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Maggie Teng, from Taiwan, graduated from EF Academy New York in 2015 and is currently studying Business at Babson College. Learn more about our featured alum:
How did you hear of EF Academy and why did you choose to go to EF Academy?
I had friend in high school whose sister graduated from EF Academy that year. I decided to look up the school online and read more about it on the website.
What university did you go to after you graduated? What did you study and why?
I am currently studying business at Babson College, which is located close to Boston. I had no idea about the school until my counselor told me about it. I wanted to stay on the East Coast and I liked the small class sizes that they offered – that combination led me to choose Babson. I’m very happy with my choice and the school has definitely exceeded my expectations.
I am in my freshman year so I don’t have to decide on my major now, but I think I will go for finance, probably because of family influences since my dad started his own business when I was five years old. One course that I find particularly interesting right now is “Foundation of Entrepreneurship and Management.” We received $3,000 from Babson to fund a company idea that we’ve come up with. Our idea is to sell advertising space on paper coffee cups. I must say I have learned a lot, everything from making feasibility presentations and setting up corporate structures.
What do you want to do next?
I think I want to either go into finance and do trading or become an entrepreneur. Babson really emphasizes social entrepreneurship, through which we can bring a change to the world. I think these kinds of aspects are really important. In the short-term, I would like to go to the London School of Economics for an exchange program.
What tips do you have for current students who want to study what you study?
Appreciate the IB program because your IB experience will help you a lot in university, so don’t give up even when it is hard. Personally, IB taught me a lot when it comes to time management as I was used to procrastinating.
Do you keep in touch with your EF Academy classmates?
Yes, for example Anthony Yan and my roommate Julianne, Aurelia, Ritu and Iga. I visited Julianne in Norway last summer!
What is your favorite EF Academy memory?
I would definitely have to say the pie throwing  at the fundraising event during the Leukemia Awareness Week. It was fun to see all the teachers with pie on their faces.
What do you miss the most?
The distance to New York City – close enough to visit, but not constantly surrounded by it.
What is one thing that you learned at EF Academy that you found valuable for university? For work life? For your personal life?
Time management, which is especially important for college because you do a lot of things on your own.
What final tips would you give to current students?
Don’t procrastinate or skip classes.
Short questions:
Name: Maggie Teng
Age: 19
Nationality: Taiwanese
How many languages do you speak? Chinese and English
EF Academy campus: New York
Graduation years: 2015
Program: IB
Residence or host family: Residence
Favorite subject: Biology was fun and so was economics because of my interest in business.
Favorite teacher: Both of my favorite teachers, Mr. Barnes and Ms. London, helped me a lot. They not only supported me academically but also in terms of life advice. It was really nice to always be able to count on them. I visited Ms. London in September and had a picnic with her and her newborn baby. We are still in touch.
Favorite club/society: I was a part of the Discipline Committee meetings, which was under the Student Council. It was a great experience because I learned the importance of never judging others.
Which is the next country you want to visit?
Finland or Australia to visit my friends.
Who to interview next:
<ul>
<li>Bryam Lim</li>
<li>Anthony Yan</li>
</ul>

Maggie Teng, from Taiwan, graduated from EF Academy New York in 2015 and is currently studying Business at Babson College.

Advice from alumni: Maggie Teng - EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Maggie Teng ‹ EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Maggie Teng

Advice alumni maggie teng

Last weekend some of EF Academy Oxford were fortunate enough to see Mozart’s Requiem performed at the famous St Martin-in-the-Fields Church, which hosts some of the most prolific Classical music concerts in the country. Here first year student, Rosemary Lane, describes the experience:
A small group of students and staff went to see a performance of Mozart’s Requiem performed by the Belmont Ensemble in London at St. Martin in the Fields. We took the cozy X90 there and had a very quick dinner (for the students it was fast food sushi) and then took in the sights of Trafalgar Square on a Saturday night while waiting for our admission into the church. The church was nicely lit by candlelight and we sat in boxes by the side walls.
For the first hour they performed a variety of pieces by Handel and Mozart. A personal favourite of mine from the first hour, was Salzburg composed by Mozart, although it was nice to have Handel in the mix to offset the 2 distinct styles. We also heard a fairly new piece, meaning it was discovered in 2001, by Mozart, that I really enjoyed. The orchestra was composed of string and wind instruments, and was accompanied by 2 opera singers and a vocal choir.
After a short intermission, we went back into the church in order to bask in the sound waves of Mozart’s Requiem, which means a mass for the dead. The piece was historically controversial given the circumstances of its completion. The wife of Mozart, Constanze, wanted to collect the final commission for the piece but Mozart unfortunately died before he could finish it. So, she gave the piece to another composer to finish and kept the whole thing a secret.
Nonetheless, the piece was breathtaking and the hour spent with the orchestra and choir making their magic was blissful. It was a very emotional experience on my part, and I found myself coming out of the experience in a distinctly different mental state, although what that state may be, is still yet to be known.

EF Academy Oxford were fortunate enough to see Mozart’s Requiem performed at the famous St Martin-in-the-Fields Church.

EF Academy Oxford experience Mozart’s Requiem by Candlelight - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Oxford experience Mozart’s Requiem by Candlelight ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Oxford experience Mozart’s Requiem by Candlelight

Ef academy oxford experience mozarts requiem by candlelight

Gina Chang from Taiwan graduated from EF Academy New York in 2012 and from Michigan State University in 2015. After studying Media Information and working as an intern and apprentice in two prestigious positions in New York City, she moved to her home country where she decided to take a completely different career path. Read on to find out what Gina is doing now:
 
Full name: Gina Chang
Age: 22
Home country: Taiwan
Languages: Mandarin and English
EF Academy campus: New York
Program: IB Diploma
Grad year: 2012
Favorite clubs: Drama Club
Favorite subjects: Theater
University: Michigan State University, graduated December 2015 with a degree in Media Information
 
