HKIS Admissions and Debentures?

[MovingFromNYC]

We just found out over the weekend that my husband may be transferred to Hong Kong in August '11.

Would we be able to find places for our 11 year old son and 7 year old daughter in HKIS? Does anyone have suggestions or tips on how we can approach this, as we do not have much time to plan the move.

How does the debenture process work? Are they readily available? Do we need two debentures for two children?

 

[howardcoombs]

You will get a lot of tips and advice from members here, but your note makes it sound like you have yet to contact HKIS. Have you actually contacted them? They will give you starter kits to get you moving in the right direction.

HC

 

[penguinsix]

Hi

You're late in the game. In fact priority one as soon as you read this should be to contact the school immediately as they are (this week) sending out acceptance letters for various classes. (I'm serious--call them today).

With a move in August, just as term is starting, your strategy for the first year may very well be "any port in the storm". Applications for international school spots were up considerably this year. In the words of one admissions person I spoke to--"the highest level of demand she had seen in 20 years of working with international schools in Hong Kong". The application process for 2012-13 will begin in September of 2011 so you'll be on the ground in time to sort things for the next year.

Each school will have a different set of "priorities" for admission. For example if your company holds a debenture they may be on the top of the wait list. If you have a passport from a certain country than you move in well to schools servicing those nationals. If you have a sibling, etc. HKIS has as one of their priorities "if your child has attended 2 years of a US-accredited institution", in essence a form of US citizen priority. I don't know how that compares to say having a debenture (each school has their own policy on those).

But seriously--you really need to be in touch with the different schools immediately. If you know where you are going to live you can contact the ESF Schools as well (based on your location).

 

[rani]

Also speak to your HR Department. They may have access to debentures.

 

[MovingFromNYC]

Hello penguinsix, Thank you for the detailed replies. We've spoken with our HR department in NY and HK and they seem to have it under control.

Quite likely that me and the children will follow shortly after Christmas as there might not be enough time to make all the arrangements.

We hope to have a clearer picture by MOnday.

 

[MommyTo3]

I would not put all my eggs into one basket, even when looking at Christmas time. So many kids have no spots yet even after being here for some time. Heard that hkis is unable to even accomodate all debenture holders in certain grades, let alone if you don't even have one. Look into other options as well ... That would be my advice. The company wants your husband to go ... There are no guarantees so do your own homework too.

Hello penguinsix, Thank you for the detailed replies. We've spoken with our HR department in NY and HK and they seem to have it under control.

Quite likely that me and the children will follow shortly after Christmas as there might not be enough time to make all the arrangements.

We hope to have a clearer picture by MOnday.

 

[penguinsix]

Hi

Glad to hear HR is "on it" but I would echo the concerns of others--keep on them. I've found some of the HR people here, single in their 20s, really don't have the whole picture of the complexity of finding a child a place and if you get here and your kid doesn't get in, it really doesn't bother them as much as it is going to bother you.

I would recommend calling the schools and working in tandem with your HR crew. Hold the feet to the fire--it's the common approach here. The 'quiet dignified' approach doesn't always cut it unfortunately.

You may also check out some other schools, such as Canadian International (CNDIS) or German Swiss (GSIS) or even the ESF depending on where you live.

Our friend applied to 10 schools and got in 1.
We applied to 7 and got in 3 (and a high wait list on 4).

So it really is worth looking around if possible.

Good luck.