Studying in Singapore at 11: Chengdu Student Accepted into Columbia University Graduate Program

    Singapore Investment Immigration shares immigration stories: With outstanding academic achievements, Chengdu student Shigu Yuan was recently accepted into the Statistics graduate program at Columbia University, an Ivy League institution ranked fourth in the United States. Having studied in Singapore since age 11, he received undergraduate offers from several top U.S. universities in the fall of 2011 through the Singapore O-LEVEL curriculum... "There is no genius who succeeds without hard work; Xiao Yuan truly cultivated an independent character through his early study abroad experience." This is how Luo Le, an application counselor at Huaying Overseas, described Shigu Yuan.

 

 

Self-Directed Learning: Studying in Singapore at 11

Shigu Yuan moved to Singapore at age 11. Without his parents' care, he lived and ate with several excellent senior students in his dormitory. Inspired by them, his desire for self-directed learning was fully ignited. He studied with them, participated in public welfare activities, and lived independently. "Compared to his peers, he already possessed very rich experiences and perspectives at that time," said Luo Le.

"My son even feels that eating is a waste of time," said his mother, Mrs. Yuan. As parents, they have never regretted the decision to send their child abroad at such a young age. "The teenage years are a time to gradually clarify one's life goals. Understanding different cultures and learning to think from another cultural perspective will be of great help in making the right choices throughout one's life."

Undergraduate Studies in the U.S. and Part-time Teaching Assistant

While studying in Singapore, he achieved high scores in the O-LEVEL exams and a 1900 on the SAT, earning him admission to several top U.S. universities, including UIUC. He ultimately chose Purdue University for its strong science and engineering programs and high cost-effectiveness. During his undergraduate studies, in addition to his regular coursework, Xiao Yuan served as a teaching assistant, teaching statistics to freshmen. He also participated in research with a food additive group, fully utilizing his spare time for academic practice. "To accelerate his course completion and enrich his knowledge base, he often went to more distant community colleges to attend classes and interact with students from different social backgrounds. It is rare for an ordinary student to be as diligent as he is."

The essence of learning is life. To be a qualified top student, one relies not only on grades but also on social responsibility and practical experience. Beyond his studies, Xiao Yuan once organized fundraising for a welfare organization in Singapore. Knowing how to give back to society is true positive energy.