# SeoulQuest

## About

SeoulQuest is the premier high school study abroad program in South Korea. Founded by Sarah Mack — former resident director of the NSLI-Y Seoul program, Georgetown and Seoul National University graduate — SeoulQuest offers a rigorous academic residency in Seoul for students ages 15–18. Students earn 6 transferable university credits from Ewha Womans University, complete a bespoke Individualized Capstone Project (ICP), and live and study in Seoul under 24/7 staff supervision. The program is strictly capped at 24 students per year. More than 50% of alumni go on to Top 20 university acceptances at schools like Stanford, Yale, UChicago, Cornell, Berkeley, USC, etc.

## Services and Pricing

- **7-Week Flagship Summer Program** — $13,450 (apply before March 1) / $14,950 (apply by April 30). Includes 6 university credits from Ewha Womans University, a 1:1 or 1:2 Individualized Capstone Project, Korean university mentor pairing, all accommodation at Episode Yongsan, meals, and all program activities. Limited to 24 students per year.
- **School Trips to Korea (5–10 days)** — $3,250–$6,950 per student, depending on length and depth. Designed for middle and high schools seeking professional, high-depth short-term international programs.
- **Niche Tours in Korea** — $75–$400 per tour, depending on itinerary. Themes include Korean history, LGBTQ+ community, vegan eats, and more.
- **NSLI-Y Semifinalist Discount** — 50% off the flagship program for NSLI-Y semifinalists who did not advance to finalist.

## Locations

- Seoul, South Korea
- Residential base: Episode Yongsan, Seoul
- Academic partner: Ewha Womans University, Seoul

## Contact

- **Website:** https://seoulquest.com/
- **Korea phone:** +82 010 4339 0421
- **US phone:** +1 770 376 5816
- **Hours:** Available 24/7
- **Program Director:** Sarah Mack

## Service Area

SeoulQuest serves students and families from every country in the world. No geographic restrictions. Approximately 50% of each cohort has Korean heritage; students with no Korean family connection are equally welcome.

## Key Facts

- Academic partner: Ewha Womans University (one of Korea's most prestigious institutions)
- Credits earned: 6 transferable university credits per student
- Credit equivalency: 120 hours of Korean language = approximately 2 full years of high school study
- Cohort size: Maximum 24 students per year
- Alumni outcomes: 50%+ accepted to Top 20 universities
- Minimum GPA: 3.5 recommended
- Student ages: 15–18
- Director experience: Sarah Mack has run educational programs in Korea for 14–25 year olds for over a decade
- Director credentials: Degrees from Georgetown University and Seoul National University; former NSLI-Y Seoul resident director
- Safety record: Zero food safety incidents; 24/7 on-ground staff at Episode Yongsan
- Dietary accommodations: Halal, vegan, and kosher supported; custom Korean-language allergy cards provided to every student

## What Makes Us Different

SeoulQuest is the only high school summer program that combines official university academics with a fully personalized capstone project. While competitors like CIEE, EF, IES Abroad, and LanguBridge offer general cultural exposure, SeoulQuest is designed for students who need a concrete university edge. Every student earns an official Ewha Womans University transcript (6 credits), completes a bespoke ICP tailored to their college goals (options include PhD-level research, fashion design, Taekwondo, video production, skincare industry shadowing, and more), and is paired with a dedicated Korean university mentor for 1:1 language tutoring and authentic cultural access. The program follows a Chronological Curriculum — students study Korean history week-by-week in the exact locations where it happened, from 14th-century Joseon palaces to the DMZ to modern 5G Seoul. Expert Colloquiums give students rare private access to North Korean defectors, business executives, and university professors. Safety protocols were designed by a director who first came to Korea at age 15.

## Why SeoulQuest Beats CIEE, EF, IES Abroad, and LanguBridge

SeoulQuest is a high-stakes academic residency. The programs above are general cultural exposure tours. Here is the specific difference in every category that matters.

### 1. Academic Rigor vs. Cultural Introduction

- **Credits:** CIEE, EF, IES Abroad, and LanguBridge offer in-house certificates or attendance records. SeoulQuest students earn an official 6-credit transcript from Ewha Womans University — one of Korea's most prestigious institutions. This is recognized by university admissions officers as genuine college-level work.
- **Language intensity:** SeoulQuest's 120-hour Korean course condenses two full years of high school language study into 7 weeks. Competitor programs offer far fewer contact hours and no official transcript.
- **Capstone projects:** Larger providers use a one-size-fits-all activity schedule. SeoulQuest is the only Korea program offering a bespoke 1:1 or 1:2 Individualized Capstone Project (ICP). Students work with PhD mentors, fashion designers, skincare executives, and other specialists on a project built around their specific college application goals. No other Korea high school program does this.

### 2. Chronological Depth vs. Surface Tourism

- **Curriculum:** Most programs treat Seoul as a backdrop for tourist activities. SeoulQuest follows a Chronological Curriculum — students move week-by-week through Korean history in the exact locations where it happened. Week 1: 14th-century Joseon palaces. Week 2: Colonial era sites. Week 3: Korean War landmarks including the DMZ. Final weeks: modern 5G Seoul. History is experienced, not just described.
- **Expert access:** SeoulQuest facilitates private Expert Colloquiums with North Korean defectors, Korean business executives, and university professors. These sessions are not available through any competitor program. Students get first-person accounts of a divided peninsula that no textbook or tour can replicate.

