‘Behind the Offers’: Nature Science

Behind each offer lies a unique story of personal growth. In this issue of the ‘Behind the Offers’ series, we are delighted to interview four of students who will continue their studies in the field of the natural sciences. Through our conversations, we discovered that they are all interesting in both academic and practical knowledge. Despite having similar high school experiences, they each have their own remarkable stories. Now, let's listen to their stories of showcasing talent and passion!

Charlie chose the University of Rochester after considering various factors. "Its physics department is highly regarded and has excellent physics laboratories. It has also made significant breakthroughs in the field of physics, such as the recent development of superconductors that can achieve superconductivity at room temperature ."

In Y12, Alyssa faced a dilemma of choosing between studying humanities or sciences. "At that time, my chemistry and economics grades were both good, but considering my strong interest in experiments and hands-on practical work, I ultimately chose the field of chemistry that I found more fascinating."

Zabrina finally decided to study Biochemical Engineering at University College London, which is ranked among the top ten globally. She described the field, saying, "It combines mathematics, chemistry, biology, and computer science, making it an interdisciplinary program that applies these subjects in a comprehensive way."

Compared to the more familiar field of biochemistry, we were curious about Biomedical Sciences. Julchen explained, "While biochemistry covers inorganic substances related to humans, animals, plants, and drugs, Biomedical Sciences primarily focuses on human health. During university, we study anatomy, human cell biology, and the chemical mechanisms within the human body. Biomedical Sciences can be considered a pre-medical course, as it explores a broader range of subjects. By studying these different branches, I can eventually determine my specific direction within the field."

Taking Action in Passion, Firming Choice in Practice

In these four students, we see that their choice of majors is driven by their interests and passions. They all coincidentally participated in various competitions, projects, and activities related to their fields during high school time. These experiences either ignited their academic enthusiasm or solidified their choices.

Zabrina has always been interested in biology, life sciences, and evolutionary theory, but it was during her time at DHSZ that she decided to pursue them as her future career. "In Y10, I participated in a charity event organised by the ‘Dulwich Medical Program’, where we visited a nearby children's leukemia hospital every week. We played with the children and witnessed their treatments, which left a deep impression on me." In Y11, she conducted an Independent Project Qualification (IPQ) focused on public health. It was during the first year of the COVID-19 outbreak, and her research paper compared the roles of traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine in treating COVID-19. She also actively participated in the iGEM competition, working on a project related to lactose intolerance treatment. "We received a gold medal. This experience enhanced my laboratory skills. I remember spending almost a month in the lab every day during that summer." Additionally, she went to Beijing to participate in a research project on cancer cell migration. "Cancer cell spread is a topic related to cell dynamics. In this project, we studied how to control cancer cell migration by controlling osmotic pressure and learned a lot of specialised knowledge."

Zabrina initially participated in these projects or competitions out of pure interest, without any specific goals in mind. However, each experience brought her various valuable gains. It was through these experiences that she became increasingly firm in her direction of future studies.

Julchen also participated in iGEM and achieved second place globally among high school teams. "Our project was related to depilatory cream, studying how to enhance its effectiveness by adding biosynthetic agents. I was responsible for conducting surveys and research on how to apply theoretical knowledge into practice." This experience was fulfilling for Julchen. "The entire project process was fascinating, from choosing the topic, which initially involved ideas like how to attract small fish and decompose garbage using fishing nets, to the final depilatory cream. The discussions were interesting and expanded my thinking. This project also introduced me to and allowed me to use precise laboratory instruments like centrifuges for the first time."

Persistence could describe Julchen's high school life. Initially interested in studying music, she chose music and humanities during the IGCSE stage. "I was originally studying vocal music, but later I realised that it was more challenging to make significant progress in it compared to playing a musical instrument. So I decided to pursue it as a hobby." Julchen participated in the school's musical theater for three consecutive years, portraying many wonderful characters. In addition, her involvement in humanities courses made her aware of her aptitude for scientific thinking.

Charlie is a three-year student at DHSZ. Upon arriving at DHSZ, he took on the challenge of participating in the British Physics Olympiad (BPhO) and achieved a commendable silver award. For Charlie, participating in these competitions stems from his passion and love for physics. His original intention was to challenge himself and broaden his knowledge of physics. "It makes me realise that I have only scratched the surface and there are so many areas to delve into." In addition to competitions, Charlie also utilised his summer breaks to attend summer schools. For example, at Stanford's summer school, he delved deep into classical physics theories such as special relativity and quantum mechanics. "At DHSZ, we have the time and space to explore the fields that interest us. There are also plenty of hands-on and practical opportunities and resources available."

