#GraduateStory | BAID Memories of the Class of 2026!

7/14/2026

The BAID Class of 2026 includes more than 80 students applying to universities overseas. Based on preliminary figures as of April 3, students have received 587 offers from 146 universities across 12 countries and regions.

Among students applying to U.S. national universities and liberal arts colleges, 48.9% were admitted to institutions ranked in the U.S. News Top 30, based on the 2026 U.S. News rankings and counting each student only once. This continues BAID's strong record of admission to leading U.S. universities and colleges.

In the U.K., as of April 3, the G5 admission rate reached 48.8%, while the Russell Group admission rate reached 100%. Students received offers from leading institutions including the University of Oxford, Imperial College London, the London School of Economics and Political Science, and University College London.

This year, 29 students applied to universities in Hong Kong SAR China. Seven received a total of 8 offers from Hong Kong SAR China's Top 3 universities: the University of Hong Kong, the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, and the Chinese University of Hong Kong. This represents an admission rate of 24%. Students applying to universities in other countries also received offers from leading institutions in their respective destinations, while applicants in the arts earned admission to highly regarded programs in their fields, with many also receiving substantial scholarships.

The Class of 2026 is Beijing Academy's seventh graduating class and the third cohort admitted since the AP courses formally opened enrollment to students from outside the school. Their growth has been supported by strengths that have developed over many years: extensive opportunities for personalized academic research, a close community of students and teachers, strong collaboration between families and the school, and a shared commitment to education across the faculty and staff.

Over the past nine years, the BAID AP courses have grown from its earliest stages into an established international education program. Throughout this process, faculty and staff have maintained high academic standards and clear professional practices while bringing together educational resources from around the world to support each student's individual development.

Beijing Academy has long valued close collaboration between families and the school, strong relationships between teachers and students, and abundant opportunities for every student to pursue individual interests and ambitions. Its teaching philosophy of "trust, discovery, support, and guidance," together with teachers' deep commitment to their students, has helped build a closely connected and energetic BA community.

Since its first graduating class in 2020, the school has continued to expand both the breadth and quality of its university admissions outcomes. Each graduating class has included students admitted to Ivy League institutions or universities ranked in the U.S. News Top 10. The Class of 2026 has reached new milestones in several areas, including the number of offers from U.S. Top 10 and Top 20 universities, the U.K. G5 admission rate, and the proportion of students receiving offers from Hong Kong SAR China's Top 3 universities, marking another significant year for international education at Beijing Academy.

BAID Memories

Ryan Li

Carleton College

Environmental Science & Chemistry

Favorite Spot on Campus:

My favorite spot is the second-floor library at the Jinzhan Campus. In Grade 11, while preparing for the AP exams, many of my close friends would study there. It holds so many wonderful memories for me—chatting with classmates, studying, discussing problems... all those moments are still vivid.

Favorite BAID Courses:

AP Micro: The teacher was incredibly engaging, and we built a relationship that was both teacher and friend;
AP Chemistry: The teacher made lessons fun by using real-life examples to help us understand concepts;
AP Seminar: It greatly improved my English writing and reading skills.

Favorite BAID Activity:

The project-based courses in BAID's Experiential Course and Beijing Culture Exploration Program were very interesting. They strengthened friendships with classmates and sharpened my skills in writing papers, giving presentations, and communicating with others.

The Person at BAID Who Left the Deepest Impression:

Classmate Sun Yumo left the deepest impression on me during my three years of high school. We met through the Experiential Course, shared many courses, studied together, and played basketball—these moments carried me through Grade 12.

Amanda Zhu

University of California, Irvine

Social Policy and Public Service

Favorite Spot on Campus:

As the application season came to an end, graduation quietly arrived. Having spent more than three years at BAID, I have countless deep memories here. Among the three campuses where I studied and lived, the tennis courts at the Jinzhan Campus remain what I miss most. The Jinzhan Campus is not large, and the tennis courts are not exactly new, but it was there that tennis became my outlet for releasing pressure during the most challenging yet fulfilling two years of my studies. Even more precious, the sport brought me together with people who were once just "ordinary classmates" and turned them into close friends with whom I could share anything.

Ruolin Zhao

Boston University

Sociology

Favorite Spot on Campus:

I actually have two favorite spots at BAID. One is the café at the Jinzhan Campus, where I often studied and discussed projects with friends; it is filled with beautiful memories for me. After we moved to the new campus, my favorite place shifted to BAID's library. The environment is exceptionally quiet, and I spent most of my Grade 12 time there studying and preparing application materials. The library houses a rich collection of books, with a strong learning atmosphere that has inspired me in many ways.

