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Sometimes the numbers don’t add up
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In the process of college admissions, people resort to statistics far too often — whether it is college rankings, average SAT, ACT and IB scores, or the number of extracurriculars that someone “must have” to get in. But in reality, this collection of numbers is far too simplistic and superficial. To me, Stanford is more than a bag of data points — it is a living, breathing place, one with its own unique culture, traditions and personality.
I discovered Stanford when I attended Stanford Summer Session in 2018. I was exposed to the intellectual rigor of university-level courses, as well as its unique culture of innovation. It was this vibrancy that drew me in — a sense of idealism combined with can-do pragmatism that transcended the confines of admission statistics.
Throughout my time at Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong, the school has prepared me not only for such a spirit of disruptive innovation, to have the audacity to see, but also the ability to plan. I feel incredibly privileged to have fantastic teachers guide me as mentors, both inside the classroom and out. In two years studying the IB curriculum, I have learnt academic content and the skills necessary to turn ideas into action. Whether it is organizing Model United Nations’ conferences or hosting Hackathons, IB’s emphasis on interdisciplinary thinking in its subjects and its CAS extracurricular program has allowed me to put abstract ideas into reality and attain valuable managerial skills.
Often, the IBDP has a reputation of being stressful, pressuring and seemingly draconian in its demands. True, the daunting amount of work in an IB Diploma is not for everyone. But I think if you view the requirements of the IB as opportunities to explore topics you’re genuinely interested in, you can really enjoy these tasks. For example, for my Extended Essay, I analyzed the rhetoric and political satire in standup comedy, something that is a great personal interest to me.
Ultimately, the IBDP is a great opportunity to explore your passions, a chance for you to learn, grow and thrive in unexpected ways. After all, you’re more than just a number.
Jay is a Year 13 student at Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong.
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