What was your first impression of EF Academy?
The campus was really beautiful and my first impression was that all of the teachers there were very nice and very passionate and so I felt comfortable there. There weren’t that many students in my year so I knew everyone including the faculty, staff and students. We got to know each other pretty quickly.
What did you enjoy about living in the residence?
You get to talk to people who are different from you. My first year, I had one roommate who was from Russia and the other one was from Norway. For me, that was very new because I had never met people from those places before. So it was very interesting. When you live together, you have a lot of time to talk about everything. I really enjoyed that because it was interesting to get to know people who are different.
What did you enjoy about the theater program?
I remember when we were choosing classes, I was deciding whether I should choose theater or if I should drop the art category and choose something else. I remember that moment and I asked Mrs. Borton about the theater class. I told her that I wasn’t an actress and that I was afraid of speaking in front of people, and she said that I could still choose her class so I thought I would give it a shot. That’s how I began theater.
In the first part of the year I was still trying to learn more about theater and trying to get out of my comfort zone because it was pretty terrifying to speak in front of people or even introduce myself. After a while, after I got to know my teacher and classmates, everything became really fun. I got to learn different things about theater, not just theory but also about plays and we got to see Broadway shows for free!
The Drama Club was even more fun because anyone could join the club and we would make crafts together and we met pretty much every day after school. Everyone became closer and closer and we were just like a big family. After a while, I liked theater because it was interesting, it was fun, and I liked the feeling of being part of a family. Another thing I enjoyed was that if you were in the theater program you had to act and you had to do one production behind the scenes. For acting, that was really terrifying for me because I had never acted before. In my year, we chose a really great script called “The Laramie Project” and that was a very powerful theater piece and movie. That was the first theater piece that I had ever acted in and it was a lot of work, but I enjoyed it a lot and that was one of my favorite productions that year. Another production I really enjoyed was Grease. We did that in my senior year and it was a big crew and we did a lot of stuff ourselves. Mrs. Borton and her husband helped us with the sets and costumes, and our biology teacher was our choreographer. We got to sing and we got to act. I was one of the dancers.
How did theater go together with your major?
When I was in university, I took a few subjects from the theater department and I did more acting and helped with some productions. That’s when I realized that there is a big gap between theater productions in university and in high school when it comes to the equipment and settings. The experience from high school helped me in those classes.
There is a connection between theater and my major, Media Information (TV and film production). In my junior and senior year at university, our school collaborated with M & Info and theater majors and they had their own script and actors and we made a film together. That was really amazing and a really great experience.
How would you describe your major?
My major was Media Information and my focus was TV and film production. I learned behind-the-scenes things like how to use cameras and editing and audio/lighting equipment, how to make a 10-minute interview, how to make a documentary and how to make a short film. The name of the program used to be “telecommunications” but they changed the name because it also included game design.
How did you choose your current university?
I was accepted to a couple universities and I didn’t really know where to go because I never had a chance to go to the school and see it for myself. I was talking about this with my math teacher and she said that she was from Michigan and went to Michigan State and she described the campus to me. My dad also wanted me to go to a bigger university because he believes that there are more opportunities there, so that’s how I chose Michigan State. I have to admit, I didn’t really like it my first year. It’s a college town and it’s in Michigan so it’s rural and I’m a city girl. It was very different. I started making friends and that made the difference. Then I started to get into football, a very traditional American college activity. Since I’ve graduated, I think back and I definitely don’t regret going there.
What are you doing now?   
I moved back to Taiwan in October 2016. I work at a fitness studio as a personal trainer. But before I moved back to Taiwan I was in New York City for a while. I moved there in January after I graduated. I did a video internship for four months and then I was involved in concert production for another four months. The things I did in New York were more related to my major, but after I moved back to Taiwan I changed direction.
What is the accomplishment you are proudest of?
The time that I was in NY after I graduated – I did a lot in those 10 months. I did a lot of video things and I learned a lot about. I’m proud of everything I did during that time.
During the video internship I did for the first four months in New York, I helped with filming theater productions. And then after that I edited those footages. I edited probably at least six different shows. I really enjoyed it and I learned a lot about editing and I got to see free shows, so that was amazing.
Then I worked as an apprentice in concert production. I had interned with the organization the previous year and my boss called me back to offer me the apprenticeship. I was proud of that because I didn’t know much about concert production when I started – you start building a stage, then set the lights and speakers, and you help with loading and unloading. I learned a lot there too.
Last year, I got a really good opportunity from one of my friends. She was the stage manager in concert production and she emailed and said that they needed someone to shadow the assistant stage manager so they had a back-up. I did that and I learned the job of assistant stage management and I actually got to run the show a couple times. That’s originally what I really wanted to do after I graduated from high school so that was really that I got to do it and run the show with her.
What is your dream for your future?
For now, I would say that I want to become a really good personal trainer because that’s my job right now and I’m really passionate about it. I have a really good boss who is willing to teach me and help me along the way. I also like to exercise and work out so I think it’s already very good for me right now that I get to do a job that I enjoy. I want to keep improving to the point where I have my own students and I can help them achieve their goals and become a trainer that my students really like and enjoy working out with. Having a good job and performing well in that job is my main focus.
How did you change direction?
I started doing aerial yoga and I really, really liked it. Once I knew I was moving back to Taiwan, I started doing some research to see if there are any fitness studios that teach aerial yoga or something related to that activity. I found this studio and when I researched them I saw that they had aerial ballet training and it sounded so interesting. I asked them about it and it turns out they are two different exercises but at the time I thought they were somewhat similar. I did the teacher training and that’s how I met my boss. After arriving in Taiwan, I was lost for a little bit because I wasn’t quite sure what I wanted to do; I wasn’t sure if I wanted to stay in video production or if I wanted to do theater production. I didn’t really have many connections in Taiwan because I spent most of the time in the U.S. and New York. It took me a little while to figure out what I wanted to do, or what I could actually do. I spent a lot of time going to classes, different workout classes. I had a lot of free time. I realized that I enjoyed exercise and working out and so I thought, what if I could find a job within the fitness field so that I can make some money and keep doing it.

Gina Chang from Taiwan graduated from EF Academy New York in 2012 and from Michigan State University in 2015.

