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We are proud to launch a new series spotlighting members of the DAIS Class of 2026, beginning with a student whose journey from Singapore to Dalian has been shaped by curiosity and a wide range of academic interests. In this reflection, Tiffany Lim shares how her experiences at DAIS have prepared her to make an informed university choice among opportunities in Australia and Singapore.
I moved from Singapore to Dalian five years ago and have been studying at DAIS (Dalian American International School) ever since. Over this time, DAIS has become more than just a school to me it’s where I’ve grown academically, explored my interests, and built experiences that shaped who I am today.
During my time at DAIS, I tried to involve myself in a variety of activities, both inside and outside the classroom. I participated in MUN and the Journalism ASA, which helped me develop my confidence in communication, writing, and critical thinking. Sports were also a big part of my experience. I competed in ACAMIS Cross Country, where our team achieved 3rd place overall, and ACAMIS Soccer, where our team placed 5th. These competitions pushed me to stay disciplined and taught me how to perform under pressure while working as part of a team.
ACAMIS Soccer 2026
One of the most meaningful activities for me was being part of the Future Science Innovator ASA. Together with my friend Tanya, I helped teach younger students through hands-on experiments. Being on the teaching side of the classroom was a completely different experience it made me appreciate how much effort goes into making learning engaging, and it also strengthened my own understanding of the subject.
When it came to college applications, I applied to universities in both Australia and Singapore. I was accepted into the University of Sydney and the University of Melbourne, which I’m really excited about. I also applied to the National University of Singapore (NUS), Nanyang Technological University (NTU), Singapore University of Social Sciences (SUSS), and Singapore Institute of Technology (SIT). I’ve already received an interview offer from SUSS, while I’m still waiting for decisions from the other Singapore universities, as their admissions process typically takes longer and often includes interviews before final offers are released after graduation.
In terms of majors, I applied for linguistics at NUS, NTU, the University of Melbourne, and the University of Sydney, as it is my strongest passion and something I’ve consistently focused on throughout high school. For SUSS, I applied for finance, and for SIT, I applied for computing. These choices reflect both my academic background and my personal interests.
DAISMUN 2026
One of the most important things I learned during this process is how crucial it is to know what you want to study or at least have a strong sense of what you’re interested in. For me, choosing linguistics, finance, and computing was very intentional because they align closely with my interests and hobbies.
I’ve always loved English, studying languages, and exploring the history of language. I also enjoy writing and have taken part in competitions in English and other languages, which naturally led me to pursue linguistics. My involvement in Journalism ASA further strengthened this interest by giving me opportunities to develop my writing and express ideas more effectively.
At the same time, I’ve been interested in finance and technology since I was around 12. I’ve always been curious about how financial systems work and how technology can be applied to them, especially in areas like fintech. Computing became a natural extension of that interest—I enjoy coding and even spend time analyzing or working with data related to finance and history for fun.
DAISMUN 2026
Another key lesson I learned is that universities look beyond just your grades. A big part of my application wasn’t only the classes I took, but also the experiences I could show outside the classroom. My extracurricular activities in school, such as Journalism and teaching in Future Science Innovators ASA, helped demonstrate my interests. Outside of school, I participated in writing competitions and spent time coding, working with data, and debugging, which supported my applications for both linguistics and computing-related majors.
For students applying to universities in Singapore especially, it’s important to know that many applicants have internships, part-time work, or other real-world experiences. Universities often ask about these experiences, particularly for STEM and finance-related majors, but this applies to all fields. They also value volunteering and involvement in sustainability-related activities.
Because I knew I would eventually apply to universities in Singapore, I tried to build these experiences early. During my summer breaks, I conducted linguistics research and also help log data for university research in linguistics, took part in shadowing opportunities in corporate finance, and volunteered at old folks homes. These experiences not only strengthened my applications but also helped me better understand the kind of work I’m interested in.
Tiffany (right) with a friend
If you have multiple interests, it’s completely okay to apply to different majors across different universities. You don’t have to limit yourself to just one path right away. However, it’s very important to make sure that your academic subjects and extracurricular activities align with the majors you’re applying for. Universities don’t just look at your GPA, they also consider the specific classes you’ve taken and how well your overall profile supports your chosen field of study.
Overall, my journey at DAIS has been about exploring different interests, finding what genuinely excites me, and building experiences around that. As I move forward, I’m excited to continue developing these passions and see where they will take me next.
Text: Tiffany Lim
Editor: Svetlana Ulyakhina
