Emma joined St. Paul American School Hanoi in the middle of 8th grade, moving here from Korea. She chose our school because of our diverse curriculum, AP Courses, sports, Model UN, and guitar program. She is ready to graduate and recently received a life-changing notification: an acceptance to University College London (UCL).
We sat down with Emma to discuss her experience in high school, applying to colleges in the UK, and getting into one of the world’s most prestigious institutions for Social Science and Data Science. UCL is highly respected as a “G5” elite university in the UK and is currently ranked among the top 10 globally.
Emma was in her living room, chatting with her parents while browsing prom dresses online (we are an American school after all), and an email notification popped up. She clicked through and saw an update email from UCL, she was shocked to see that she was accepted.
Not only did she get in, but UCL sent a follow-up email stating they were waiving the standard entrance tests for her because of her achievements and marks, a clear sign that her academic profile and her time at St. Paul had already made a massive impression.
While many students lean toward traditional Economics, Emma chose an interdisciplinary route. Her interest lies in the “why” behind human behavior and how data can be used to improve lives on a macro level.
The Goal: Using data analysis to suggest better societal policies.
The Inspiration: A book titled New Ideas from Dead Economists by Todd Buchholz, which she wrote about in her application to show how original economic theories can solve modern-day trends.
The Vision: “I want to learn how to analyze data and how it connects to society as a whole… to increase the standard of living for people.”
Looking at Emma’s time in high school, the list goes on and on. She has tackled a mountain of AP courses, including:
How did she do it all while being a Section Leader of Eagles Guitar ensemble, a fixture in Student Council (STUCO), a Student Ambassador, and a member of the Model UN and Volleyball teams?
Her secret is simple: Maximum focus during class. “A lot of students might play in class and then cram at the end, but I don’t like doing that,” Emma explains. By asking questions and engaging with teachers directly, she keeps her evenings free for her extracurricular passions and leadership roles.
Emma credits much of her growth to the culture of “independence” at St. Paul. Teachers support students in a variety of individual endeavors, helping them accomplish what they set out to do. The school provided a space where she could try, and sometimes fail, without fear.
She highlights Mr. La Roi as a pivotal mentor over her four years in Student Council:
“He taught me how to be confident and take initiative when I was timid. He’s known as a strict teacher, but his personal advice was really touching.”
As she prepares to leave the noisy streets of Hanoi for the more calm streets of London, Emma is most excited about experiencing the city’s culture and visiting famous landmarks.
Her advice for the younger students at St. Paul:
-Try the things you want to try, and take responsibility for what you started.
-Don’t be too afraid, even if you don’t do well, you will learn something.
Emma has been a tremendous student at St. Paul, living the mission of engaged, empowered, and educated global citizens. She was determined to attend our school when moving from Korea, she was determined to attend a university in the UK, and she is determined to change the world through data science.
Congratulations, Emma! We can’t wait to see the impact you’ll make at UCL and beyond.
