Career, College, and University Admission Counselling
Personalised Admissions Counseling
Our personalised approach to university admissions counselling means helping students take a long-term view of their lives. Rather than simply focusing on getting them into a university, we help them conceptualize what long-term success means to them. We put students in the driver's seat to take ownership of their learning journey as it continues to university and beyond.
Our #BestFit Philosophy in our Counselling programme
Though we applaud our graduates for receiving offers from top universities, colleges and specialty programmes across the world, we place more importance on the fact that through our unique and extensive University Counselling programme, our students are able to attend the colleges and universities that best fit their interests and goals, irrespective of rankings.
Our graduates go on to a wide range of specialist programmes around the world including medicine, law, arts and design, music, business, the sciences, engineering, maths and economics just to name a few.
Our approach to college and university admissions counselling
- Agency: Students have the knowledge and skills to take charge of their own application for admissions and matriculation journey.
- Decision-making: Students understand decision-making frameworks and strategies.
- Leadership & Initiative: Students are empowered to take initiative on their own behalf.
- Values & Impact: Students understand their own values and the impact they want to have on the world.
- Advocacy & Guidance: UCC counsellors act as advocates for students both internally within the College and externally with admissions offices.
In addition, our University and Career Counselling (UCC) Department provides ongoing communication with the entire community of students, staff, and parents) about the latest trends in post-secondary admissions through comprehensive information and resources that are easily accessible both online and in person.
Our UCC departments also builds and enhances close partnerships with post-secondary institutions around the world through attending conferences, hosting university fairs and visits, and much more. They also create connections for students to the world of work by facilitating partnerships with businesses as well as leveraging our vast Worldwise Alumni Network (WAN).
University Counselling Approach from Year 9 to 13
Our approach to university counselling is project-based, values-based, and student-led. Our engagement with Senior School students starts in Year 9 and proceeds in an orchestrated step-by-step manner.
- In Year 9, we introduce the overall university pathway to students as part of the I/GCSE options process.
- In Year 10, the theme is “World of Work”, where students are encouraged to be reflective of themselves.
- Year 11 is all about decision-making, exemplified by the “reverse university fair”, where students are challenged to put themselves into the shoes of university admissions officers.
- Year 12 students are placed firmly in the driver’s seat of the application process.
- Finally, year 13 is the time to reap the rewards of years of preparation.
Meet our University and Career Counselling team at Dulwich Shanghai Pudong
Luke Devlin, Director of UCC
Mr. Devlin has been a UCC counselor with the Dulwich family since 2013, spending time at Dulwich High School Suzhou, Dulwich College Suzhou, Dulwich College Singapore and Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong. He has supported Dulwich College Shanghai Pudong and Dulwich College Suzhou in a hybrid capacity in recent years. During his career he has supported hundreds of Dulwich students or Worldwise Alumni with applications to further their education at institutions and programmes all over the globe.
Originally from the United States, Mr. Devlin was a first-generation university graduate who received his Bachelor's degree from Monmouth College, a liberal arts college in Illinois. In 2016, he earned his College Counseling certificate from UCLA Extension and serves as an External International Application Reader for UCLA where he rates hundreds of applications annually. In 2020, he completed his Master's of Education in Positive Coaching and Leadership from University of Missouri.
Mr. Devlin is a contributing member of numerous professional groups including serving as VP of the Communications Committee for International ACAC (Association for College Admission Counseling), serving on NACAC's (National Association for College Admission Counseling) Advisory Group for their Shanghai Fair, as well as attending and presenting at various professional conferences including International ACAC, NACAC, China ICAC (Institute of College Admissions Counselling), NCDA (National Careers Development Association), APCDA (Asia-Pacific Career Development Association).
UCC Counselor, Rorie Macdonald
Originally from the UK, Mr. Macdonald completed his undergraduate studies at Cambridge University where he read history. He started his education career as a teacher of history and geography at an international school in Shanghai. In his former school he established the school's University Counselling Office in 2016 and ran the office until he joined Dulwich College Pudong in August 2021. During that time he supported student's applications to places in universities all over the world. In 2023 he obtained his International College Advising Certificate from The University of Pennsylvania's Graduate School of Education.
He is a member and regular attendee of various professional communities including The GUCC (Global University Counsellor Connect), EARCOS-CIS (East Asia Regional Council of Schools – Council of International Schools) Institute on International Admission and Guidance, International ACAC (Association of College Admissions Counselling) and China ICAC. Most recently he has presented to the wider-Counsellor community on the following topics AI: Transforming University Admissions & College Counseling and Medical Applications.
UCC Counselor, Ruru Huang
Ms. Huang has been a University Counselor since 2010, beginning her journey while still in university. With nearly a decade of experience in public high schools across Beijing, followed by four years at a bilingual school in Shenzhen, she is now in her second year at DCSPD. Her diverse experiences have equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of the international education landscape and the varied needs of students. These experiences shaped her approach to helping students find their best-fit and achieve long-term success.
In addition to her counseling work, Ms. Huang actively contributes to the counseling community through various volunteer roles. She serves as co-chair of the China ICAC (Institute of College and Admissions Counselling) Research Scholarship and Learning (RSL) Committee, where she has led initiatives such as the Leadership Institute, Annual Report, and Speaker Series. As a mentor in both the ChinaICAC and International ACAC mentorship programs, she has been recognized as China ICAC’s Mentor of the Year for her support of junior counseling peers. Ms. Huang frequently shares her insights at conferences such as East Meets West and China ICAC, and she is a founding member of both the Beijing Western Consortium University Fair and the Great Bay Area College Counseling Connect.
Her engagement with the community has allowed her to connect valuable resources to support her students. She leads the UCC Ambassador program, invites guest speaker on campus, and hosts virtual university fairs, including one focused on Hong Kong universities. Additionally, she has participated in global counselor fly-ins to help students navigate their options, visiting institutions like the University of Edinburgh and the University of St. Andrews in the UK, as well as various universities in the United States and Switzerland.
Outside of her role as a UCC, Ms. Huang is a member of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion (DEI) committee for International ACAC and advocates for global citizenship and social justice. She is passionate about volunteering and making a positive impact in her community.
Benefits of an extensive team of university counsellors
Our students not only receive personalised guidance from our university counsellors at the College but also benefit from the support that comes from having experienced counsellors with diverse backgrounds and area specialities sharing best practices throughout the Dulwich College International network of schools. Many of our counsellors serve on the International ACAC (Association for College Admission Counseling), working on committees alongside university representatives and admissions officers. Through this, our university counsellors are able to leverage the Dulwich name and network to lead global sessions for professional learning and development around the world.
Our 100% Guarantee in University Admissions
We are proud that 100% of the graduating class of 2021 were accepted at their first-choice university. A remarkable achievement! Even though that may not be the case every year, we do have a 100% guarantee:
In the last 10 years, all of our students who make applications during the term and intend to pursue university immediately entering their high school careers had a programme acceptance after graduation.
University Destinations
Here is a selection of university destinations for our recent graduates.
