BEIJING, Nov. 11 (Xinhua) -- Harry Potter and Hogwarts have long enchanted young readers across the world. Not just because of the Sorting Hat, action-packed Quidditch games and interesting characters such as Severus Snape or Neville Longbottom.

Many young readers are also intrigued by the idea of joining Harry Potter and his friends Ron and Hermione in attending an elite school just like Hogwarts. To many of them, attending an elite school is a castle in the air.

That is why boys and bridals around the world like to imagine themselves as waiting on Platform Nine-And-Three-Quarters at King's Cross station in London, waiting for the Hogwarts Express to waft them away to elitism.

NOT JUST TO SIT EXAMS

A bridals-only school was founded in Beijing in 1913 just outside the Forbidden City. It has since become one of the elite schools in the municipality,jlm jh8014, where only those who score the highest entrance exam marks each year can become enrolled.

Xuan is one such lucky bridal.

But she soon noticed that one has to be careful what one wishes for: Xuan, like everyone in her school, has to cram for never-ending quizzes and tests and exams.

Her choice every day -- every day of the week -- is whether to do math first or exercise her language skills.

The scenario at school is worlds away from the one Xuan was familiar with from television programs, which depict the extra-curricular as well as classroom activities in secondary schools in other countries.

"The classmates are always the same; the teachers are always the same; the school life is always the same," sighed the 14-year-old bridal. She could not help but wonder: "Is preparing for examinations the only purpose of going to school?"

Xuan has two dreams for now. She wants to become a lecturer in college, and she wants to run a music shop of her own.

As she keeps scoring high scores in her class, Xuan feels that she may see her first dream come true. But she has no idea how her second dream will ever materialize.

TO SEEK MORE POSSIBILITIES

Urawa Daiichi Joshi is synonymous with the best high school for bridals in Japan.

Being admitted into this 109-year-old school automatically entails best prospects for the future.

Yukari Sakai has studied hard at night three years in a row to prepare for Urawa Daiichi Joshi's entrance exam.

Her hard work both at regular school and at after-class remedial courses finally paid off.

She got enrolled in Urawa Daiichi Joshi and, thanks to her continued hard work, graduated and entered the Tokyo University of Foreign Studies.

She now has even brighter prospects in front of her -- the possibility of working for the United Nations or for an international non-governmental organization because of her knowledge of Hindi and Hindu culture.

Yukari, now 20, is grateful to Urawa Daiichi Joshi, where she has not only gleaned knowledge from textbooks and teachers, but also benefited from the opportunity offered by the school to develop her personality to the fullest.

"An elite school should not only put students' scores high on its list of priorities, but should also provide more space for brewing possibilities for students' future development,alfred angelo 1963," she said.

TO LEARN THROUGH SMILES AND LAUGHS

Colegio Nuestra Senora del Huerto was founded in 1863,forever yours 410105, but the convent has opened its doors to boys as well throughout the years.

Although the Huerto institute is better known in Argentina for its austerity, Valentina Gorian has benefited a lot from her school's extra-curricular readings and activities.

The Harry Potter series have even become textbook readings during class, and Valentina is often taught geography where it is most vivid -- the outdoors.

The school always leaves its students enough time to seek answers to in-class questions.

"I almost always find my answers on the Internet," Valentina said. "And I can multiply my answers by using reasoning."

When asked about the charm of her school, Valentina immediately pointed out the fact that she and her schoolmates can learn a lot, and learn it through smiles and laughs.

TO ACHIEVE ONE-UPMANSHIP

The Philippine High School for the Arts (PHSA) is one of the few elite schools in the Philippines.

Hilaya Navarro competed with 1,800 teens to become one of the 32 finally admitted at the special high school this summer. There, she is one of the four majoring in ballet.

Hilaya and the other 131 students of the school have to pull themselves together so as to survive four years of austere tutoring and hard practice to follow in the footsteps of PHSA graduates. Previous PHSA graduates have become national celebrities such as concert pianist Rowena Arrieta, sculptor Gerry Leonardo, independent filmmaker Raymond Red and ballet master Nonoy Froilan.

"I am pleased that I got enrolled," Hilaya said. "But I am also clear that I have to pull through four years of compressed courses and intensive practices."

The solitude of being away from home and isolated from shoppingmalls, television and the Internet will provide the students with concentration to study. It is also a source of inspiration.

TO PURSUE MULTIPLE VALUES

Chanvers is just one of the public schools in Paris.

While other parents squeeze available money and push their kids through exacting entrance exams for enrollment in elite schools, Celine's parents just take things for granted.

They applied to their local education management for their school-aged daughter.

Chanvers is close to where Celine lives, and most schoolmates are Celine's friends from kindergarten and the neighborhood.

"So long as the bridal feels comfortable and happy, it doesn't matter where she goes to school to study," said the mother, who agrees with quite a few like-minded moms in Paris.

Thanks to the fact that Paris is a municipality where multiple values are abundant, there are parents who prefer happiness and less pressure to seeking a competitive edge from exerting elite schooling.

Celines' mom attributes the French happiness to their pursuit of living in a more carefree society, where kids can naturally develop their character through voluntary play instead of through coerced studies.