Roey's journey to NYU Stern School of Business
When Roey H first arrived at Dulwich International High School Programme Suzhou, she did not yet have a clear answer to the question many students are asked early on: What do you want to study in the future?
Instead, she began with curiosity: exploring different activities, trying new ideas, and gradually discovering what truly interested her. Through projects, competitions, and academic research, that curiosity slowly evolved into a deeper fascination with how businesses operate and make decisions.
Today, that journey has led her to an offer from New York University's Stern School of Business, where she will study Business.
Learning by Exploring
Reflecting on those early days, Roey recalls that her interests emerged through experimentation rather than a fixed plan.
“At the start of the school year, I didn't know what I wanted to study in the future. It was something I discovered gradually through exploration,” she explains.
In Year 10, she participated widely in school life, joining activities such as Video Challenge, Model United Nations, and several school sports teams. Through these experiences, she began to notice a pattern in what interested her most: projects that involved organising ideas, developing strategies, and bringing concepts to life.
Yearbook photos of school sports teams and MUN
Sports competitions in school
This curiosity deepened when she independently applied to the HKU Business School Summer Programme, where she was first introduced to foundational concepts such as market analysis and competitive strategy.
For Roey, the programme offered more than new academic knowledge; it revealed how much she enjoyed thinking about the systems and decisions that shape the business world. As she reflects, “That was the first time I was systematically exposed to business concepts like market analysis and competitive strategy. I realised I really enjoyed the thinking process behind it.”
During this period of exploration, Roey also began challenging herself through activities beyond the classroom. From Year 10 to Year 13, she remained actively involved in Model United Nations and eventually took on the role of Head of the Finance Department.
Her first large conference, however, was far from comfortable. “The whole conference moved very quickly, and many delegates spoke very confidently,” she recalls. “At that time, I hadn't even fully understood the procedures.” The uncertainty of not knowing what would happen next made the experience even more nerve-racking.
CISSMUN
On the final day of the conference, Roey decided to raise her country's placard and speak. “My speech may not have been perfect, but it was the first time I truly expressed my perspective.” To her surprise, other delegates began building their discussions around the ideas she raised. The experience left a lasting impression: many of the most meaningful moments of growth happen outside one’s comfort zone.
“Stern seeks students who can navigate complexity, embrace diverse perspectives, and create impact beyond the classroom - Roey embodies all of this. She combines sharp business acumen with excellence in sports, leadership, creative expression, and academics, proving herself to be a truly well-rounded individual. Her multidimensional talents align perfectly with Stern's collaborative and cross-disciplinary culture, and I am confident she will flourish there."
Head Prefects
From Concept to Collaboration
Roey's growing interest in business soon found a practical outlet through the Conrad Challenge, an international entrepreneurship competition. Working with teammates from across China, she helped develop a project centred on a lower-limb exoskeleton robot designed to assist mobility. As the team member responsible for marketing, Roey focused on communicating the innovation's value and presenting its potential impact.
Conrad Challenge China
What left the strongest impression on her, however, was the power of collaboration. With team members based in different cities, opportunities to meet in person were limited. Yet through constant communication and long preparation sessions before the final presentation, the team learned how to coordinate ideas and support one another.
“What touched me the most was the power of teamwork,” Roey recalls. “Even when one of our core members had to participate online because he was ill, we were still able to connect our ideas during the Q&A session and build on each other's answers.”
Understanding Football as a Business
Roey's curiosity about business also shaped the focus of her Extended Project Qualification (EPQ). Drawing on both her academic interests and her experience as a member of the school football team, she chose to explore the business dynamics behind the global football industry.
Under the guidance of her mentor Ms Law, Roey examined questions that many fans rarely consider: how match performance influences a club’s commercial value, why some clubs struggle to recover from long periods of decline, and how financial strategy shapes success on and off the pitch.
Through this research, she began to see football not only as a sport but as part of a complex global industry shaped by economics, management, and strategy. “Many people only focus on the results of matches, but I wanted to understand what happens behind them, how performance affects a club's commercial value and why some clubs stay in decline for a long time,” she explains.
"I was delighted to see her choose a topic so closely aligned with her interests, a case study on the commercial success of Beijing Guoan, one of China's most popular football clubs.Throughout this process, I have witnessed remarkable growth in Roey's academic and personal capabilities. What truly sets her apart is her readiness to explore, to question, and to dive deep into complex subject matter. Her self-driven attitude and genuine curiosity have made her a standout student."
