It is often said that applying to graduate school from a Hong Kong undergraduate program is difficult, but when asked why, most people only mention issues like grade deflation at Hong Kong universities, unclear timelines, and uncertainty about whether to take the GRE. However, in reality, these are not the real difficulties for Hong Kong undergraduate students applying to graduate school.
As everyone knows, whether it is for graduate studies in Hong Kong, the UK, or the US, the involution has become increasingly severe in recent years. Not only has the difficulty of applications been rising, but many Hong Kong graduate programs have also advanced their application deadlines. Application requirements are constantly updating, and it is important to realize that many students have unsatisfactory graduate school application results due to information isolation. Therefore, avoiding the "information gap" is the first problem that Hong Kong undergraduate students need to solve on their graduate school application journey. In recent years, CheersYou（清柚教育） has helped many Hong Kong undergraduate students successfully secure offers from their dream schools. Today, we bring these admission cases to see where Hong Kong undergraduates applying to graduate school can get admitted. Hong Kong undergraduates with graduate school aspirations can add CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor: qingyouge23 for more detailed information!
Breakthrough Without Internships: Duke, USC, IC – Take Your Pick!
Undergraduate Background: Hong Kong Baptist University, GPA 3.6+, GRE 325+, IELTS 7.0+
Admission Results: Duke University, Johns Hopkins University, University of Southern California, Imperial College London, etc.
W had a strong academic background, but no internship experience, which was a shortcoming in his application. The CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor, based on W's background and application goals, helped him get a referral for an interview opportunity at a New York investment bank. Through his own efforts, he successfully secured the internship offer and excellently completed various tasks assigned by his leader, who provided a highly valuable recommendation letter. In the end, W successfully received offers in BA/Finance from top universities in the UK and US.
US-HK Mixed Applications: Even HK's Most Competitive Master's Programs Are No Problem!
Undergraduate Background: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, GPA 3.4+, GRE 325+, IELTS 7.5+
Admission Results: Johns Hopkins University, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, University of Southern California, etc.
Z had volunteered at multiple financial summits and frequently teamed up with classmates to participate in financial challenge competitions. These experiences continually strengthened Z's determination to delve deeper into this field. Based on Z's aspirations, the CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor recommended applying to programs focused on finance and business analytics. Z's undergraduate experiences were very rich, but this also led to her writing her personal statement like a "laundry list." Thus, CheersYou（清柚教育） matched Z with an essay advisor with extensive experience in finance and BA, who brainstormed with Z repeatedly, meticulously crafting an outstanding essay. Shortly after submitting all materials, Z received offers from JHU and USC. Later, she also secured admission to one of HKUST's most competitive programs!
US-HK Mixed Applications: Even HK's Most Competitive Master's Programs Are No Problem!
Undergraduate Background: The Open University of Hong Kong, GPA 3.6+, GRE 330+, TOEFL 105+
Admission Results: New York University, Washington University in St. Louis, Cornell University, etc.
S maintained excellent grades throughout undergraduate studies and wanted to stand on a better platform for greater development. The income level in the US CS industry is generally higher than in other regions globally, and one can also interact with top industry talent, so S set his goal on CS programs. However, S's undergraduate institution was not particularly strong, and he worried that aiming too high would result in being "rejected by all." The CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor told S that most US institutions value applicants' grades and relevant experiences more. To make S's strengths more evident, the advisor recommended he take CheersYou（清柚教育）'s GRE course, where he quickly achieved a score of 330+. S's excellent grades and rich experiences in his major caught the eye of Ivy League schools. Ultimately, not only did he achieve a counterattack from a non-top-eight Hong Kong university to an Ivy League, but he was also eagerly sought after by NYU and Washington University in St. Louis!
Rapid Background Enhancement: Getting into Hong Kong's Top Three with a Mediocre GPA!
Undergraduate Background: Hong Kong Shue Yan University, GPA 3.2+, GRE 330+, IELTS 7.0+
Admission Results: The Chinese University of Hong Kong, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, etc.
W was determined to settle down in the bustling metropolis of Hong Kong in the future. He knew that only a better academic qualification could give him more hope of staying. However, W's undergraduate grades were mediocre. Just as he was worried about his GPA, he learned about CheersYou（清柚教育） and immediately decided to let CheersYou（清柚教育） assist his grad school application journey. Since Hong Kong master's applications open earlier than other regions, the CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor worked overtime to help W catch up, pushing him to complete standardized tests and also referring him to a high-value internship. In the end, W successfully made up for his low GPA with excellent standardized test scores and outstanding internship experience, and as expected, he received early offers from CUHK and PolyU, completing a stunning reversal from a non-top-eight Hong Kong university to Hong Kong's top three!
Low GPA, Cross-Discipline Application to Education: Sincere Personal Statement to the Rescue!
Undergraduate Background: Hong Kong Shue Yan University, GPA 2.7+, IELTS 6.5+
Admission Results: Lingnan University Hong Kong dual-degree program admission, The Education University of Hong Kong, etc.
Z would participate in various education-related activities whenever she had free time. She gained a deep sense of satisfaction and belonging from these activities, and thus decided to dedicate herself to the education field in the future. However, Z's GPA was less than ideal, and her undergraduate major was unrelated to education. The CheersYou（清柚教育） advisor told her that such programs highly favor students who are compassionate and socially-minded. While matching Z with a high-quality internship in education, the advisor also carefully guided Z in refining her personal statement, teaching her how to articulate her reasons for changing majors and how to fully express her passion for education to the admissions committee. Not long after, Z was admitted to dual programs at Lingnan University Hong Kong, and an offer from the Education University of Hong Kong followed suit.
For more Hong Kong undergraduate grad school application cases and details, feel free to scan the QR code below to inquire~
