Our second and final Open Day for this year was held at the College yesterday.  When I say “our” open day, the “our” refers to the Hong Kong UWC Selection Committee.  Our open days represent the first step in the annual process of selecting students from Hong Kong who will be given the opportunity to enter 11 of the 13 United World

Colleges in five continents, including of course Li Po Chun UWC, in September the following year (in this case September 2011).

I always enjoy Open Days, because it is an opportunity to share the great things that our students and staff are doing at the College.  I was thrilled that several student groups (such as Traffik Link and the Sino-Japan Youth Conference) had taken the trouble to prepare special displays and information desks, and I know that many of the visitors appreciated the opportunity to meet and speak with our students and, in many cases, tour the campus with them.  The extremely positive comments I received from countless numbers of visitors, including many current parents who came, were extremely encouraging and affirming too - thank you!

The selection process has a long way to go before it is finally completed in the middle of next year.  The closing date for applications this year is 7th December 2010.  We typically receive about 500 applications each year, and all 500 applicants will complete our aptitude testing on 8th and 9th January 2011.  From this exercise, about 300 students will be invited to attend Challenge Day on 13th February 2011, and based on the results of this day, about 100 finalists will be invited to panel interviews with members of the UWC Selection Committee in the week commencing 7th March 2011.  Following the interviews, the results will be collated, and after the Selection Committee has its final meeting in mid-April, offers of places will be given to successful students by 1st May (for the overseas UWCs) and by early June (for LPCUWC).

If the calibre of this year’s applicants is anything like that of recent years, the effort will be well worthwhile as it opens the doors to extraordinary new experiences and amazing new opportunities for the successful students.