The more we have discussed with the parents here in Asia, the more firmly we can conclude that there are indeed valuable lessons to be shared, skills to be attained, pitfalls to be avoided. Over the years, we have observed that Asian parents often might not understand the differences and implications among the various countries' education systems, or might not know the schools in the West well enough, or might not have the knowhow to match schools to best fit their child's talents and needs, or might not be familiar enough with the intricacies of the complex school application process, or simply might not have the time to do a thorough job. Many have come to seek professional help only "a bit too late", when the child has already been wait-listed by the preferred school, or when the parents discover at the end that they have all along applied to schools that under-correspond to their child's credentials. Some might have been oblivious to the admission deadlines and would like to start applying long after offers have been made. In our opinion, most of these mishaps could have been prevented had there been more education and planning upfront. Overseas education has been valued in Asia for decades, yet we still note a compelling demand for quality educational counseling. The stakes are high, and there is really no second chance in selecting the right school. Fit or not, the selected school will likely be where the child will stay throughout his secondary education, as it can be challenging to enter top schools after Grade 10. Even if feasible, moving from school to school is less than ideal for the child's social and academic development, and can raise questions during the university application process. Money lost can be earned back, but one can never buy back time. Secondary education takes place during the child's formative years; for many students, these few years of high schooling define their adult character. Selecting schools with the right fit is only the first step; getting in is the real challenge. Competition among Asian applicants has been intensifying in recent years, as more Chinese families are now keen to send their children abroad earlier to give their child a leg up ahead of their peers. Average applicant quality has been rising. All this happens while supply remains fairly constant. Nowadays, getting in to the top schools is no longer just a matter of scores. Strong academic performance simply enables the student to be considered; the applicant still needs a host of other differentiating factors to stand out. To up the chance of admission, one is expected to attain a balanced portfolio of extracurricular achievements, community contributions, international exposure, on top of and beyond an impeccable character with leadership traits, displayed in confidence, eloquence, and poise. Winning the race thus calls for in-depth knowledge of the qualities required and clear understanding of the time horizon for such preparation. With so much at stake, it is now not uncommon for parents to plan and prepare for their child's overseas education several years in advance. Professional educational counseling can go a long way in alleviating much unnecessary agony in the process, let alone wasted efforts and lost time. In fact, a quality educational counseling service improves the parents' "return on (tuition) investment" through assuring the best environment for the child's developmental needs; it helps insure against the educational compromises from having the child spend his / her formative years at a suboptimal environment.
