse interests, and it is within this context that Renee has transformed broad engagement into deep understanding and genuine personal growth. The balance she has achieved between focused academic thinking and holistic participation has prepared her well for Cambridge’s highly independent and inquiry-driven academic culture."
Academically, Renee's readiness for a demanding scientific pathway was equally clear. Mr George, Deputy Head (Academic), who mentored a group of students applying to physics-related subjects, shared his perspective:
"Renee is an outstanding student, and I could not be more pleased that she has reached her dream of a place at Cambridge University to study Natural Sciences. From her mock interview, I knew she had an excellent chance of success. It is wonderful to see her hard work rewarded in this way."
Reflecting on her personal development, Mr Johnston, Assistant Head (Boarding), highlighted the impact Renee has had beyond formal titles:
"What stands out most about Renee is her quiet impact. Over the past two and a half years, she has grown from a reliable prefect into a confident Senior Mentor who leads with empathy and purpose. She runs peer-to-peer tutoring, supports others both academically and personally, models calm leadership, and helps younger students find their voice. Onceshy and reserved, Renee is now a compassionate, self-assured, and well-roundedyoung leader who contributes meaningfully to the life of our boardingcommunity, embodying our values of kindness, integrity, and service."
Terry Z | Mathematics
Throughout his time at DHSZ, Terry demonstrated strong intellectual curiosity in mathematics and physics, while also seeking opportunities to broaden his perspective. His University and Careers Counsellor, Ms Chen added:
"Terry's development clearly reflects Dulwich's strong emphasis on self-directed learning, long-term planning through the Dulwich Success Plan, and academic rigour. His progress has been driven by clear goal-setting and consistent, disciplined execution. Even before formally entering the application cycle, Terry proactively developed a structured study plan and completed the STEP examination during the summer of Year 12, achieving excellent results. This demonstrated both his forward planning and strong self-management skills.
Throughout this process, Dulwich provided targeted academic support and systematic interview preparation. Through subject-specific guidance, mock interviews, and structured problem-solving practice, Terry gradually adapted to the Cambridge interview style, which places strong emphasis on thought processes and logical articulation. He consistently demonstrated openness to feedback and translated advice into concrete improvements, making significant progress in mathematical writing conventions, the structure of problem-solving, and the clarity of verbal explanation.
Supported by a calm and focused learning environment, Terry continued to refine his academic communication skills, laying a solid foundation for successful engagement in Cambridge's highly discussion-based academic system."
In the co-curricular sphere, Terry's engagement with MUN complemented his academic interests, helping him articulate complex ideas and engage in discussion: As Economics Teacher, Head of Economics, Ms Law shared:
"Heartfelt congratulations to Terry! We are incredibly proud of Terry Zhang for earning his place at Cambridge. Witnessing his MUN journey has been a delight. He strategically leveraged the club to build the exact toolkit top universities cherish: the confidence to engage in rigorous debate, the poise to speak publicly under pressure, and the ability to wield formal English with precision.
By routinely engaging in impromptu speeches and cross-examination, Terry cultivated a calm, authoritative presence and the ability to think critically under scrutiny. His growth from a delegate interested in global affairs to a commanding speaker has been remarkable and clearly contributed to this outstanding achievement.”
A Shared Foundation of Support
Renee's and Terry's offers are not the result of a single factor, but the outcome of sustained collaboration across multiple layers of support:
- building academic depth through subject guidance,
- developing independence and responsibility through boarding life,
- gaining clarity through structured university planning,
- broadening perspective and communication through diverse co-curricular experiences.
Over time, these elements came together to prepare them for entry into one of the world’s leading academic institutions.
Cambridge is not an end point, but the beginning of a new chapter.
At Dulwich, what matters most is not simply which university a student enters, but whether they emerge from the journey with the ability to think independently, a strong and grounded character, and the capacity to continue learning and renewing themselves in a complex and changing world.
On March 14 , we invite you to our In-Depth Open Day to experience the human dimension of our learning environment.
Hear directly from our University and Careers Counselling team, step into real learning environments, and see how student growth is supported, step by step, through a holistic and carefully structured approach to academic development.
To Grow in Dulwich, Thrive in Life,
Join us to discover why shaping your child's future means
providing them with the environment in which they can create it themselves.
