The International Schools Review Forum

Any info on Discovery College in HK? If you have specifics on package versus cost of living, etc. please let me know. Savings potential on Search seems good, but there are no reviews on ISR, so would appreciate the input. Thanks!

I do not believe the information that Search received is accurate. In my opinion DC is a really good school but it is extremely expensive to get set up in HK. I don't know any first year teachers who are saving money. Honestly, most of us depleted our savings. Come for a variety of other reasons, but not for the misleading savings potential information. If you want to give me your email, I'll answer more specific questions.

Okay, thanks.
I was wondering about that.."depleted" their
savings? Yikes! that is misleading as info on Search says you can save quite a bit. I am not looking to make a ton of cash, but would at least like the opportunity to save a bit.
Thanks for the heads up.

I think it gets better once you've been here for a while. People certainly travel and enjoy life here in Hong Kong but it is an expensive city. The housing allowance typically only covers about 1/3 to 1/2 of your housing costs and there is only a one-time subsidy for travel (one-way). There is a loan that most people take to set up but you spend the rest of the year paying it off. Food costs and organized activity fees tend to be a bit high. Most transportation is reasonable. Most people seem comfortable but I would definitely say that the savings potential figures are misleading.

Having consulted and done extensive recruiting in HK, it's very difficult to save anything the first year. What Search allows schools to do is take the initial contract length (typically 2years) and average the savings over those two years. The second year helps bring up the first year. It is not really a possibility to save in HK your first year, and start up costs often exceed the allowances you receive.

I left HK after 3 years with 100,000 HK Dollars in my bank account. That's with no allowance for rent and living in Causeway Bay! If I left after 2 years I would have had maybe 7 or 8 thousand.
We didn't eat local and bought groceries at the "expensive" supermarkets.
You can save money.

DC has a good reputation in HK but it's out there in terms of travel or living.