School selection and positioning is always a crucial step in the graduate application process. Even the most outstanding students may miss out on their dream schools due to unreasonable positioning.
The uniqueness of Xiamen University Malaysia lies in being China's first independent overseas campus, which naturally raises many questions for XMUM students during graduate applications. The most pressing are: How should I position myself? And: How recognized is XMUM? Today, CheersYou（清柚教育） brings real admission cases from XMUM students to answer this tricky question! XMUM students planning to pursue graduate studies can add CheersYou（清柚教育） teacher: qingyouge23 for more details!
—Average Grades, No Elite School? He Nailed Positioning and Got Direct Admission to a Top-20 US University!
Undergraduate Background: GPA 3.4+ GRE 320+ TOEFL: 100+
Admission Results: Washington University in St. Louis, New York University, Boston University, etc.
Student F loved his undergraduate major—CS—and wanted to continue exploring in this field. Initially, he aimed to apply for popular CS programs. Although he participated in many projects and internships, accumulating a wealth of professional knowledge, his GPA was not outstanding. CheersYou（清柚教育） teacher honestly told Student F that top CS programs have very high GPA requirements, and his grades would indeed struggle in the fierce CS competition; however, the competitiveness of EE/CE is not inferior to CS. After discussion and consideration, Student F decided to change his application strategy. From then on, things went much more smoothly. With the help of CheersYou（清柚教育） teacher, Student F effectively showcased his rich practical experience in his essays, which helped him secure offers from prestigious schools including WUSTL, NYU, and BU!
—US-UK Mixed Applications: From Liberal Arts to Business, Snagging a Top-10 US School
Undergraduate Background: GPA 3.2+ GRE 315+ IELTS: 7.0+
Admission Results: Johns Hopkins University, Boston University, University of Sheffield, etc.
Student Y's college life was rich and fulfilling. Not only did he consistently rank high in his major, but he also started internships from his sophomore year. Through three internship experiences, he gained valuable insights and gradually discovered his interest in business. However, the widespread grade deflation at XMUM meant his graduate application lacked an advantage. Therefore, CheersYou（清柚教育） teacher encouraged him to take the GRE to boost his competitiveness. Later, they provided interview coaching, conducting multiple mock interviews to help him overcome anxiety. In the end, JHU, BU, and the University of Sheffield all extended offers, bringing Student Y's graduate school dream to a happy conclusion.
—Challenging Applications with a Low GPA: He Broke Through and Landed a String of Offers
Undergraduate Background: GPA 2.8+ IELTS: 6.5+
Admission Results: Monash University, University of Queensland, University of New South Wales, etc.
It is well known that the first threshold for graduate applications is GPA. While internship experience and personal statements can help applicants round out their profiles, they cannot fully compensate for a low GPA. Student M was acutely aware of this, so initially he did not hold high hopes for his applications. After detailed and in-depth discussions with CheersYou（清柚教育） teacher, Student M decided to give it his all and aim for his dream school! To this end, CheersYou（清柚教育） teachers did their utmost to help, matching Student M with a writing mentor in the same field for brainstorming sessions. Together, they crafted an exceptionally refined personal statement. With this sincere and powerful statement, Student M successively received offers from Monash University, the University of Queensland, and the University of New South Wales!
For more XMUM graduate application cases and details, feel free to scan the QR code below to inquire~
