斐特思AP新生满月记｜带你看最真实的入读体验

This September, the newly launched AP program at Fettes College Guangzhou welcomed its first batch of students. Now, these freshmen have spent nearly a month on campus. How have they adapted to the curriculum and campus life? We interviewed two students of the AP program - Jackson and Messi - to hear about their initial experiences at FCG.

Grade 12 student Jackson transferred to FCG with an impressive academic background: he scored two 5s and two 4s in his AP exams and achieved an overall IELTS score of 7.5. This year, he aims to improve his 4s to 5s and plans to take three new AP courses: Computer Science, Physics 1, and Psychology. 

Jackson said he chose FCG because its graduates had successfully achieved their dreams of getting into prestigious universities, and both he and his parents believed that following a proven path would be more reliable. He also shared his previous experience of self-studying AP courses: "I used to study AP courses one at a time on my own, sitting from morning until night, and I wouldn’t move on to the next subject until I finished one in ten days or half a month. Continuously focusing on the same subject for such a long time was actually very stressful and reduced my efficiency."

The small class teaching at FCG has completely transformed his learning experience: "The largest class I'm in now has only seven students, and most are super-small classes with just three to five students. Teachers can precisely track each student's progress. For example, in physics class, since I’m already familiar with the basic formulas, the teacher directly guides me to practice advanced problems without wasting time on repetitive content." The five-minute break between classes has become his "efficiency switch": "Walking around before heading to the next class and rotating between different subjects helps clear my mind. The schedule is full but not exhausting throughout the day."

As a boarder, Jackson was pleasantly surprised by the school’s excellent facilities and diverse CCA activities. In the first inter-school volleyball match of the semester, he and his teammates achieved a perfect record with three consecutive victories.

Messi, a grade 11 student, is undergoing a significant transformation at FCG, having switched from the IB system to the AP program. Messi has already achieved a TOEFL score of 111 and an IELTS score of 8. This semester, he has selected seven courses covering multiple fields such as physics, mathematics, and humanities.

"In the past, there were at least 15 to 20 students in a class, and the teacher could only follow the average pace. Even if I wanted to go faster, I couldn't," Messi compared. The personalised teaching at FCG has given him full control over his learning: "Now, the classes I choose are mostly small groups of 1 to 4 students. For instance, in calculus, the teacher can skip the part of derivatives I'm familiar with and focus on applying integrals, which is my weak point. The progress is at least 30% faster."

What makes him feel more at ease is the "balanced style" of university guidance: "Some schools are very eager for students to decide on their intended major and even target universities as early as possible, but when I came here, I found that this sense of urgency is unnecessary. The UGO teachers at FCG don’t rush me to decide on a specific university or major. Instead, they help me identify a general direction — for instance, I’m interested in data science, so they suggest taking a course in human geography while studying computer science to cultivate interdisciplinary thinking. They also encourage me to participate in relevant competitions and activities. I have a formal 40-minute meeting with my UGO teacher every 1-2 weeks, and I can ask questions online anytime if I have doubts. I really like this style of college planning because it feels like I’m doing what I enjoy rather than being pushed toward a specific goal. My learning state is much more balanced. Even though I need to take exams for six subjects this year, my overall mental pressure is much lower."

The mathematics and computer science competition coaching at FCG also impressed Messi: "Here, teachers don’t focus on rankings and awards. Instead, they teach us problem-solving skills, such as logical reasoning in programming competitions, which is far more valuable than simply doing practice problems. In fact, most top universities pay little attention to competition rankings and care more about your passion for the subject. By gaining a broader understanding during competition preparation, I’m not overly concerned about the final results. I enjoy the self-growth I experience throughout the process much more."

The experience of two students highlighted the core strengths of the AP program: FCG is not engaging in "standardised cultivation" but is instead committed to "personalised empowerment." The exceptionally high student-teacher ratio allows teachers to quickly identify students' knowledge gaps and adapt the course pace with flexibility. University guidance respects each student’s individual growth pace, providing tailored college planning that ranges from standardised test preparation to professional direction guidance. The campus environment also fosters diverse support and holistic growth, balancing academic hard skills with interest-driven soft skills. Lastly, the dedicated boarding team ensures that students can focus on their studies without any concerns.

Now, the first cohort of new students in the FCG AP program has embarked on their journey with confidence. The first campus open day of this academic year will take place in November. If you’re curious about how customised AP education empowers students to achieve their dreams of attending prestigious universities, consider visiting FCG. Here, every passion is nurtured, and every goal is given a clear path forward.