Advice from alumni: Gina Chang - EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Gina Chang ‹ EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Gina Chang

Advice alumni gina chang

Lisa Weihser, a German law student who graduated from EF Academy Oxford in 2012. In this Q&A, Lisa talks about her internships and has some great advice for current students and for those who have already moved on to university. Read on to find out how she chose her university in the Netherlands and how you can follow her path:
How did you hear about EF Academy and why did you choose to attend?
I attended a regular high school back in Germany and I was considering completing my Abitur (high school diploma). However, the school that I went to did not offer languages such as French anymore as the 
demand was too low. Since I didn’t want to do only sciences and mathematics, I wanted to change schools either within Germany or abroad. Thus, I did some research and I decided to go to France with EF for a high school exchange year.  After that year, I had the choice to re-do that year in Germany or continue to study abroad because the German system wouldn’t recognize my year in France. That was when I learned about EF Academy – EF’s international boarding school – and decided to go to Oxford.
What’s your favorite memory from EF Academy?
My favorite memory from EF Academy is the people that I met there. In particular, I was a part of a group of five girls from Germany, Norway, Israel, the Netherlands and Denmark. Since we were all living on campus, we spent so much time together and became very close.  We literally did everything together and we created so many common memories. To this day, we are still in touch despite the fact that we now are spread out around the world.
What is one thing that you learned from EF Academy that you found valuable for university? For work life? For your personal life?
I learned so much during my time at EF Academy. The most important thing that I learned through the experience was how to be independent. We got a lot of help from the school but it was not like we had our parents around so we still needed to figure out many things by ourselves. This has helped me follow the path that I am on right now.
What university did you go to after you graduated from EF Academy? What do you study and why?
When looking at universities while I was at EF Academy, I started with looking at bachelor programs in London and the UK. I wanted to study law because I found it to be more specific than business. However, I wanted to study international law and not national law which turned out to be quite difficult to find. That was when one of my best friends from EF Academy, Victorine de Milliano, started to research different university programs for me in her home country, the Netherlands. She came across University of Groningen which offered a program in International and European Law. It seemed perfect for me so I went for it and it turned out to be a great experience for me. Groningen is a real student city and probably above 80% of the students in my program were from abroad. The Netherlands are very popular among international students as most of the courses are in English and the tuition fee is much lower even though the quality of education is high. Moreover, people from the Netherlands are very open-minded so it is rather easy to integrate. For me, the University of Groningen was the perfect next step since I believe it would have been hard to go back to Germany since I was so used to being in an international environment after EF Academy.
What have you been doing since then?
I am currently doing a two-year masters program at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies, majoring in International Law with a particular focus on International Humanitarian Law and International Refugee Law.
I have tried to gain practical experience through different internships. My first internship was with the Permanent Mission of Cost Rica and it lasted for one semester. I found it through my university and I was basically helping them at the Human Rights Council at the United Nations, as well as the Business and Human Rights Forum. It was a very interesting experience since I got to understand the work that diplomats actually do.
During my last semester, I participated in a project called “Law without Walls” that was initiated by the Miami Law School. The aim was to make the legal profession more innovative by exposing law students to the business world. During this project, I formed a legal start-up together with two law students from China and India. We were given the task of reimagining the admissions process for law school that is currently very traditional, where the candidates only need to send in their CV, cover letter, grades and potential recommendations. We came up with a new application website, where prospective students could ask current students about their experiences. We did not pursue the project further but I am still very happy with the experience because I learned a lot about web development and teamwork. Moreover, we also got to go to Miami to present solutions, which was fun.
Right now, I am interning full-time at the Geneva Center for Security policy. It is a very practical experience during which I learn about counter-terrorism, migration and radicalization. For example, I got to co-organize a course on how to prevent radicalization and violent terrorism.
What is your dream for the future?
I recently found out that I was admitted to start my traineeship for NATO in Brussels, as part of the legal advisor team. I had to apply one and a half years in advance in order to get the security clearance and everything. There were several rounds of interviews and in the end, I got it! I will start working in December 2017, which is very exciting!
In the long-term, the most important thing for me is to be happy. I don’t want to become a workaholic although it is of course important for me to be happy with my job. Balance between life and work is essential for me.
What is your advice to current EF Academy student who want to do what you do?
– Pursue your own path: For me, it was always important to find my own path. Whenever I wanted to do something, I would just do it.
– Get involved: If you want to study law, join for example ELSA (European Law Students Association). They organize a lot of summer courses and seminars, which is a good way to meet people that will work in the field in the future. Remember that the people that you meet during your studies will most likely be your future colleagues or even your bosses, so start building your network early.
– Chase your dreams and don’t be scared:  My philosophy is that you will never know if you could have made it unless you try. Someone once told me: Whenever you apply for a job, don’t be afraid that you won’t get it. It will never be a failure because then it probably wasn’t the job for you. It was the same for me when it came to universities, I applied for 15 universities when I was at EF Academy Oxford. I didn’t mind all the work that I had to put in to write all the different motivation letters, because in the end I felt that it paid off because I could make the decision myself.
Who are the most successful alumni that you know of?
Victorine de Milliano: She is the Dutch girl that I mentioned earlier. Since she graduated from her bachelor’s program, she has traveled to Canada and Mexico and worked for “Doctors without Borders” in order to figure out what she wants to do. She has always been a person that I look up to and we have encouraged each other a lot throughout the years.
Any advice to fellow alumni at universities and starting their careers?
– Try to gain as much practical experience through internships as possible: Try to do as many internship as you can, even if they are unpaid sometimes. However, I would only recommend to accept unpaid internships if they are combinable with your studies.
– Use your university’s career service if they have one: Usually the universities are very well connected and they can probably point you in the right direction. Professors are also very important. If you know that there is a topic or subject that you would like to gain some practical experience in, talk to the professor that is teaching that particular subject. They can probably give you some advice or even have some contacts for you to get in touch with.
– LinkedIn is very important these days not only to keep in touch with people who you already know but also to get in touch with new people. If you find someone that seems interesting, be bold and don’t be afraid to reach out. You have nothing to lose, right?
– When it comes to applications, make sure to spend time on revising and refreshing your motivation letter. Everyone has grades and a CV so I think the motivation letter is a great place to actually stand out and to show how you are different. I always try to be very personal in my letters and connect my previous job to the future job and describe how I could add value. Make sure to eliminate all spelling mistakes because otherwise, you go straight to the bin.
– Don’t forget to tailor your application: A lot of students send so many motivation letters that they forget to tailor for the job description. Make sure to say what they are looking for to increase your chances. In some international organizations, they even have specific words that they are looking for. That is why I sometimes look at the LinkedIn profile of the people that already works there so I can tailor the lingo.
Short questions:
<ul>
<li>Name: Lisa Weihser</li>
<li>Age: 23</li>
<li>Nationality: German</li>
<li>How many languages do you speak? English, German, French, Dutch, Italian</li>
<li>EF Academy campus: Oxford</li>
<li>Graduation years: 2012</li>
<li>Program: IB</li>
<li>Residence or host family: Residence</li>
<li>Favorite subject: French – I lived in France before and it was really nice to have some practical experience in speaking French.</li>
<li>Favorite teacher: Joan Wilisoni, my biology teacher, because she was so good at making the subject understandable. Moreover, Joan was not only a teacher, but she was also always available for us, even outside the classroom.</li>
<li>Favorite club / society: The Yearbook Club – we compiled the yearbook for our class, it was a great experience during which I learned about everything from photography to filmmaking.</li>
<li>Final thoughts?
<ul>
<li>A small reminder to everyone to keep in touch; let’s not forget about that just because we are living in different places!</li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>