Favorite BAID Course:

The most memorable course for me was the Ceramic Culture Appreciation course in the first semester of Grade 10, when we were still studying at the Jinzhan Campus. Under the guidance of Master Teacher of Fine Arts Zhu Chonglang, I learned a great deal about ceramic-making techniques and cultural knowledge. With his meticulous instruction, I completed a ceramic ornament titled "Dream" and took part in the Shanghai Youth Ceramic Exhibition. I created a large pencil tower, with a small figure climbing up the steps—that little figure was a reflection of myself. This course opened the door to the world of ceramics for me. Afterwards, the school organized a Jingdezhen research trip, where Teacher Wang from the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Fine Arts Teacher Ren Qiuming led us to explore the past and present of Chinese ceramic art in depth, helping me fully integrate theoretical knowledge with hands-on experience. All these connected cultural exploration experiences made their way into my application essays.

Favorite BAID Activity:

Campus activities at BAID are exceptionally rich, whether organized by teachers or initiated by students, and every one of them is wonderful. The Zhongqiu Poem Festival, the Chinese and English Drama Festival, and other events all left a deep impression on me. In particular, the experience of working together with classmates to complete various activities will stay with me for life. I am also especially fond of "BAID's Got Talent," which is a vivid reflection of BAID's open and inclusive atmosphere. Every student can confidently showcase their talents, and even when performances are not perfect, everyone sincerely offers encouragement and applause.

Stellar He

University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Physics

Favorite Spot on Campus:

If I had to pick my favorite place, I would choose the second-floor self-study area of Guang'an Building. It is rarely crowded, very quiet, and the temperature is comfortable. During the application season, I often sat there working on my essays, sometimes taking a break on the sofa. For me, it was also a space where I could calm down and reorganize my thoughts. During finals, I would also spend long hours there. Looking back now, this unassuming little corner held a great deal of the focus and determination that defined my Grade 12.

The Most Memorable Experience at BAID:

The activity that left the deepest mark was a visit in Grade 10 from the Yale Alley Cats a cappella group. The students gave us a pure a cappella performance with no accompaniment, and the overall atmosphere was deeply moving. After performing several English songs, they also sang a Chinese song, which was a delightful surprise for the audience. After the performance, there was a brief exchange session. What struck me most was that we did not only discuss academics; we also shared life experiences and experiences shaped by different cultural backgrounds. In that moment, I realized for the first time that, at BAID, learning and growth themselves can be open and diverse in the most wonderful way. I remember that shortly after the performance ended, I had to take part in the PhysicsBowl competition. I had been a little nervous, but after hearing the Alley Cats sing, my nerves gradually settled. The calm I felt in that moment stayed with me for a long time afterward.

Arthur Jiang

Reed College

Undecided Major

Favorite BAID Course:

The course that left the deepest impression on me was AP Art History in the first semester of Grade 11. Before that, my exposure to art had mostly been through drawing and models. Art History offered an appreciation of art from historical and social perspectives, which felt completely different. Teacher Ren Qiuming also made the lessons very engaging. I remember one lecture on Japanese shrines, where she talked about the structure of the eaves, the sculptures inside the temples, and their relationship with Japanese culture, which greatly sparked my curiosity. I associated it with the Parthenon—before, I had only thought of it as grand; afterward, I began to consider the historical and political context behind it. This course had a particularly profound impact on me.

Favorite BAID Student Club:

What helped me most was the Model Painting and Finishing Club that I co-founded with a classmate. Before, model painting had simply been a personal hobby; after founding the club, it became something we had to pass on to younger students, sharing our passion with them. The process of mentoring gave me a strong sense of fulfillment.

Sunny Liu

University of California, Berkeley

Genetics & Plant Biology

Favorite BAID Course:

My favorite is AP Psychology. Of all the courses I took at BAID, this one was the most interesting—both the content and Teacher Lyu Ming's teaching style were engaging and rewarding. Teacher Lyu is rigorous and objective in scholarship, clear and accessible in instruction, witty and humorous in delivery, and a rare mentor and friend.

