(Continued from last week)

    Of course, these schools are quite selective. There is a strong competition for admission, especially with the growing number of students applying from China. Many Chinese students are strong in maths and science, but just lack fluency in English. However, that is not a worry.

    As long as you are not shy and interact with other students, fully immersing yourself in English culture, you should have little difficulty picking up English quickly. The big names these public schools present should not put you off applying.

    State schools, on the other hand, are government maintained and often lack full resources, especially with the recent recession leading to severe cuts in school funding from this year. There is a lack of interaction between students as a result and bigger class sizes mean that students have limited individual attention from teachers.

    Tuition fees are lower, but an overseas student cannot benefit in terms of learning English by active participation with native speakers, immersion in English culture and the cultivation of personal leisure interests for life beyond high school.

    There are, however, many other well-established independent schools other than the highly selective elite public schools mentioned. You can still have a good learning opportunity with individual attention as long as you take an active part in your school community, whatever the type of school.

    I would suggest that you tour schools before you choose one in which to spend the important years of your life. The right type of school will really help shape you as a person. If you are able to afford the expensive tuition, do make the extra small investment to tour schools and to find the right fit for you.

    If you are really not able to take a tour, I highly recommend the “Good Schools Guide” (available in all book stores, browse www.goodschoolsguide.co.uk) which will give you a lot of insightful comments. Do not just refer to the latest school rankings one can browse through on the Internet because they will not give you the full picture of what life is really like at the school.

    In the coming nine letters, I will share with you as much as I can of my personal thoughts and experiences of my school life from Year 8 to my current year 13 at my elite boarding school.

    Yours fondly,

    Susan M B Chen

    Year 13 student at Downe House School