Highlights from the SSAT and EMA School–Agency Connect
From November 14-21, Sunrise partnered with SSAT and the Enrollment Management Association to host the SSAT Official Briefing and EMA Overseas High School Partner Connect across Guangzhou, Shanghai, and Beijing. The series brought together 30+ overseas boarding schools and 80+ Chinese education agencies, creating a high value platform for training, direct communication, and early stage partnership development. Across all three cities, the agent speed dating sessions generated 300+ meaningful conversations, giving schools and agencies a rare opportunity to exchange insights efficiently.
The event began with an in depth briefing by SSAT Global Director of Admission John Williamson and SSAT Associate Director of Partnerships Dr. Mary O’Connor. They provided updates on the upcoming SSAT cycle, clarified scoring and percentile interpretation, and addressed the advising challenges agencies often encounter when guiding families. Their insights helped agencies strengthen their understanding of admissions expectations and the evaluation frameworks used by leading U.S. boarding schools.
A major highlight of the series was the agent speed dating session. Sunrise supported the full preparation process and worked closely with both schools and agencies. Drawing on past event networks and our knowledge of the agency landscape, we identified strong potential partners, guided them through the reservation system, and checked in frequently to ensure each agency completed its scheduling. On site, our team supported check in, coordinated session timing, and provided event photography for participating schools.
During the speed dating sessions, schools met with agencies in rapid, structured conversations that allowed both sides to explore alignment and discuss recruitment priorities. Schools shared program strengths, student support structures, and long term plans for China recruitment, while agencies offered valuable insights on parent concerns, program preferences, and the qualities families increasingly look for in overseas boarding schools. These conversations help schools position themselves to better support students and build more resilient pathways into China.
As overseas schools plan their next steps, Sunrise is here to help strengthen these connections and design partnership strategies that support long term success. Stay tuned for more resources, events, and practical tools for your international recruitment strategy.