Gatekeepers of the Shark Tank: a look inside the admissions office

The Admissions Office erupts into a flurry of paper, folders, and people. It’s admissions season. While every student enrolled at SMIC-I has gone through this process, the process itself is, for many, a distant memory. To learn more about how the school’s admissions has evolved over the years, we talked with Admissions Director, Ms. Shirley Chai.

Admissions at SMIC-I is a highly involved process that includes input from the Admissions Director, the Principal, and the Vice Principals. Like all other private schools, academic prowess is the first criterion for applicants. Beyond measuring a student’s performance through the entrance exams in reading, writing, and math, an applicant’s academic record from his or her previous school is also a major consideration. Indeed, the overall structure of the admissions process is largely analogous, although the growing applicant pool makes the process increasingly competitive. Austin Liu (12A) recalls, “When I entered [almost 12 years ago], I took a basic English and math test.”

Aside from reviewing academic records and testing, interviews also play a critical part in the admissions process. Ms. Chai notes, “We check for their characters, passions, and interests.” Even if some applicants may not have done very well on the entrance exam, they still have a chance to stand out during their interviews. She adds, “You see their eyes light up talking about their interests and passion.  I usually can tell when an applicant really stands out and has the potential to shine!”

Just as the application process has evolved, the school’s applicant pool is also growing. Ms. Chai attributes this to parents’ desire for a curriculum that is not only academically strong, but also ensures that students are well-balanced and able to prosper in athletics and extracurricular activities. She quips, “Each year, more and more parents want to send their kids to SMIC, which makes my job easier or harder depending on how you look at it.”

At the same time, she also has some concerns for the long term. The government may eventually adopt regulations to curb the large numbers of students flocking from public schools to private schools, which will likely affect SMIC-I as well. Nonetheless, Ms. Chai still bears a positive outlook on the future of admissions and enrollment at our school. She says, “My problem is there are many qualified applicants but [not] enough seats for them. I expect this problem [to] continue as we have proven that our students do deliver what we believe in.”

Featured Image Gatekeepers courtesy of Ms. Shirley Chai