Lisa Weihser, a German law student who graduated from EF Academy Oxford in 2012.

Advice from alumni: Lisa Weihser - EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Lisa Weihser ‹ EF Academy Blog

Advice from alumni: Lisa Weihser

Advice alumni lisa weihser

As spring has begun to take bloom over EF Academy New York, seniors and underclassmen are taking their IB and IGCSE exams. In the arena of sports, it seemed as if it was just another two-week spell for athletic competitions held at EF Academy New York but the school just completed its 3rd Spirit Week hosted by the National Honors Society. Finals are peeking their head around the corner and senior departures are quickly approaching, giving students hope that summer isn’t trailing too far behind.
There’s no better way to help reduce the stress of the student body than to have a few friendly inter-campus competitions. Following the ‘Class vs Class’ NHS Spirit Week competition games, EF Academy New York held a volleyball match on Friday that initiated the beginning of an eventful intramural sports week.
The volleyball match was set up under regulation guidelines: six vs six with only three games played. The next event took place the following Wednesday – an indoor soccer tournament for the Global Footy Club on campus. The soccer matches were played under these simple guidelines:
<ol>
<li>First to two goals (or a match played in 7 minutes)</li>
<li>If you win twice, you go back into the rotation</li>
<li>The winner of the tournament is chosen according to the team with the most wins after 90 minutes</li>
</ol>
Like the volleyball game, the inclusions entailed a majority of varsity athletes, however, there was a coed mixture of participation with ages ranging from English preparation student to house parents. In total, there were six teams of five players from various cultural backgrounds.
The final tournament was a basketball tournament in which a team of five varsity players (who’d won the Washington Interscholastic Activities Association), decided to hold the court and demonstrate why and how they ended their season in such a successful manner. That Friday, a few students from the Global Footy Club were given the opportunity to take a trip to an indoor soccer facility to play a few five-a-side matches and experience bubble soccer.
To cap off the week, the Global Footy Club along with other intramural participants were taken to a New York City Football Club match. At the match, students witnessed David Villa score his 400th goal for the club, EF Academy’s name appeared on the Yankee Stadium scoreboard. After the match, we were given the opportunity to step onto the field to take a penalty kick.
At the end of the two weeks, the main purpose of the intramural activities was to emphasize the essential element of sports: to have fun.
 
Written by: Adrian Burgess, Assistant Athletic Directors

There's no better way to help reduce the stress of the student body than to have a few friendly inter-campus competitions.

