<p>Ok, how does one go about this wire transfer business? My parents and I are about to confirm attendance to HKUST (ahhhh I’m scared), but don’t know where my starting point is. I’m from the U.S. …</p>
<p>Is there an additional charge for a wire transfer?</p>
<p>Aww why are you scared? And I don’t know anything about wire transfers, sorry.</p>
<p>I’m from HK and I’ll tell you all something. There are only 3 schools worth considering (world renowned) here, HKU, CUHK(Chinese University of Hong Kong) and HKUST. They are ranked 1st,2nd and 3rd respectively. If you want to study business, I think HKUST is edging out as being the better one, computer science and technology, HKUST is also pretty good, but otherwise, HKU is pretty much dominant in all other areas.</p>
<p>phoenix_ice: Just do the wire transfer online as you normally would do, and keep a copy of the receipt/transaction completion slip and send the same to HKUST… you transfer the money to some bank that HKUST must have mentioned in their email to you, and for any further personal details call them, as I said earlier, they will be more than happy to help you in transferring money to them ;)</p>
<p>iPacman: I’m sure you are right about that, but dude HKUST has in the rankings scene only for 16-17 years, i mean it is only as old as I am !! And still it has become good enough to compete with not only HKU but BIG US universities too!! That speaks of some “Serious” potential !! We shall find out how correct I am only after I go to HKUST eventually, however, from my research too I have been wowed by this Uni ! call it bias, call it logical reasoning, but it is definitely a knowledge claim I would boldly support…
Having said that, I would not disagree with you on the fact that presently HKU is a better University (overall) than HKUST, but only presently, future is in favor of HKUST that is the springboard for dynamism and youth…</p>
<p>And I hear the campus can’t be beat ;)</p>
<p>@iPacman - Are really CityU, Baptist, Polytechnic and Lingnan that bad? They are evidently not world class universities, but it appears that they provide a decent education at least. Or?</p>
<p>rebecca: I hesitantly second that! Hesitantly not because I doubt it, but because you said, quote, “I hear…” :)</p>
<p>AlecDluz and iPacman: I have heard good things about Polytechnic and when they visited our school in Shanghai they seemed to be alright, definitely not comparable to HKU or HKUST, not sure about CUHK though… City U again, I have heard, is substandard like PolyU, that is when, HKUST and HKU set the standard…</p>
<p>All: Any updates for “ANYONE” on HKUST, or any new info/opinion you have about it ?!</p>
<p>Not really update but a happy moment. I was talking to someone about universities today so I went to show her a picture of HKUST when it hit me, “This is MY University now!” Can’t wait till I get my next email from HKUST! So excited!</p>
<p>So… we finally wired the money and I’m mailing the statement of intent tomorrow! </p>
<p>@rebecca - I’m scared about the academics I guess because I’m not exactly confident in how U.S. education has prepared me. =P But I’m mostly scared about leaving what I have here behind–my friends and people I care about. At the same time, I’m extreeeeeeeeemely excited! It’s like I haven’t started living yet and I’m about to be born!</p>
<p>Now that I’m going… let’s start up what the pioneers of this forum did. Fill in your name and department/major (;.</p>
<p>HKUST:
phoenix_ice (BEng)</p>
<p>HKU:</p>
<p>I need some help as a US student applying to HKUST.</p>
<p>They ask me to send official copy of the AP scores to them. But the problem is, I lost my AP numbers, booklet and just about everything related from the past too years and I did not give them my SSN. They only allow AP score to be sent via phone, and I cannot pull my scores out of the data base without AP number and SSN.</p>
<p>[AP</a> Scores - AP Scores & Reporting Services](<a href=“College Board - SAT, AP, College Search and Admission Tools”>View Your AP Scores – AP Students | College Board)</p>
<p>I emailed them about the problem, but this is what they said, which does not help at all:</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>Anyone with experience sending AP score?</p>
<p>@exe163-Hi,i did not do AP but i did A levels from the UK and i was in a similar situation to yours…
There was a huge delay in getting my High school grade certificate so i had no option to send them my mark sheet (which they normally don’t accept) which i got certified …
End of the day,If in some way you can prove that the scores are really yours ,you will be fine…
There are others in this thread who did AP…“phoenix_ice” is one…PM her or something…
Good luck!!!:)</p>
<p>@exe163 - Hello! Glad to hear from another US applicant! I sent in my AP scores via phone but I did not have your problem because I gave them my SSN. HOWEVER, I am certain that your previous high school should have kept a record of your AP scores. All you need to do is contact your high school and ask for that AP number.</p>
<p>You probably already researched this, but the CollegeBoard institution code for HKUST is 2787.</p>
<p>Good luck to you! Please tell me how it goes :).</p>
<p>Thanks! I completely forgot about my high school. I’ll go ask to and hopefully get it done before the weekend. Should I use rush service? I submitted my application on early feb and now it’s already past the deadline.</p>
<p>rebecca: haha… see now you know where all of my “long descriptive” comments come from !</p>
<p>Rush service has a killer fee. Go for it if you can spare the extra dollars since you sent in your application in early Feb. The regular reporting service can take up to 3 - 4 weeks since it usually takes longer with international. Yeah, call your high school early tomorrow! I wouldn’t want to wait another weekend to have it ordered! Did you take a gap year or something? I’m curious.</p>
<p>I applied on Feb 15 to both HKU and HKUST…looking forward to at least some response soon:)</p>
<p>Hey everyone! It seems pretty awesome how everyone is so excited to go to HKUST/HKU. I’ve been to Hong Kong a couple of times for REALLY short periods and overall it was a very good experience.
I’m considering applying to HKUST for Computer Engineering now, I hope I’m not too late. 
Honestly, how hard is it to get admitted AND get a GOOD amount of scholarship?</p>
<p>Also, I’m already a 2nd year in Computer Science & Engineering at UCLA as an international student and financially things have been bad for me (tuition here is increasing 30% on top of what is already ridiculously expensive), so I thought I might try to transfer as a second year to HKUST if I am able to get a good amount of financial aid. It’s also rare to see a university where courses are taught in English, has a reasonable tuition for the value, accepts 2nd year transfers, is located in an awesome city, and has a very strong engineering program!</p>
<p>I was looking at the total cost of tuition/housing/living expenses, would 130,000-150,000 HKD be a rough estimate? I don’t really spend a lot, just the very necessary, and just occasionally party or travel… because that’s what engineering does to you heh…</p>
<p>Also, about the social aspect, I’m fluent in English, Chinese (Mandarin), Portuguese, and some Spanish, but NO CANTONESE at all =_=, how difficult will it be to communicate with local people? I know that English is also their official language, but in practice, does everyone really speak English?</p>
<p>Well, I shall complete my application this week and see how that goes!
Good luck everyone</p>
<p>Jiceo: apply for the Swire scholarship. Good luck with your app.</p>
<p>^Thanks! I shall do my best.</p>