Favorite BAID Activity:

My favorite activity was the two years I spent on the school team BAID-China competing in iGEM with different teammates. From a beginner who couldn't even write a literature review to a relatively experienced researcher capable of presenting and defending our work, I have so many unforgettable memories from those two years. We had heated arguments, pulled off back-to-back experiments, shared moments of exhilarating intensity, and endured painful failures. At the time, physical exhaustion and inner joy merged within me. Some sorrows were simply pure grievance and unwillingness, but when I look back now, they only reflect the most beautiful moments of the past. BAID-China, thank you for your companionship! I look forward to seeing the Grade 11 and Grade 12 students on the 27/28 school team use our campus laboratories to compete.

The fancy chicken leg featured on my iGEM profile page

The People at BAID Who Left the Deepest Impression:

Grade 12 was truly a magical year. I quickly became close with many new friends who share my "smells," so to speak. It turns out that friendship is sometimes about quality rather than duration, and being bold in reaching out brings unexpected rewards. You are probably the people who left the deepest impression on me! If only we had met earlier. This reminds us that we should reach out socially as early as possible, especially on an open platform like Beijing Academy.

The tentacles of social power

Arnold Zhang

Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology

Electrical Engineering

Favorite Spot on Campus:

My favorite is the piano in the school lobby. From the Jinzhan Campus to our current main campus, this piano has essentially accompanied my entire high school life. I usually play for a while before evening self-study, sometimes at noon or before PE class, and often play with classmates. I have a fixed piece for nearly every stage. During the application season, my classmate and I often played "Call of Silence" together; the way it begins gently and softly and gradually grows more powerful felt a lot like my own state at the time. Another special thing about playing in the lobby is that there are always "audience members." Passing classmates and teachers sometimes pause to listen for a moment. Once, a younger student saw me standing beside the piano and immediately offered me the seat. Through this, I gradually became more confident and met many others who share my love of music. The piano has allowed me to retain a passion-driven form of expression beyond academics—a way of being that BAID gave me.

The Person at BAID Who Left the Deepest Impression:

One teacher who left a deep impression on me is Teacher Liang Xiao. At first, my impression of her was mainly about academic and activity support—for example, she encouraged me to take on more school affairs and actively advocated for me in important selections such as the BAID Student of the Year and the Beijing Municipal Outstanding Student Leader recognition. Only later did I gradually realize that her support extended far beyond this. When the application season arrived, communication between me and my family became somewhat tense, and I had assumed it was something I needed to handle on my own. It was only later that I learned Teacher Liang had communicated with my parents behind the scenes many times, helping to ease their emotions and offering very useful suggestions. The fact that I was able to devote myself relatively steadily to Grade 12 studies and application preparation owes a great deal to her support in places I "could not see." Looking back now, this kind of companionship—guiding me academically while also supporting me in life—is not only the deepest impression Teacher Liang left on me, but also a common warmth that I sense in BAID teachers.

Jackson Niu

University of California, Santa Barbara

Biology

The Person at BAID Who Left the Deepest Impression:

Looking back on the whole application process, many key decisions were not made alone. From choosing the direction of activities to selecting competitions and planning the overall application timeline, I received a great deal of help. I especially want to thank my college counselor Teacher Li Yuxuan. At times when I had not yet figured things out for myself, she would patiently discuss different possibilities with me. Looking back, many of her suggestions actually helped me avoid detours at critical junctures. Anxiety and uncertainty are inevitable during this period, but after every conversation with Teacher Li, things seemed to gradually become clearer. Now that I look back on those rounds of discussion, revision, and reflection, they have become an important part of my high school memories. To meet such a serious, responsible teacher who is always willing to help students think things through at this stage was a great blessing for me.

Calvin Wu

Imperial College London

Design Engineering

Favorite Spot on Campus:

My favorite spot at BAID is the sports field. For me, it was more than just a place for PE class and training—it felt like the densest backdrop of my high school memories. Many evenings, I trained there with my baseball teammates, repeating the basics of fielding, batting, and base running over and over. When the team first came together, our skills were uneven; some of us were still unfamiliar with the movements, others still hazy on the rules. But after every practice, we would gather to debrief and joke with one another. The sunset fell on the track, and the sounds of bats striking balls, teammates calling out to one another, and sneakers scraping the ground all blended together. Looking back now, those ordinary daily practices are what I miss even more than the competitions.