Intramural sports week recap - EF Academy Blog

Intramural sports week recap ‹ EF Academy Blog

Intramural sports week recap

Nhs spirit week recap

The United States of America is a vast country, filled with many different landscapes and cultures. Because of all the variance across the different regions, it can be helpful to break down some locations and learn more about what really makes them so different. The East coast and West coast are extremely different places when it comes to lifestyles, and each cater to different types of people.
<h3>1. City Life</h3>
One of the most major comparisons between the two coasts is their cities, namely New York and Los Angeles. Despite both having internationally-recognized acronyms, these places could not be more different. As with many large cities on the East Coast, New York is a very compact place.
While the island of Manhattan is large, it pales in comparison to the vastness of Los Angeles. In New York, you can take the subway from one end of the city to the other (or even to Brooklyn) in around an hour, while in Los Angeles, you could spend hours in the car (and the famous LA traffic) to cross the city.
<h3>2. Lifestyle</h3>
Many East coast cities (especially New York) are known for their fast-paced approaches to life. People are often hurrying from place to place, walking quickly to catch the subway or the bus, trying to accomplish everything on their to-do lists. While this lifestyle can sometimes be challenging to adjust to, it is exhilarating to be surrounded by the hustle and bustle of so many people going places and doing things.
If the “go-go-go” pace of the East Coast sounds overwhelming, the West coast may be a perfect fit. On the West coast, people are a lot more laid-back. Nature and health are often a huge focus there, so it should come as no surprise that they try to stay very zen and get out to their favorite parks and locations. Whether you chalk it up to the sunshine and palm trees (or to the neverending traffic), West coast people are rarely in a rush.
<h3>3. History</h3>
It’s often said that the East coast has more evident European roots. As Europeans first landed in the East and began building their colonies, much of this coast’s architecture and its smaller towns bear striking resemblance to the European homes of those who built it. The architecture is like a walk through the history books. Some of the most historic sites include the Liberty Bell in Philadelphia, the Lincoln Memorial and White House in Washington, D.C., and Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia. In New York alone, you can learn about immigration at Ellis Island and see the influences of so many cultures all around. Really, everywhere you look you can spot a building or place that has historical significance.
The West coast’s history is diverse and every bit as boisterous as one might imagine. If we look back into its history, it kicks off with the American frontier period, the hardships of the Oregon Trail, the “cowboy life” of the Wild West and the country-wide frenzy caused by the Gold Rush. Mix in a few wars over land and religious freedoms, and you’ve got the powder keg that lead to some defining moments in American history. But it wasn’t all outlaws, cowboys, and violence. The early West helped move the nation forward into new ideas and identities. It could be argued that an innovative spirit, quest for tranquility, respect for nature, and love of diverse cultures are all positive outcomes we see today from the West’s wild past.
<h3>4. Cultural influence</h3>
New York is a pivotal space for culture, especially in the forms of music, theater, and fashion. People come from all over the world to participate in and enjoy Broadway productions or attend performances by the city’s orchestras and ballets. In addition, New York Fashion Week happens twice a year, where designers, models, and other creative fashionistas descend upon the city to unveil new lines for the upcoming seasons.
When you look at big-budget filmmaking and TV production in the US, New York is a key player but Hollywood is known as the place for TV/movie stars. In Los Angeles, you can even take tours around the city to see the homes of famous actors, and visit filming locations of various movies. The Pacific Northwest helped kick off the country’s beloved coffeehouse culture. Most notably, with the world-famous Starbucks, founded in Seattle by University of San Francisco grads in the ’70s.
<img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-14329" height="379" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/hollywood.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/hollywood.jpg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/hollywood-300x200.jpg 300w" width="568">
<h3>5. Climate</h3>
The Atlantic and Pacific oceans bring very contrasting climates to the two coasts. In New York, long, snowy winters are contrasted by hot summers. Most of the East coast experiences all four seasons, while the West coast has a very different climate. In Southern California, it is sunny and warm all year round with the northern part being colder and foggier. In the Pacific Northwest (basically everything north of San Francisco), winter comes in the form of rain and mist with the occasional snowstorm.
<h3>6. Nature & the outdoors</h3>
The great thing about the United States is that, between the coasts, you can find basically any type of landscape you could want! There are beautiful sandy beaches, vast deserts, snowy mountain ranges, and lush green forests. The National Parks on each coast are extraordinary, and if you enjoy hiking, skiing, or swimming, you’ll find adventures around every corner. The East coast is known for the Appalachian mountains, which stretch all the way up the coast to Maine. In California, the Sierra Nevada mountains are a great place to hike, too – but you can also surf or hike along the beautiful rocky coastline at places like Big Sur.

The East coast and West coast are extremely different places when it comes to lifestyles, and each cater to different types of people.

East Coast v. West Coast – What’s so different? - EF Academy Blog

East Coast v. West Coast – What’s so different? ‹ EF Academy Blog

East Coast v. West Coast – What’s so different?

East coast west coast whats so different

EF Academy Torbay students celebrated the end of their year in style at the Torbay Graduation ceremony and ball. This year we held the ceremony and the ball at the Palace Hotel overlooking the beautiful Torbay and Devon coastline.
Situated among 25 acres of beautifully landscaped gardens extending to the sea, The Palace is one of the largest and most prestigious hotels in Torquay. With comfortable lounges, beautiful surroundings and old world charm, this Torquay hotel still echoes many of the characteristics of its notable heritage as the home to the Bishop of Exeter.
This year we had a record number of parents attend who were greeted in school by our Deputy Head a great bunch of student helpers who gave them a guided tour of the school and offered them refreshments in the Library where we had an exhibition of students photography work.
The ceremony took place in two parts for the upper and lower school students and we had a member of our alumni who came for the day and gave a wonderful speech about their experience with EF Academy and how it has shaped their life.
We were also joined by the local MP for Torbay Kevin Foster who took time out from his schedule to meet parents and students to congratulate them on their success.
The ceremony was a very moving experience for many students and parents but it also had a little bit of fun particularly when it came to the head boy and girl speeches.
The Palace Hotel is a wonderful venue for an evening ball as it opens onto the stunning grounds. The students and the staff looked amazing in their evening gowns and dinner jackets and the atmosphere was great.
As has become traditional we had some great student performers who had been practicing for months as was clear. They really got the crowd going before the DJ finished off the night with a great set.
A great end to the year and as always fantastic to see the students celebrate their achievements together.

EF Academy Torbay students celebrated the end of their year in style at the Torbay Graduation ceremony and ball.

EF Academy Torbay graduation - EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Torbay graduation ‹ EF Academy Blog

