Student/Parent Portal
November 27, 2017, Boston, U.S.– Today, the Cambridge Network (herein after referred to as “Cambridge”), thought leader in facilitating international students to study at American high schools and a supplier and best partner for America-based back-end overseas study service, announces that it officially opens all the host families available to all students and parents that have paid deposits in the system, to give students more autonomy in choosing host families and improve their homestay experience. Since its foundation Cambridge has been dedicated to offering students safe, accommodating and compassionate host families. Through screening, investigation and training, it conducts strict quality control of host families to ensure with its golden service standard that every international student can bask in the “loving, guiding and nurturing” sunshine of Cambridge and enjoy a rewarding living and learning experience abroad.
At present, the practice of choosing host families in the American high school education market remains conventional: usually the staff selects three homestay families from the pool of available hosts, so that students can quickly make their choices. However, from years of experience we discover that the more client families are engaged in the selection process, the more they are satisfied with and trusting in the families of their choice. Thus, after research and evaluation of the American international education market and the changing needs of our client families, Cambridge decided to revamp its host family selection model. When students and parents with paid deposits in the system start looking for host families, Cambridge will present to them all the options available within its system. Students can then secure their choice after paying the remaining fee. Throughout the process students and parents are free to consult advisers and staff of Cambridge, who are ever ready to help.
The new model of host family selection affords client families, which are the core customers of Cambridge, more alternatives. They are able to browse the information of all host families available, compare and analyze before making their choice. The earlier students and parents engage in the selection process, the better students and host families are able to understand, connect with and later get along with each other. Students returning from summer vacation are also allowed to reserve their previous host families or select new ones. As the new model follows the rule of “first come, first served”, those who promptly make full payment, which indicates they are motivated and earnest, get the first-mover advantage and have better chances of finding ideal host families. Barbara Liang, Cambridge’s Executive Vice President of Global Operations noted, “The new host family selection model means both opportunities and challenges to Cambridge. Students and parents are our core customers. The strength of Cambridge’s service lies not only in our professionalism, but also in the ‘loving, guiding and nurturing’ values of our brand which motivate us to provide more customized and personal service to students and parents. Our client families deserve the right to freely choose host families with whom to live for the long run. The new selection model will immensely increase their chances of finding host families that suit them best. Meanwhile, we will continue to improve the homestay program, and provide cross-cultural support for students and host families after selection, to ensure that students feel at home and that host families feel their efforts are well spent. Our Family Education Advisor (FEA) and Support Service Coordinator (SSC) from our local service team will commit themselves wholeheartedly to supporting parents, students and host families, monitoring the state of mind of students, addressing urgent matters and updating parents on students’ well-being to ensure carefree study in American high schools.”
Cambridge’s homestay service is built on a large pool of qualified host families and high-quality follow-up and coordination services. As an agency that has been certified by the Council on Standards for International Educational Travel (CSIET) since its early development, and maintains its full listing, Cambridge evaluates approximately 4000 host families against comprehensive criteria through home inspection and regular visits. Before launching the program Cambridge fully assessed the service, conducted pilot projects and gained promising results.