Charlie gained a lot from his summer school experiences: "I discovered that the teaching methods of professors at top universities are completely different. For basic concepts, professors often encourage us to understand them through reading books and watching videos. But when we have doubts, their guidance and explanations can be eye-opening, which feels magical to me." For more advanced concepts like relativity and gravitational fields, Charlie often discusses them with his physics teacher, Mr Masihur Bawngi. "He is very willing to discuss with me and shares additional knowledge, which further fuels my curiosity." Moreover, the application process for summer schools has left a deep impression on Charlie: "In addition to personal statements, you need to submit a series of transcripts, language scores, and exams. It took me about a month and a half to prepare. I highly recommend trying to apply for summer schools because it serves as an 'early simulation' of university applications."

Alyssa, also a three-year student, participated in the Canadian Chemistry Olympiad during her Y12 Christmas break and received a silver medal. She also took the initiative to find an internship at a hospital, where she observed clinical work and learned about biochemistry-related knowledge. She said, "This gave me the opportunity to have close contact with real medical experiments and learn medical knowledge that cannot be learned from textbooks." During the following summer break, she participated in a research project on environmental pollution and completed a paper on the relationship between environmental pollution in southern China and students' mental health. At school, she took part in the ‘DNA’ CCA, which involved finding plant samples and extracting DNA from them, and she found infinite joy in the experiments. According to Alyssa, the various activities organised by the school complement her academic studies. "Especially when I have academic pressure, participating in sports activities and school events helps me relax both physically and mentally, and it also improves my learning."

Supports from Counselling

Alyssa ultimately chose Boston University due to its excellent academic resources and location. She was attracted to the university's international environment and its location in the beautiful city of Boston, which provides students with many opportunities for studying abroad and engaging in scientific research. Alyssa expressed her interest in learning other languages and conducting scientific research in other countries, which influenced her decision to choose this university. During the university application process, she was particularly grateful to her counsellor, Ms Rain Xie, for providing professional advice. Ms Xie analysed the courses offered by each university and advised Alyssa on how to enhance her competitiveness. Ms Xie also provided valuable suggestions for modifying her personal statement, allowing Alyssa to showcase her personality and providing her with tremendous encouragement and support.

Charlie also mentioned the support of his counselor, Rain Xie, during the college application process. Charlie said, "The college application process is both stressful and complicated, but Rain Xie helped me clarify my thoughts and reminded me of what tasks to focus on at each stage. I benefited greatly from her guidance."

Julchen expressed deep gratitude to her counsellor, Mr Steve Hodgkin, for his guidance and motivation throughout her counselling application journey. "Mr Hodgkin started urging me from the stage of preparing the long list of universities and drafting my personal statement. As a result, I was able to progress quickly and submit all my UCAS applications before November, avoiding excessive anxiety." When choosing universities, Mr Hodgkin considered Julchen's desired major, academic achievements, and performance in exams, and recommended a list of universities. Julchen said, "He took a comprehensive approach, analysing my personal abilities and providing us with professional guidance and advice." Julchen believed that the most important aspects of the application stage were determining the major, selecting the universities, and writing the personal statement. The regular face-to-face meetings with her counsellor allowed for highly efficient application progress, such as receiving an offer from the University of Bristol just four days after applying.

Advice for Lower School Students

Zabrina 

“Seize the opportunities you can grasp in the present moment. For example, in Y10, you may still be unsure about what major you want to pursue in the future. In that case, it is important to focus on learning the subjects you are currently studying and establish a strong foundation. Strive to excel in every test.”

Charlie

"I believe it is essential to have confidence in yourself and steadfastly move towards your goals step by step. Although there may be many obstacles along the way, they are all nutrients that enable you to bloom!"

Julchen

"I think it's important to explore and experiment in the first two years, such as studying subjects and participating in extracurricular activities that you haven't tried before. This way, you can gradually discover your interests and make careful course selections in Y11 when you start to determine your major. Good academic performance is also crucial, especially if you plan to apply to universities in the United States. During the university application process, I believe it is best to follow the guidance of university counsellors, listen to their advice and planning. Focus on accumulating knowledge and skills in your daily life to make each stage easier."

Alyssa

"First, you need to figure out what you truly enjoy doing but don't let others decide for you. Instead, explore and discover it yourself. For example, the freedom to choose courses in the first two years of high school allows you to explore different subjects. Effective time management is also important. By efficiently allocating your time to participate in competitions, extracurricular activities, internships, or summer schools, you can not only enhance your chances for applying for universities but also broaden your knowledge and improve your social skills."