EF Academy Torbay graduation

Ef academy torbay graduation

Vitoria Fiore graduated from <a href="https://www.efacademy.org/new-york/">EF Academy New York</a> in 2014 and went on to study fashion at Parsons School of Design in NYC. Vitoria spoke to us about her experience at EF Academy, her time at Parsons, her life as an Instagram influencer, and more.
<h4>How did you find out about EF Academy, and what made you decide that it was the best choice for you?</h4>
I actually found out about EF Academy from a friend whose brother had attended school there. She knew that she wanted to go to university outside of Brazil, so she decided to leave and study in the US. When she told me that, I felt like I wanted to go with her. Before I even talked to my parents, I called EF to learn more about the program. I spoke to an admissions representative who immediately took away all the doubts and fears I was having about studying outside of Brazil. In Brazil, our high school and university system is a bit different. By leaving for my final year of high school, I felt like I would be losing time, starting university later than my friends.
The person at the EF office explained to me that with this opportunity, I would not lose anything, I would only gain. My English would improve, I would get to meet people from all over the world, and live in New York. It was then that I realized that with opportunities like this there is absolutely nothing to lose. Honestly, the support of the admissions representative here in Brazil is what sold my family and me on going to EF Academy New York. The staff was so helpful and really made me feel so safe about my decision. I was 100% sure I was going to the right place. It made all the difference to know that I had the full support not only from my parents but also from the staff.
<h4>How did your experience at EF Academy influence the decisions that you made about university and what kind of career you wanted to pursue?</h4>
When I went to EF Academy, I initially thought I only wanted to stay outside of Brazil for one year. I really didn’t want to stay far from my friends and family. I thought I would go to EF Academy, graduate, go back to Brazil for college and move on with my life.
During the spring term, my university advisor, Lauren, called me to her office and said, “Vitoria, I know that you want to go back to Brazil but I think you should apply to at least one college here.” I told her that I really didn’t want to. Of course I love New York, but Brazil is my home. She told me that I didn’t have to go to a school in the US, but that she wanted me to complete one application. Again, I thought, what do I have to lose? I decided that if I was going to apply somewhere, I might as well try for my dream school. Although I didn’t think I would get in, I decided to give it a shot and apply to Parsons.
Whenever people ask me about how I got into Parsons, the two things I say are: EF Academy and my university advisor. A lot of colleges are hard to get into, but if you have someone there to hold your hand, to support you and encourage you, that’s incredible. That’s exactly what Lauren did. She was by my side through the whole process, helping me with the application, assisting me with editing my essays and giving her opinion on what I was writing. If it wasn’t for her help, I’m sure that I wouldn’t have gotten in. When I opened the email from Parsons and saw that I got accepted, Lauren was the first person that I wanted to tell. She was so excited and to this day I know she truly changed my life.
<h4>Before you came to EF Academy New York, did you know that art and design were things you wanted to pursue for university?</h4>
I already knew that I wanted to work in fashion. When I came to EF Academy we had the choice to study theatre, music or art. I had a hard time deciding among the three, but then I saw the art classroom. When I saw Miss Eddis’s art room, I wanted to spend the rest of my life there. I think the environment of the classroom just really pulled me in.
I think I’ve always had an “art” side that I wanted to pursue. In Brazil, I didn’t really have the opportunity to explore that. At EF Academy I had the chance to explore art more and I loved it. Being able to share and learn from a group of very talented students and an amazing teacher (Ms. Eddis) was amazing. My interest in art really flourished at EF Academy and my experience helped shape where I am today.
<h4>What are some of your successes, things that you’re really proud of accomplishing, both at EF Academy and at Parsons?</h4>
Well, improving my English was a huge success, as it was really bad before going to EF Academy. Getting into Parsons was also such a success. Going to Parsons really gave me the confidence that I needed to pursue other things in fashion and design, like interning for a stylist at Vogue and working at Cosmopolitan in Brazil. It was always my dream to work in a magazine, so I’m really thankful for the connections I made through Parsons that helped me have these experiences. I’m also really proud of my <a href="https://www.instagram.com/notthatcliche/">Instagram</a>.
<h4>What are your plans now that you’ve graduated from Parsons?</h4>
I am exploring social media and how that can intersect with my interest in fashion. I recently did a collaboration with a fashion brand on Instagram where I got to style a few different looks and share them on my channel, which was really fun. That was a huge encouragement that I’m headed in the right direction with my career interests, and that I have what it takes to make Instagram into a real career. I really enjoy engaging with my followers and sharing content, but at this point I’m not quite ready to make it my full-time job. I do plan to continue working on my Instagram, though – maybe it will grow into something bigger!
For the sake of my resume and my own personal experience, I want to find a job in marketing. At this point, I’m planning to start looking for jobs in New York. I really want to find something in marketing, ideally in an agency, where I can work with fashion publications. I know that going to Parsons and having a lot of references has been so helpful to continue making connections and exploring career options. As I mentioned, my experience at Parsons has allowed me to meet more people in the fashion world and understand more about how the industry operates.
<h4>You have a really cool and unique situation in that you and your brother both chose to attend EF Academy New York. Could you also talk a bit about your brother’s experience?</h4>
My brother came here one year after me. When he came to my graduation, he really loved the space and the ability to choose which subjects to focus on and which classes you want to take (since that’s not really an option in Brazil). After visiting me again when I started at Parsons, he decided he wanted to move and sort of do the same thing that I did. However, I only studied there for a year, and he applied earlier, in time to study there for two years and complete the IB program.
My brother’s experience was definitely more planned. I would say he learned from my “mistakes.” I decided so last-minute, I didn’t even know what the IB program was. I even applied to Parsons completely on a whim. My brother, on the other hand, had a clear goal and a plan. When he decided to go to EF Academy, he already knew that he wanted to study the IB program. This would give him a better chance at getting in when applying to universities in the US and Europe. He knew he needed to do whatever it would take to get there, whether it was volunteer work, extracurricular activities, or writing the perfect essay.
I think we both have such different ideas of success and what paths we want to take, but we both really found our place at EF Academy. We definitely complement each other in terms of what we want and what we’re working toward. I’m way more into art and design and fashion, and he’s into statistics and economics and math. Having such a strong foundation from attending EF Academy has been invaluable in both of our journeys.
<img alt="" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-15040" height="757" sizes="(max-width: 568px) 100vw, 568px" src="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/65736578_3366477226711580_641925992448786432_n.jpg" srcset="https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/65736578_3366477226711580_641925992448786432_n.jpg 568w, https://www.ef.com/wwen/blog/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/65736578_3366477226711580_641925992448786432_n-225x300.jpg 225w" width="568">
<h4>Is there any advice you would give to someone who’s going to start school here at EF Academy New York?</h4>
Coming from Sao Paulo and being used to a big city, living in Thornwood was a very different reality for me. Sometimes I would complain about being bored, or wish I was in New York. But, now that I am in New York, I often wish to be somewhere more quiet with a lot of nature and an open sky.
I would definitely recommend to take advantage of every opportunity at EF Academy and in the surrounding areas. Set goals and really use all of your resources to the fullest. All the advisors, teachers and staff are there to support you and help you out. When you feel stressed or worried, take a deep breath. Sit in the grass, look at the sky, and think about the environment you’re in. This whole experience is unique, getting to live and learn with your friends, so don’t take it for granted. Take it all in, because you’re going to miss it.

