Our Consultants
Gerry Chu
Director
Gerry Chu, Director of Apply Ivy, is a seasoned educational consultant who has worked with numerous students to successfully gain admission to top boarding schools, universities and graduate programs.
At Apply Ivy, Gerry and the team have developed a process and methodology that help applicants gain meaningful achievements through their experiences to help them stand out in the application process and prepare for the educational journey ahead through a strategic and collaborative approach that helps to build confidence. Having visited over 150 boarding schools and universities, Gerry’s experience and knowledge of schools help students to identify schools that are a good fit and to stand out amongst the sea of applicants.
Gerry earned his BS from University of Illinois and his MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University. He served as an admissions interviewer for 12 years and is an Associate Member of the Independent Educational Consultants Association (IECA). Previously, he worked as the head of Kaplan Test Prep and Admissions and has 17 years of experience in brand management, marketing, and consulting with Fortune 500 companies.
Jessica Chan
Consultant
Jessica Chan graduated from the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) with a BA in Social Anthropology. She also went to Diocesan Girls’ School in Hong Kong, before attending Stonar School and Badminton School in the UK.
Having worked with a diverse array of students, she has also taught and designed programs for all levels. She is experienced with UK and US university and boarding school applications, and is very knowledgeable about schools in Hong Kong, Canada and Australia. Every student is unique and authentic; it is Jessica’s belief that a tailor-made program is essential to support the individual needs of each student, as well as maximizing their potential and strengthening their application. She is happy to advise students on creating an all-rounded application that tells the student’s stories, and showcases their academic and extra-curricular strengths.
Jessica is also passionate about the arts, humanities, and law.
Sarah Parks
Senior Consultant
Sarah graduated from Columbia University in 2014 with a degree in East Asian Languages and Cultures, focusing on Chinese language. She also completed one year of intensive Mandarin language training at Peking University in Beijing before earning her master’s degree at the University of Cambridge in Chinese Studies.
Before joining Apply Ivy, Sarah worked in Beijing for a leading Chinese e-commerce company and a popular internet media platform. While working in Beijing, she discovered her passion for education after successfully helping a student get accepted to her dream university. When working with students, Sarah is a strong believer in the importance of “fit” and very much enjoys helping each and every student applying to both boarding school and university reach their full potential.
Carole Bird
Director
Carole has lived and worked in Hong Kong since 2004, and joined Apply Ivy as a Senior Admissions Consultant in 2008, taking over as Director in 2013. Carole focuses on advising candidates in Hong Kong and Asia on how to successfully apply to top boarding schools, colleges and graduate schools in the United States.
Carole attended Phillips Academy Andover, a top US boarding school. She then earned a BA in International Studies from Colby College, a prestigious liberal arts school in Maine, USA and an MBA from New York University’s Stern School of Business, which included five months of study at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China. Carole has conducted workshops and seminars on strategies and tactics for gaining admission to selective US schools.