QE boys head stateside for summer schools at two of the world’s top universities

Three Sixth-Formers have won places at summer schools at top-flight American universities. Michael Zhao and Kieran Eatough will spend a week at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), whilst Jack Page has been invited to attend Yale.

The boys were among only 150 Year 12 students from an original application pool of over 1,200 to be chosen to continue within the Sutton Trust US Programme 2013. The selection panel wrote: “We were highly impressed by their suitability and commitment to the programme as demonstrated in their original application,” as well as praising their performance in a recent residential event.

The three boys (pictured with Jack front left, Michael front right and Kieran at the back) will now take part in a webinar (web seminar) during which they will receive information and advice from experts on US admissions. A representative of staff from QE has also been invited to take part in an Advisor Training Event.

MIT was established in the 1860s as an independent educational institution relevant to an increasingly industrialised America. In each of the last three years, it has been placed in the top ten of The Times’ World University rankings, and has nine current Nobel prize-winners on its staff. Yale is one of the eight Ivy League universities and offers over 2,000 undergraduate courses in the Liberal Arts and Sciences every year.

“I am delighted that the boys have made it through the rigorous selection programme and secured places at such prestigious educational institutions,” said Headmaster Neil Enright. “This continues a recent trend for our boys to look towards a more internationally diverse set of university destinations. Given the introduction of tuition fees in the UK, we have encouraged our pupils at least to look at opportunities abroad – including any financial support that may be available.”

The Sutton Trust is an educational foundation committed to improving social mobility. One of its roles involves working with the Fulbright Commission to provide young people with information and advice that will enable them to successfully apply for placements in US universities.