For students at Beijing Normal University-Hong Kong Baptist University United International College (BNBU), how to fully leverage the advantages of an international undergraduate background and plan a path for overseas graduate applications has become a growing concern among many students.
During the 2026 Fall graduate application season, CheersYou (清柚教育) collaborated with BNBU students to launch the "BNBUers Speak Up – Senior Students' Application Experience Sharing Series." This initiative invited outstanding BNBU seniors who successfully gained admission to prestigious overseas universities to share their authentic graduate application planning strategies and admission experiences based on their personal journeys.
The theme of this session is "A BNBU Data Science Senior's Graduate Application Sharing," focusing on the Data Science major. It provides a comprehensive review of the entire application process, from undergraduate planning, major selection, and background enhancement to ultimately securing admission to top U.S. institutions.
Lecture Topics:
- Multi-tiered university selection strategy combining Data Science and Finance
- How can high-value internships compensate for standardized test scores?
- Precise timeline planning guide for soft skills development from freshman to senior year
- How to precisely select professors for recommendation letters?
- Full review of the emotional journey + heartfelt advice from a senior student!
Introduction to the CheersYou (清柚教育) BNBU Student:
- Senior Student S
- BNBU - Data Science
- GPA: 3.4+
- GRE: 320+
- TOEFL: 105+
BNBU Student Admission Results
- Columbia University - Statistics
- Duke University - Risk Engineering ($15,000 scholarship)
- Johns Hopkins University - Data Science ($6,667 scholarship)
- University of Southern California - Applied Data Science
- University of California, San Diego - Quantitative Finance ($3,000 scholarship)
Q: Senior, could you share your application strategy with everyone?
A: First, start with your own interests, as this will keep you motivated regardless of what you study. Once you have a general idea of your area of interest, you can undertake some projects on campus to see if it suits you. For example, in Data Science core courses, many professors in your junior year won't restrict topics too rigidly, leaving room for creativity. At this point, I proactively chose a direction I wanted to explore—such as biology, finance, computer algorithms, and more. If you are unsure which field interests you, you can practice and explore on the Kaggle competition platform to identify your preferred area.
Additionally, through off-campus internships, you can apply the skills learned on campus to real-world practice to see if they align with your expectations. For instance, working in data analysis at securities firms or investment banks allows you to use the algorithms and data analysis skills acquired in school to solve practical problems. This helps you determine whether the work environment matches your imagination. If it does, you can continue to deepen your expertise in graduate studies.
