Explore Your Options with 25+ Top Liberal Arts Colleges at Beijing Academy
Registration Open: Ninth ACULAC Liberal Arts College Fair in Beijing
- Date and time: May 31, 2026, 1–5 p.m.
- Venue: Beijing Academy, Dongba Street, Chaoyang District, Beijing
What Would You Like to Know?
- What is life at a liberal arts college really like?
- What can you expect from academics and daily routines?
- How can you write a compelling essay about why a college interests you?
- What can admissions officers tell you directly?
- Which careers do liberal arts graduates pursue?
- What would you like to ask current students and alumni in person?
Explore these questions at the ninth ACULAC Liberal Arts College Fair.
1. Participating Colleges
Twenty-five colleges have confirmed their participation, with more continuing to join.
2. Meet the Keynote Speaker
Keynote Speaker
Gab Liu
- Wellesley College, Class of 2019
- Previously a programmer; now works in finance
- Enjoys music and fencing, as well as cycling
3. Meet the Student and Alumni Panelists
Current Student Panelist
He Zipei
- Sarah Lawrence College, Class of 2027
- Majoring in Film Production
- An INTP with plenty of plans still waiting to happen
- Enjoys considering similarities and differences between groups of people
Current Student Panelist
Lian Haitong
- Haverford College, Class of 2027; preparing to enter Caltech's 3+2 program
- Majoring in Physics
- Studies the twisting movements of spiders and snake robots
- Dreams of being a happy gorilla climbing trees in a vast forest
Current Student Panelist
Jiang Qi'ao
- Bowdoin College, Class of 2028
- Double majoring in Environmental Studies and Economics
- From Beijing; grew up in Australia
- A nature-loving backpacker who is always traveling
Graduate Panelist
Li Xinwei
- Rhodes College, Class of 2023
- Majored in Computer Science and minored in Music, specializing in harp, with an emphasis on Theater and Media Studies
- Preparing to study Culture, Data and AI at the University of Amsterdam
Current Student Panelist
Wu Jiayi
- Wesleyan University, Class of 2028
- Double majoring in Film Studies and English; minoring in East Asian Studies
- Somewhere between ENFJ and INFP
- A humanities student who chose her hobbies as her subjects and now spends much of her time meeting deadlines
Moderator
Guo Zixin
- Mount Holyoke College, Class of 2030
- Intends to study Gender Studies and Sociology
- Co-leads this year's ACULAC event
- Listens to over 700 hours of podcasts annually and is interested in matriarchal societies
- Enjoys traveling and literature, and makes art
4. Speak with Admissions Officers
Sun Tie
Associate Director of International Admission, Rhodes College
Rhodes College
Associate Director of International Admission
Mo Lingfeng
Director of Asian Recruitment and Institutional Relations, Bard College
Bard College
Director of Asian Recruitment and Institutional Relations
Bring your experiences and questions to the conversation.
5. A Parent's Perspective on Liberal Arts Education
- Why do families choose liberal arts colleges?
- What lies at the center of liberal arts education?
- How can families communicate and offer support after enrollment?
- What are liberal arts colleges like in practice?
- How can students explore majors and careers?
- How can parents develop alongside their children?
- How much weight should families give reputation and name recognition?
- What difficulties might students encounter?
The ACULAC parent forum offers new perspectives on these questions.
Graduate Parent Panelist
Wang Ying
- Parent of a Wesleyan University Class of 2021 graduate
- Holds a doctorate in engineering
Graduate Parent Panelist
Zheng Meizhen
- Parent of a Middlebury College Class of 2025 student double majoring in Sociology and Statistics
- Her child attended the main campus of the High School Affiliated to Peking University
Current Student Parent Panelist
Liu Feifei
- Parent of a Wellesley College Class of 2027 Art History student
- Her child studied an IB curriculum in high school
Current Student Parent Panelist
He Jing
- Parent of a Sarah Lawrence College Class of 2027 student
- Her child majors in Film Production
Parents are invited to hear candid accounts from families with experience of liberal arts colleges. Panelists will discuss uncertainty during the decision process and difficulties after enrollment, alongside the development they have observed in their children.
Students hoping to attend a liberal arts college can also bring their parents to gain a better understanding together.
6. Discover What Distinguishes Each College
In ACULAC's original One Word, One School segment, each participating college's representative has one minute to explain a keyword that captures their school. It offers a quick introduction to the colleges attending. Taking notes may also help you develop specific ideas for essays explaining why a college interests you.
7. Event Schedule
The schedule may be adjusted on the day.
8. Explore the College Fair
After the presentations, representatives will welcome visitors at their college booths. Think ahead about questions you would like to ask current students. Interactive installations will also help visitors explore different aspects of liberal arts college life.
9. Registration Instructions
Step 1
Complete the registration form by following this link or scanning the QR code below.
Why We Ask for Detailed Information
Please provide details about your academic background and interests, along with colleges you are considering. This information will be shared with admissions officers to record your demonstrated interest. Many liberal arts colleges consider demonstrated interest during admissions.
Registration information supports management of this fair and arrangements on the day, along with event notifications. ACULAC keeps it separate from agency partnerships and commercial promotion. Please provide accurate details so admissions officers can identify your participation.
Step 2
After submitting the form, save a screenshot of your entry QR code. One code covers a whole family.
Step 3
Add the ACULAC assistant on WeChat and specify the session you registered for in your request. The assistant will add you to the appropriate group and can answer questions.
Completing these steps confirms your registration.
Save the entry QR code on your phone. You must present it for verification to enter campus on the day. Thank you for your cooperation.
10. Who Can Attend?
Students Preparing to Apply and Their Families
Meet representatives from many liberal arts colleges in one afternoon. Compare their atmosphere and culture, along with application approaches, and hear recent experiences from students who have just completed the process.
Students in Grades 7–12 Exploring Their Options and Their Families
Conversations with current students can help you understand what liberal arts colleges teach and how students learn there, while clarifying the environment you would enjoy.
Students Entering the College Class of 2030 and Their Families
Learn practical details about course registration and dormitories, facilities and dining, campus surroundings and transport. Meeting others before college begins can also help you build connections and feel more prepared.
High School College Counselors
Speak with current students and alumni, along with invited guests from several colleges, to gather detailed firsthand perspectives for advising students on college choices and applications.
11. Acknowledgments for the Beijing Fair
Host School:
Beijing Academy
Partner:
Xixue Qianwoli
Sponsors:
HSBC
Yingke Mobile
12. ACULAC's Commitment to Independence
ACULAC is a U.S. 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that maintains independence from study-abroad agencies.
We seek firsthand information from students and alumni, parents and admissions officers, as well as educators. Our fairs offer conversations free from sales pressure and an open, independent environment in which families can reach their own judgments.
For twelve years, ACULAC has believed that small, specific experiences often reveal what liberal arts colleges offer:
“It was almost one in the morning when my professor replied to my first draft. The comments were even longer than my essay.”
“My professor paused during class and asked, ‘Did you want to say something just now?’”
“The college theater welcomes all students. I directed my first play there while majoring in mathematics.”
“Here, I gradually discovered what I truly enjoyed.”
Firsthand experiences communicate college life with particular clarity.
Each fair brings colleges and families together, offering reliable information and answers to particular questions. We hope these conversations help people feel supported and more confident in their choices.
We look forward to welcoming you for a memorable afternoon of conversation and discovery.