Vitoria Fiore graduated from EF Academy New York in 2014 and went on to study fashion at Parsons School of Design in NYC. Vitoria spoke to us about her experience at EF Academy, her time at Parsons, her life as an Instagram influencer, and more. How did you find out about EF Academy, and what …

Alumni Feature: Vitoria Fiore, fashion enthusiast and Instagram influencer - EF Academy Blog

Alumni Feature: Vitoria Fiore, fashion enthusiast and Instagram influencer ‹ EF Academy Blog

Alumni Feature: Vitoria Fiore, fashion enthusiast and Instagram influencer

Ef academy vitoria fiore fashion

Innovative and creative minds from EF Academy New York recently contributed their talents to the MIT Hardware Hackathon (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) entitled “MakeMIT”. The eight students who attended split up into teams, putting their considerable technology prowess to work on improving the health tracking features of the Apple Watch or creating a binary game similar to pinball for the computer. The students were mentored and led by current students attending MIT. The MIT students acted as mentors and ranged from the undergraduate to medical school level.
Science teacher Ashley Fetzer led the group to Boston for the event and was very impressed with the group of students who attended the event. No experience was necessary to attend, however many were members of her Coding Club which meets weekly on EF Academy’s campus. Two IB Y1 students, Aurora Sauar and Ingunn Flovig had never attended a Hackathon before but were very excited to experience their event. IBY2 student Ilia Tikhomirov was one of the more experienced members of the group, having previously attended a Hackathon event at Dartmouth College.
The group spent the first day of the trip learning from mentors. On day 2, it was straight to work with their teams made up from schools across the region. The Hackathon took a “Silicon Valley” approach to learning – giving students a small amount of time to create something great. The students had a lot of flexibility and an open assignment to work with – keeping the pressure and creativity high. The group running the hackathon teaches people to code in many locations around the United States.
Ilia Tikhomirov and Rudradev Roy, both Hackathon veterans described the event as fun and commented, “We met a lot of people with the same interests. It was a difficult and challenging event and we enjoyed having the help of the MIT mentors.” They added, “The event was competitive but inclusive, and we were able to build relationships across schools and teams.” Several of the students on the trip see Computer Science as a potential future college major or as a base for designing apps, working in programming or starting their own business.
After completing their work, each team presented to a panel of judges who explored the capability of the project. MakeMIT is an annual event promoting innovation and geared toward those who are excited and passionate about designing and building. Over 250 student from around the region participated in the event. Students in attendance also had time to see the MIT campus, meet professors and even make a visit to the MIT Museum while on campus!

EF Academy New York recently contributed their talents to the MIT Hardware Hackathon (Massachusetts Institute of Technology) entitled “MakeMIT”.

Students attend Hackathon at MIT - EF Academy Blog

Students attend Hackathon at MIT ‹ EF Academy Blog

Students attend Hackathon at MIT

Students attend hackathon mit

In the spirit of International Education Week, we are posting articles that highlight how high school students can feel empowered by engaging in an international education. This text was written by EF Academy New York Student Ambassador, Samie Freedman.
Every American high school student knows what it’s like to go to school and not understand.  Whether it be calculus, biochemistry, French grammar, or poetry, we all have subjects that fly over our heads and torment us, clouding our minds with a thick fog of bewilderment.  I am a high school senior, and confusion has become a close companion of mine.  But my case may be a little different.
Walking through the halls of my school, chaos overwhelms those whose ears are not prepared.  Korean, Arabic, Portuguese, and Norwegian whiz past me on my path to the cafeteria, spinning around my head and bouncing off the walls in a whirlwind of jumbled sounds.  Chinese and Thai trail closely behind, and these are only some of the languages that surround me on a day-to-day basis.  I am one of the few Americans to attend my international school, and studying in such a diverse environment has allowed me to become accustomed to not understanding.
The array of foreign languages I encounter certainly contributes to this aura of confusion, but the greater part of it comes from the vast amount of cultures present at my school.  I can now say I have friends from around twenty different countries, and speaking with them has opened a window into a world of new perspectives that never existed in my small, horse-ridden hometown.  Our conversations range from whether is it polite to say “bless you” after sneezing, to how political or royal authorities are perceived in our countries, and this has shown me that in the presence of cultural differences, my idea of what is “right” is never absolute.  Additionally, studying in the United States with international students has allowed me to look at my home country from a different perspective.  I now understand how aspects of my culture that I have grown up viewing as completely normal can be sources of confusion or annoyance for foreigners, and I am left questioning my own beliefs and traditions.  While this constant dissection of my own culture brings about internal confusion, this uncertainty has only propelled me forwards.
Perplexity has become one of my greatest motivations, prompting me to learn as much as I can about the world around me.  The amazing thing about studying at an international school is that because I have knowledge about dozens of different countries at my fingertips, my curiosity stretches way beyond the classroom.  Even sitting down at the lunch table with my friends is an opportunity to learn something new.  I now am familiar with the political controversies erupting in countries I had never heard of before coming to this school, I have gained a deeper understanding of religions I had never been exposed to, and I am filled with the desire to learn more.  My experience has taught me that I can gain so much from simply interacting with people who are different from me, and I have come to appreciate the value of knowledge that comes in forms other than class notes and textbooks.
While studying at an international school has allowed me to learn from my peers, it has also given me the opportunity to become a teacher of sorts.  I have a unique role in my school, because as one of the few people from the United States in my class, it is my job to act as an ambassador of the culture that surrounds our secluded campus.  American history, politics, and cultural traditions are all topics I have discussed with my friends, and I have tried to help them make sense of the complexities of the country we are living in.  Another important goal of mine has been to break down certain negative images that foreign students have about the United States.  I know that a common American stereotype centers around my country’s ignorance and ethnocentrism, and in order to represent the United States in a more positive light, I have tried to be as open minded as possible to contrasting beliefs and opinions.
My experience studying at an international high school has been extremely rewarding, as not only has it helped me become a more open-minded and curious student, but it has given me tools to succeed in the future.  My teachers are always telling me about the steps I need to take to become academically prepared for college.  However, I think there is something more to be said about the importance of personal preparation—gaining social skills, learning how to thrive in uncomfortable environments, turning failure and confusion into something positive.  These abilities are crucial to one’s success in the world after high school, and I think that living and learning with students from around the world has accelerated my development in each of these areas.  I now know how to work with people who think differently than me, and most importantly, I have learned how to use our differences to enrich my social and school relationships.  I know how to accept other people’s opinions while still staying true to what I believe in, and I have learned to let my struggles fuel me, rather than hold me back.  I am proud of the person I have become over the course of my high school career, and I know that if it hadn’t been for my experience in this international environment, I wouldn’t be who I am today.
 
