CAN

2026 WLSA CAN China Tour Concludes Successfully

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From May 13 to 16, 2026, the World Leading Schools Association (WLSA) College Admissions Network (CAN) successfully hosted its China Conference Tour across Shanghai, Beijing, and Changchun. University representatives from Barnard College, Boston University, Columbia College, Cornell University, New York University, Rice University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, University of Southern California, and Vanderbilt University attended in person to engage in face-to-face, in-depth dialogues with Chinese students, parents, and educators. Through these conversations, WLSA CAN further bridged U.S. universities with Chinese high schools and families, fostering a transparent "triangle of trust" among all three parties — transforming the college admissions process into a profound collaboration centered on individual growth.

2026 WLSA CAN Highlights

🎙️ Opening Speech

Mr. James Montoya, Chairman of WLSA US Foundation, Former Chief of Governance, Membership, and Global Higher Education, and Secretary of the Corporation of the College Board, as well as Former Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Admission and Financial Aid at Stanford University, delivered the opening speech.

He skillfully connected his experience in international education with a deep understanding and respect for the Chinese culture. Drawing on the traditional wisdom of "读万卷书，行万里路" (To truly learn, one must not only read widely, but also experience the world) and "十年树木，百年树人" (It takes ten years to grow a tree, but a hundred years to nurture a person), he pointed out that stepping out into the world allows students to gain a global perspective and diverse ways of thinking that go beyond textbooks. He emphasized that studying abroad is not about detaching from one's homeland, but rather practicing the concept of "和而不同" (Engaging with the world, learning from the differences, and yet remaining grounded in who we are)—allowing students to bring China to the world, grow through experiencing differences, and ultimately give back to society with a greater sense of confidence. This cross-cultural message not only resonated with the deep aspirations of Chinese families for their children, but also set a sincere and welcoming tone for the dialogue.

📣 Panel Discussion

As the centerpiece of the tour, the panel discussions were moderated by two university representatives. The Shanghai and Beijing sessions were moderated by Dr. Douglas Christiansen, Chair of the WLSA Council Board, Co-Chair of WLSA CAN, Vice Provost for University Enrollment Affairs and Dean of Admissions and Financial Aid at Vanderbilt University, and Former Chair of the Board of Trustees for the College Board, while the Changchun session was moderated by Ms. Adele Brumfield, Vice Provost for Enrollment Management at University of Michigan.

During the panel, university representatives engaged in detailed discussions centered around the following core topics:

Application Trends and Admissions Evaluation

"We actually often ask ourselves in our admissions committee, is this someone that will bring kindness to our campus? ... The most successful applicants in our review process are students who are really creating themselves on the application."

Ms. Dana Pavarini

Executive Director of Undergraduate Admissions, Columbia University

"When we cover holistic admissions reviews, we're reviewing every student in the context of where they're coming from. We just want to know that you've been taking advantage of what you have. There is no favoritism in the admissions process."

Mr. Peter Wilson

Director of WLSA CAN Dean of College Admissions, Associate Vice President, Enrollment and Student Advancement, The University of Chicago

"The reminder is, you want to continue. Because we just want to make sure when you come to our universities, you're ready to go, you're ready to thrive, and you're meeting our faculty where they are."Ms. Adele Brumfield

Ms. Adele Brumfield

Vice Provost for Enrollment Management, University of Michigan

Major Selection and Academic Preparation

"Does that mean you have to earn an A in every single class that you're taking? Not necessarily. But we do want you to demonstrate mastery, knowledge, expertise, and where you are interested in one subject over another."

Ms. Kelly Walter

Co-Chair of WLSA CAN Associate Vice President for Enrollment and Dean of Admissions, Boston University Former Trustee of the College Board

"Early Decision is binding... Therefore, the best is if you are certain you want to attend an institution that will accept you."

Mr. Kirk Brennan

Associate Dean, Director of Undergraduate Admission, University of Southern California

"It shouldn't be a narrative version of your resume... tell us something that we can't learn about you from your other materials. We want to hear what is your curiosity about? What are you passionate about?"

Dr. Lisa Nishii

Senior Vice Provost for Enrollment Management and Undergraduate Education, Cornell University

Support for International Students

"We have great offices that do programs when you first arrive on campus. And then some schools have programs that help you throughout the semester, help you for all four years... we are definitely here to support our international students."

Ms. Jennifer Fondiller

Vice President for Enrollment and External Affairs, Barnard College

Internships and Career Development

"And a lot of that follows the disciplines themselves. It's so much like interdisciplinary work that happens, and which major or which program and academic network together creates new opportunities."

Dr. Yvonne Romero

Vice President for Enrollment, Dean of College Admission and Financial Aid, Rice University

"Young students still want to be a part of a very global and very progressive way of thinking about working with other students in other countries."

Dr. MJ Knoll-Finn

WLSA Council Board Member Senior Vice President for Global Enrollment, Student Success, and Strategic Positioning, New York University

The panel discussions reframed the college application process as an authentic dialogue about personal growth, bringing the universities' evaluation logic to life in a more multidimensional way. Through active listening and engagement, our goal is to empower students and families to build their own independent judgment, allowing them to navigate their educational journeys with greater confidence and find the path that truly fits them.

This echoes the tone set by Dr. Douglas Christiansen in his opening remarks: "My hope for today's dialogue is that we can go back to purpose, and truly reflect on what the college application process is fundamentally about."

🎙️ CAN Fair

The college fair enabled the insights from the panel discussions to be further translated into more personalized conversations. For families navigating a sea of various information, this was an opportunity to break down barriers and reset expectations. Firsthand advice helped students clarify their goals, while a transparent look into the actual admissions logic significantly eased family anxieties. At the same time, direct feedback from admissions officers helped high school college counselors update their traditional approaches, turning the latest evaluation criteria into more forward-looking guidance for their students. For the universities, it provided an excellent opportunity to look beyond academic scores and connect with students who truly align with their values.

💬 University Counselor Workshop

During the Beijing stop of the China Tour, WLSA CAN hosted a dedicated workshop for school leaders and university counsellors. Co-facilitated by representatives from several universities, this professional exchange seamlessly blended structured panel discussions with open dialogue.

Participants broadened the conversation from individual application advising to the wider educational support ecosystem. The focus centered on building highly effective, supportive college counseling frameworks and fostering deep resource sharing through international educational collaborations.

Voices from Our Volunteers

This tour provided families and college counselors with firsthand insights into the admissions evaluation logic, while also allowing university admissions officers to connect deeply with the authentic rythm of China's educational landscape.

For WLSA CAN, facilitating such direct communication goes far beyond a simple exchange of admissions information. It actively brings WLSA’s educational mission to life. Through ongoing cross-cultural dialogues, we hope to build an educational ecosystem rooted in understanding and trust. When students look up from their books (“万卷书”) and bravely step out to experience the world (“行万里路”), this ecosystem will empower them with the confidence they need, helping them grow into global leaders with empathy and a strong sense of responsibility.

About WLSA CAN

The WLSA College Admission Network (CAN) was established in 2013 at Eton College in the UK.

Since its founding, WLSA CAN has partnered with many top universities around the world, conducting university admission tours in China, USA, UK, South Africa, Botswana, Nepal, Bhutan, France, Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. By fostering direct engagement between students, secondary educators, and globally renowned higher education institutions, WLSA CAN furthers WLSA’s mission of encouraging cross-cultural dialogue and supporting students on their journey to becoming empathetic, responsible global leaders.