‘Growing numbers’ of Hong Kong high school students applying for US universities – and paying thousands for ‘college prep’ tutoring
Local youngsters are increasingly applying to study in the States, and paying big bucks to prepare
Growing numbers of Hong Kong high school students are applying to universities in the United States in the hope of a better education – and the trend is fuelling the expansion of the “college prep” tutor industry in the city, consultants have said.
Some students and parents report that the extra assistance is helpful for their applications, while education experts say it is unnecessary and contributes to inequality within education and beyond.
But tutors and coaches insist they are just responding to the demand and are helping relieve the anxiety of the university application process.
At the Edge Learning Centre in Causeway Bay, university admissions courses cost HK$18,000 while hourly consulting rates range from HK$4,000 to HK$8,500. The centre charges between HK$120,000 and HK$250,000 for a full university admissions package, depending on the counsellors.
Duc Luu, the company’s chief executive, said despite the surge in business in recent years, he had observed the number of Hong Kong students being accepted to US universities declining.