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Surrounded by 100 acres of landscaped grounds, the EF Academy New York boarding school in the US offers students a huge variety of activities to take part in and plenty of space for them to pursue their passions. Experience a traditional american boarding school education in New York in an international setting that will inspire, transform and empower you.

In the spirit of International Education Week, we are posting articles that highlight high school students empowered by an international education.

One American’s perspective of an international environment - EF Academy Blog

One American’s perspective of an international environment ‹ EF Academy Blog

One American’s perspective of an international environment

One americans perspective international environment

Bernard Tsang, from Hong Kong, graduated from EF Academy Oxford in 2014 and is currently studying Economics at Warwick University. Learn more about our featured alum:
Why did you choose to attend EF Academy?
At my previous school in Hong Kong, we always received news about EF’s summer school. I thought it sounded interesting so I spent one summer at Isle of Wight and in Torquay, UK, to learn English. I liked the environment and the people in the UK, so when my parents asked me if I wanted to go abroad to study I decided to go to EF Academy in Oxford. Everything went very fast – I think it took two days to make the final decision. The driving force was that I felt that I could not do well in Hong Kong and I needed to get out of my comfort zone and change. The environment in Hong Kong made me more dependent on other people and I rarely made decisions for myself. I felt that I needed to change this and in order to do that I needed to change the environment I was in. After two years at EF Academy Oxford, I really transformed; I became more independent and started making decisions while taking my future into consideration.
What is your favorite EF Academy memory?
It must be the Christmas party during my second year at EF Academy. I sung a song and played guitar and participated in a group performance. I really liked the feeling of being together and having fun.
What do you miss the most?
Without a doubt, the teachers. Compared to my EF Academy teachers, my university professors don’t care as much about the students. It is much more about individual studies. At EF Academy, I felt that the teachers really wanted to know me and cared about me; they would come by and ask me questions to make sure I understood. If I had problems or issues, I always had someone to talk to.
What is one thing that you learned from EF Academy that you found valuable for university? For work life? For your personal life?
First of all, they provided me with a good academic base. The teachers were really good and they helped me understand and prepare for my exams. Thanks to them – and a lot of studying – I scored A*A*AA on my A-Level exams.
EF Academy also provided me with the opportunity to interact with people from different countries and who had different beliefs. This gave me an understanding of what distinguishes other cultures and I learned how to get along with people with different backgrounds. At university, there are many international students and my experience at EF Academy prepared me for it. If I would have stayed in Hong Kong, I would only have been interacting with other people from Hong Kong and it would not have helped me improve my communication skills.
Which university did you go to afterwards? What did you study and why?
I am currently studying Economics at Warwick University. I really like macroeconomics, since I find it very interesting how one can use models to describe different and complex situations in the world. It also feels very relevant because it has very much to do with human behavior.
When choosing my university, I had to decide between Exeter and Warwick. In the end, I chose Warwick because it was ranked higher and, more importantly, I really liked the campus when I visited during the “Open House.”
Cy Webber, a university guidance counselor at EF Academy, helped me a lot with my university application. He let me write and go through everything myself but he would support me a lot, for example, with the personal statement. The best thing about EF Academy’s university guidance is that the counselors are really experts on university applications, meaning that they know exactly what universities are looking for. This enabled them to tell me what I should emphasize and reduce focus on in my applications. This is very important in the UK, where academic grades are important but it is equally important to show your other skills.
What do you want to do next?
I would like to learn more about the banking sector, in particular investment banking. My goal is to get an internship with one of the big banks in London within the corporate finance or merger & acquisitions sectors. In the long run, I would like to go back to Hong Kong and work at Hong Kong Monetary Authority, which is basically like the central bank of Hong Kong.
Tips for current students that want to study what you study?
Be open-minded – Knowledge can never be taken away from you and nothing you learn will be useless. You will certainly find a use for it later.
Be prepared – Opportunities will be given to those who are prepared and have the ability to take advantage of them! Make sure to study hard, but spend a reasonable amount of time outside of school as well.
Do you keep in touch with your EF Academy classmates?
Yes, my closest friends are Kathleen Valencia Horton, Kin Pui Lau and Jason Yuen.
What final tips would you give to current students?
Be confident – have faith in yourself and trust your own decisions.
Don’t regret – make decisions that you won’t regret later. I think your attitude can determine how far you go.
Who are the most successful alumni that you know of?
Calvin Zhen from Hong Kong: He is doing Accounting and Finance at Warwick. He got really good grades while managing a lot of other things as well.
Short questions:
Name: Bernard Tsang
Age: 20
Nationality: Hong Kong
Current university: Warwick University
Current major: Economics
How many languages do you speak? Cantonese, Mandarin, English
EF Academy campus: Oxford
Graduation years:2014
Program: A-Levels (physics, economics, mathematics, further mathematics)
Residence or host family: 1st year residence and 2nd year host family
Favorite subject: Economics, because I find it very interesting because of the human behavior aspect. This is also why I choose to study this subject at university. I also believe it will be very useful for my career and the rest of my life.
Favorite teacher:
Helen Waywell – She was teaching me economics during my first year and really inspired me. She was extremely good at using a clear way to explain very complex models. She also built up a structure where she would build the big picture piece by piece.
Favorite club/society: Band society – I played the guitar and performed at a Christmas event.

Bernard Tsang, from Hong Kong, graduated from EF Academy Oxford in 2014 and is currently studying Economics at Warwick University.

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