University of Cambridge

The University of Cambridge, simply known as "Cambridge", is a top - tier research - oriented university located in Cambridge City, Cambridgeshire, UK, adopting the traditional college system. The university is a member of the Russell Group, the World Presidents' Forum, the Global Alliance of Research Universities, the International Network for the Development and Collaboration of Applied Science and Technology, and the Cambridge University Health Partners. It has nurtured the technology hub "Silicon Fen" and is renowned as one of the "Golden Triangle Universities" and among the "G5 Universities".The University of Cambridge is the second - oldest university in the English - speaking world and the fourth - oldest existing university globally. Its predecessor was an association of scholars established in 1209. The university houses eight arts and science museums, a library system with a collection of over 15 million volumes, and the world's oldest publishing house, the Cambridge University Press. The University of Cambridge ranked 2nd in the QS World University Rankings 2024 and 5th in the QS World University Rankings 2025.

Aaron Z.

On the evening of January 30th, as thousands of households were celebrating the arrival of the New Year, an admission letter from Trinity College, University of Cambridge, landed in Aaron's email inbox. For him, the New Year's bell had officially rung, and all the previous unease had transformed into longing for the future...Trinity College is one of the largest, wealthiest, and most renowned colleges within the University of Cambridge. It has nurtured many well - known alumni, such as Newton, Bacon, Byron, Gandhi... Due to the college's high profile and reputation, applicants usually possess outstanding academic achievements and rich practical experiences. Standing out among numerous excellent applicants is extremely challenging. For every student, being able to enter the gates of this college symbolizes the pinnacle of academic pursuits.

When we review Aaron's application process, we find that his growth story might only be possible at NKCS. It could only happen in a campus environment that is infinitely inclusive and with teachers who care for and respect students.

1. The Choice of Track Transition Rewrites Growth

In the case of Aaron, we witness a story full of courage, challenges, and the perseverance of pursuing dreams.Since he was a child, Aaron had always been the "child of someone else's family" in the regular high school. At school, his academic performance was consistently outstanding. He had exceptional talent in Olympic - level mathematics, and his growth path was smooth. Everyone around him believed that he would steadily embark on the journey to compete for admission to Tsinghua University or Peking University.However, in the second semester of his first year of high school, Aaron made a bold decision - to transfer to an international school. This decision filled his parents with deep concerns. With uneasiness in their hearts, they accompanied their son on the journey of exploring international education.To his parents' surprise, Aaron adapted to NKCS far better than they could have imagined. Here, he completely broke free from the previous constraints. His hobbies were able to develop to the fullest, and the boundaries of his knowledge continued to expand. He was no longer solely focused on the subjects of mathematics, physics, and chemistry that he was good at. Instead, he also delved into fields such as economics, Western history, political philosophy, and Latin. Through the combination of liberal arts and sciences, he gained a deeper understanding of the world. Under the international curriculum system, Aaron's learning ability was fully demonstrated, and he won full scholarships for three consecutive years.

2. Explore passions, spark innovation

Compared with the traditional education model, the curriculum system of NKCS places more emphasis on independent learning and practical exploration. Students here are more active in learning and have broader and more diverse ways of thinking."When I first studied Bernoulli's principle, it seemed to be a perfect explanation for the lift of an aircraft. But when I saw an aircraft flying upside down, I began to doubt this explanation. This learning experience not only deepened my understanding of mechanics but also introduced me to aerospace engineering based on computer modeling." Whenever Aaron talks about the field of aerospace engineering, he always speaks with great enthusiasm like this.

“When I first learned of Bernoulli's principle, it seemed a perfect explanation for the concept of lift; but later I questioned this explanation when I saw planes flying upside down. This journey deepened my understanding of mechanics and introduced me to computer-aided engineering.” Whenever the topic of aerospace engineering comes up, Aaron can always speak at length about it. Since young, Aaron has had a passion for researching aircraft. In elementary school, he even sold his own designs of "high-performance paper airplanes" to classmates. This love for paper airplanes led Aaron into the enchanting world of aerospace engineering. To design a paper airplane that could fly out and return to his hand, Aaron independently studied aerodynamic principles like Bernoulli's principle and experimented with computer simulation tools such as CAD and CFD. He also explored the mechanics of other structures like dihedral, forward- swept wings, rudders and ailerons, as well as the dynamics of boomerangs. Using this knowledge, he designed fantastic paper planes capable of complex maneuver and subsequently wrote a research paper on fluid mechanics. During his winter break in his sophomore year, Aaron traveled to London to attend an engineering winter camp at Imperial College. There, he participated in a space station design challenge, collaborating with teammates to design their own space station.

Aaron understands that the essence of engineering is to use technology to help people solve real-life problems. This requires engineers not only to understand technology but also to know how to translate that technology into products. To achieve this, learning some business knowledge is essential. Sensitive to mathematics from a young age, Aaron teamed up with classmates in his sophomore year to participate in the Wharton Investment Challenge, where they learned and practiced financial investment. Additionally, under the guidance of teachers at the gifted center, he analyzed business cases of tech companies like SpaceX and Dyson, further enhancing his understanding of entrepreneurship.

In his junior year, leveraging his extensive knowledge of engineering, Aaron collaborated with classmates to establish the school’s first robotics club. With his continuously improving business acumen, he successfully secured up to 70,000 yuan in funding from the school for the club and formed partnerships with external training organizations. The club not only provides a cost-effective opportunity for students interested in robotics to gain practical experience in competitions but also teaches younger students introductory engineering concepts. Aaron is determined to develop the club into a community for all engineering enthusiasts, enhancing the overall atmosphere for engineering learning at the school.

In addition to engineering, Aaron also has a high talent for mathematics. Passionate about math competitions since childhood, he has consistently achieved excellent results in numerous contests/tests such as AIME, BMO, STEP, and ESAT. He also collaborated with classmates to complete a research paper on the Sum of Integer Powers under the guidance of school teachers. However, Aaron is not satisfied with personal mathematical achievements alone; he hopes to positively impact the community around him with his abilities. Therefore, he established a "Mathematical Thinking Society" at school, leading members to solve math problems in various ways, and sharing his accumulated mathematical insights with classmates, allowing more students to enjoy the joy of mathematics.

3. Think rationally, live emotionally.

Although he presents himself as a typical engineering student, Aaron has never been just a dull person who only deals with numbers and formulas; he also has an interesting and creative side. He loves art, enjoys listening to classical symphonies, and has played the violin in an orchestra since childhood. He is skilled in calligraphy and traditional Chinese painting, and he also loves cooking and enjoys life. He knows how to leverage his strengths, adeptly transforming his strong logical ability and English speaking skills into clear and coherent speeches in debate clubs and on the podium, as well as well-organized expressions in application essays. Like Aaron said: “I am a person who enjoys rational thinking. Throughout my life, I have adhered to the principle of ‘critical thinking is king.’ When making any decision, I always analyze the pros and cons and pursue absolute ‘rational choice.’ However, I later realized that not everything has an absolute right or wrong. Rationality should be a means and not the ultimate goal. Sometimes, rationality alone cannot convince me to act, especially when faced with uncertainty. In these moments, hunches are needed to bridge the gap. Thus, looking ahead, I plan to continue honing my rationality while developing my intuitive capabilities with practice. If I fail, I will learn from it and try again. After all, life is not merely a problem to be solved or a statement to be proved but an experience to be lived.