Favorite BAID Student Club:

My favorite is the Physics and Engineering Club. It gave me my first clear sense that knowledge does not only live in textbooks—it can also become the parts on the table, the sketches on the whiteboard, and the revisions after repeated failures. We organized physics lectures and experiments, and also guided younger students in preparing for AP Physics. Often, after school, the classroom lights would still be on, with draft paper, tools, and equipment left out on the desks. Everyone gathered around a problem to discuss—some wrote formulas, some tinkered, some proposed new ideas. The atmosphere was not noisy, yet full of vitality. It made me feel that exploration itself is a fascinating thing.

The Most Memorable Experience at BAID:

What left a deep impression on me is that BAID gave me many "firsts." The first time I stepped onto the stage in Hamilton, I was extremely nervous, afraid of forgetting my lines and worried that my performance would not feel natural. During rehearsals, we ran through blocking, lines, and rhythm over and over until, when the music began, my body could naturally slip into the role. My experiences in the Robotics Club and the F1 in Schools Club were similar: at first, faced with parts, models, and competition rules, I often felt overwhelmed. After discussing, revising, and testing with my teammates, abstract concepts gradually became concrete. Many such moments of growth in high school did not happen when the applause rose, but during the process of repeated practice and adjustment.

Emily Zhao

Parsons School of Design

Fashion Design

Favorite BAID Course:

Not long after entering high school, I was determined to pursue an arts path. But for a long while, I could not pinpoint which specific major suited me best. It was not until Grade 11, when I took AP Art and Design as an elective, that I truly realized my passion for art and design—I love expressing my inner world through images and installations. During the process of completing my work, I gradually solidified my major direction. Last spring, I completed my first complete piece, Principle Shall. From the initial brainstorming, to the sparks of inspiration during research, to the completion of the final work, I faced many challenges and gained immense joy and a sense of accomplishment. Using cloth as paper and thread as brush, I told the story of my own growth. In my eyes, every piece born is a concrete vessel of memory and growth. Whenever inspiration quietly arrives, I become even more certain that this is what my heart pursues, and what I wish to pursue for life. From beginning to end, I have carried one hundred percent passion for the major I chose.

The Person at BAID Who Left the Deepest Impression:

I am especially grateful to my arts and college counselor, Ren Qiuming. From Grade 10 to Grade 12, Teacher Ren offered me invaluable guidance on my AP courses, portfolio, and essays, helping me grow step by step into a better version of myself. I still remember a sentence she said to me in Grade 11: "A student's work can also become a teacher's inspiration." That made me feel that my creations and ideas were truly respected and recognized. It is precisely this recognition that has helped me find my direction again in countless moments of uncertainty and unease, and has made me all the more certain of my choice.

Jiaxu Shen

The University of Hong Kong

Science A

Favorite Spot on Campus:

My favorite spot at BAID is the table tennis room at the new campus. Located on the second floor of Xuanwu Building, it is very convenient, with many tables and plenty of free slots most of the time. So during my usual breaks, I could always find a chance to play a few games with classmates. This allowed me to stay active at school while also experiencing a unique joy in study and gaming. At the start of Grade 12, I knew nothing about table tennis. Later, while exploring the campus, I discovered this court and gradually took it up. My classmates taught me the very basics of serving, and then walked me step by step through different techniques of receiving and serving. From being unable to return a serve at first, to managing a few returns, to actively trying newly learned swing techniques—I made friends along the way and experienced the fulfillment of learning a new skill. Following table tennis matches with classmates, chatting about favorite players, and sharing funny moments on the court also brought me another kind of pure joy.

Favorite BAID Course:

Among courses, my favorite BAID course is AP Chemistry. Teacher Hu Mingbo, who teaches it, has a vivid and engaging teaching style that is very appealing. In daily learning, he explains every point in detail and is very responsible to every student. Whenever I encountered problems I could not solve in homework, going to Teacher Hu always yielded patient and thorough explanations. By the second semester of Grade 11, as the AP exam approached, Teacher Hu walked us through every knowledge point one by one, explaining the mistakes from our mock exams. What stands out most is that a few days before the exam, he used his own rest time to assign us practice questions to help us maintain our condition; the night before the exam, he also held a video meeting to go through all the knowledge points once more. Whenever my mock results fell short, Teacher Hu would proactively talk with me, point out my weak areas, and pay special attention to me in class, reminding me to listen carefully. Before the official exam, he would also remind me repeatedly of points I tended to overlook. It is precisely because of these experiences that AP Chemistry has left me with a memory that is both fulfilling and joyful.

This AI translation is provided for reference only. Please verify with original Chinese version.