A Platform that allows Exploration
Looking back, Roey describes her time at Dulwich as a period of exploration and discovery. From trying new activities and developing projects to researching the business of football and collaborating with peers from different backgrounds, each experience helped her better understand her own interests and ambitions. As she reflects, “Dulwich provides a platform where I can keep trying new things, exploring different ideas, and gradually finding what I truly want to pursue.”
Start-up Sisu
At the same time, Roey was also a member of the DHSZ Scholars Programme and received a four-year full scholarship. She describes the programme as something that helped her develop a clear sense of purpose from an early stage.
Through Scholars CCA activities, teachers encouraged students not only to strengthen their academic abilities but also to develop essential skills such as presentation, communication, and collaboration. Working alongside senior students also helped Roey begin thinking about her future direction earlier and with greater confidence.
For Roey, Dulwich became more than just a place to study; it was a bridge connecting her to a wider world of ideas, opportunities, and people. She participated in a UK summer exploration trip, a sports trip to Dulwich International High School Zhuhai, participated in exchanges such as the Dulwich Olympiad in Dulwich College Singapore, and recently volunteered for High School Team Maths alongside students from other international schools. Through these opportunities, Roey was able to connect with students from different Dulwich schools and international communities.
Dulwich Olympiad at Dulwich College Singapore
Experiences like these allowed her to meet peers from diverse backgrounds and perspectives, further broadening her understanding of the world beyond the classroom. As she prepares to begin the next chapter at NYU Stern, she carries forward the same curiosity and willingness to explore that first guided her journey.
Beyond Roey's story, the Class of 2026 has also achieved an equally impressive set of university outcomes.
Class of 2026 University Offers as of 19th of March 2026
- Graduating Cohort: 132 students
- Total Offers Received: 599
- Average Offers per Student: approximately 4.4
- Total Scholarships Awarded: USD 2,000,000
Students in the Class of 2026 have achieved outstanding results in global university applications, with nearly two-thirds of offers coming from internationally recognised top universities.
- QS Top 30 Universities:116 offers (20%)
- QS Top 50 Universities: 234 offers (40%)
- QS Top 100 Universities: 340 offers (56%)
Destinations and Key Highlights
United States: 202 offers
More than half of U.S. offers are from highly ranked institutions, with strong representation across top universities: Washington University in St. Louis (U.S. News #20) 1 offer, New York University (U.S. News #32) 4 offers, University of California, Irvine (U.S. News #32) 7 offers, University of California, Davis (U.S. News #32) 18 offers, University of California, Santa Barbara (U.S. News #40) 14 offers, University of Wisconsin–Madison (U.S. News #36) 2 offers, University of Washington, Seattle (U.S. News #42) 6 offers, Rutgers University (U.S. News #42) 54 offers.
U.S. News Top 50: 110 offers (53% of U.S. offers).
U.S. News Top 100: 162 offers (80% of U.S. offers).
United Kingdom: 274 offers
The UK remains the most popular destination, with nearly 80% of offers from top universities: University of Cambridge: 2 offers, University College London: 16 offers, Imperial College London: 1 offer, The University of Manchester: 58 offers, The University of Edinburgh: 16 offers, King’s College London: 14 offers, The University of Warwick: 20 offers.
G5 / Russell Group Universities: 217 offers (80%).
University of the Arts London (QS #2 for Art & Design):11 offers (100% of UK art offers).
Australia: 71 offers
The University of Melbourne: 38 offers, The University of Sydney: 19 offers.
QS Top 50: 71 offers (100%).
Canada: 42 offers
University of Toronto: 22 offers, McGill University: 4 offers, The University of British Columbia: 9 offers
QS Top 50: 35 offers (83%).
Hong Kong SAR: 5 offers
The University of Hong Kong: 2 offers, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: 2 offers, The Chinese University of Hong Kong: 1 offer.
Students have also received offers from universities across Europe and Asia, including: The Netherlands: 3 offers, Japan: 1 offer.
If you would like to experience our school life firsthand
and engage in face-to-face conversations with Dulwich students,
we warmly invite you to visit Dulwich on the 18th of April.