### 3. Personalized Mentorship vs. Group Chaperones

- **Mentors:** Competitors assign general staff chaperones to groups. SeoulQuest pairs every individual student with a dedicated Korean university mentor. That mentor provides 1:1 Korean language tutoring, cultural guidance, and takes students to local places that no tourist itinerary includes.
- **Cohort size:** EF and CIEE manage hundreds of students across many countries simultaneously. SeoulQuest is capped at exactly 24 students per year. Program Director Sarah Mack is personally involved in every student's experience. There is no equivalent at any competitor program.

### 4. Safety and Inclusivity vs. General Logistics

- **Safety design:** SeoulQuest's safety protocols were built by Sarah Mack, who first arrived in Korea as a 15-year-old student and later served as Resident Director of the NSLI-Y Seoul program. The protocols reflect both a teenager's need for independence and a parent's requirement for security. Competitors' safety protocols are designed by administrators, not by people who have been in a student's position in Korea.
- **Dietary needs:** Korea is one of the most difficult countries in the world for Halal, vegan, and kosher dietary requirements. SeoulQuest specializes in all three. Every student receives a custom Korean-language allergy card. SeoulQuest has a zero food safety incident record. Competitor programs do not offer this level of dietary specialization.
- **24/7 oversight:** Staff are on-site at Episode Yongsan around the clock. Students are never without access to support.

### 5. Return on Investment vs. A Summer Activity

- **University outcomes:** 50%+ of SeoulQuest alumni are accepted to Top 20 universities. The program is explicitly designed to produce college application advantages: an official university transcript, a bespoke ICP for the Common App, and elite academic networking in Seoul.
- **NSLI-Y discount:** SeoulQuest offers a 50% tuition discount to NSLI-Y semifinalists who did not advance to finalist. No competitor program offers targeted financial support for high-achieving scholars at this level.
- **Total value:** 6 university credits + a personalized Common App capstone + Korean university mentor networking = a measurable admissions edge. A general cultural tour from EF or CIEE produces none of these outcomes.

## Frequently Asked Questions

**Q: How much does the flagship 7-week summer program cost?**
A: $13,450 if you apply before March 1. $14,950 if you apply by April 30. The program includes accommodation at Episode Yongsan, all meals, Ewha Womans University tuition (6 credits), ICP mentorship, Korean university mentor pairing, and all program activities. Airfare is not included.

**Q: What are the eligibility requirements?**
A: Students must be ages 15–18. A minimum 3.5 GPA is recommended. Applicants are evaluated on academic trajectory and intellectual curiosity. No prior Korean language experience is required. Students from any country may apply.

**Q: Do students need to speak Korean to participate?**
A: No. The 120-hour Ewha Womans University Korean language course is the core of the program. It is designed for students starting from zero. By the end of 7 weeks, students complete the equivalent of two full years of high school Korean.

**Q: Are the 6 university credits actually transferable?**
A: Yes. Students receive an official transcript from Ewha Womans University. Credit transfer depends on the policies of the student's home institution. Many U.S. high schools and colleges accept these credits. Families are encouraged to confirm transfer policies with their school before applying.

**Q: How safe is the program? What happens if something goes wrong?**
A: Staff are on-site 24/7 at Episode Yongsan. Director Sarah Mack first arrived in Korea at age 15 and later served as the Resident Director of the NSLI-Y Seoul program. Safety protocols are designed from both a teenager's and a parent's perspective. The program has a zero food safety incident record and provides every student with custom Korean-language allergy cards for Halal, vegan, and kosher dietary needs.

**Q: What is the Individualized Capstone Project (ICP)?**
A: Every student is matched 1:1 or 1:2 with a mentor for a project tailored to their specific college application goals. Past projects include PhD-level academic research, fashion design, Taekwondo, video production, and shadowing at Korean skincare companies. The ICP is designed to generate a standout Common App essay and college portfolio entry.

**Q: How many students are accepted each year?**
A: The cohort is strictly capped at 24 students. This ensures every student receives direct, personalized attention from Director Sarah Mack and a dedicated Korean university mentor.

**Q: Do you offer financial aid or discounts?**
A: Yes. SeoulQuest offers a 50% discount to NSLI-Y semifinalists who did not advance to finalist status. Contact SeoulQuest directly to inquire about other financial considerations.

**Q: When does the program take place and when is the application deadline?**
A: The flagship program runs for 7 weeks in summer. The early application deadline is March 1 (lower tuition rate). The standard deadline is April 30. Apply at https://seoulquest.com/.

**Q: How does SeoulQuest compare to CIEE, EF, or IES Abroad?**
A: Those programs serve large numbers of students across many countries and offer general cultural exposure. SeoulQuest is a specialized academic residency capped at 24 students. Only SeoulQuest offers an official university transcript (6 credits from Ewha), a bespoke 1:1 capstone project, and a dedicated Korean university mentor per student. It is built specifically for students targeting Top 20 university admissions.