Parent Information FairHigher EducationPresented bySusie Blomfield and Marisa Jackson

Discovery College29 August 2019

HEO INTRODUCTION

Mrs. Susie BlomfieldHigher Education Counsellor

Mrs. Marisa Jackson Higher Education Counsellor

Ms. Dorothy NgHigher Education Assistant

Today’s Agenda

1. Introduction of HEO staff

2. University destinations of DC students

3. Aim and role of the HEO

4. Brief Overview, Strategies and advice

5. Communicating with the HEO

6. Student Sharing

7. Q & A

Class of 2019 - University Destination

Class of 2019 - University Major

Highlights from 2016-19● Cambridge● Oxford● LSE● Imperial● UCL● Durham● Manchester● Edinburgh● Sheffield ● Birmingham

● Loughborough● Exeter● Queen Mary● York● Warwick● Goldsmiths● Nottingham Trent● Bath● Bristol● St. Andrews

Highlights from 2016-19

● UPenn● Duke University● Bates College● UC Berkeley● UCLA● UC San Diego● USC● Boston College● University of Oregon● Loyola University Chicago● AMDA

● UC Santa Barbara● Wesleyan● NYU● University of Illinois-Urbana

Champaign ● Barnard College, Columbia

University● Northeastern University● SCAD● CalArts● Chapman University

Highlights from 2016-19

● University of British Columbia (UBC)

● University of Toronto● McGill● Waterloo● Ryerson● Simon Fraser University● Vancouver Film School● Victoria

Highlights from 2016-19

● UNSW● Melbourne● Sydney● RMIT● UTS● Queensland● WAAPA

● HKU● HKUST● CUHK● SCAD● CityU● PolyU● Lingnan● EdU● HK Culinary Academy● HKUSpace

● Ritsumeikan University● Waseda University● Hokkaido University● Keio University

● Yonsei University● Seoul National ● Korea University

● Utrecht University● Hotel School the Hague● University of Amsterdam● University of Amsterdam

Applied Sciences● Leiden University● Eindhoven University of

Technology

● Charles University

● Trinity College Dublin● University College Cork● RCSI

To find a pathway that is the ‘right fit’ for YOU academically, socially and culturally.

Our Aim

How we achieve our aim

●We start early●Career and personality profiles●Work closely with student,

teachers and parents●Group sessions● Individual counselling sessions●Workshops●Site visits/university fairs●Summer

programmes/participation in ECAs, CAS

OUR ROLE● To maximize students’ opportunities of getting

“good” university offers

● To guide students through the whole application process

● To provide the tools for students to research and identify possible careers and HE options

● To implement a set of deadlines in order for university applications to be submitted in a timely and effective manner

HEO Team

Ms Susie BlomfieldHigher Education Counsellor(Learning Team C, D, R)

Mrs Marisa JacksonHigher Education Counsellor(Learning Team S, V, Y)

Ms Dorothy NgHigher Education Assistant

More than one path...

● Foundation Programs, Higher Diplomas, etc.

● Community College, Associate Degrees, etc.

● Gap year

● Vocational Training/Apprenticeship

● Military Service/Training

● 3-4 year degree programs Bachelors degree

● 3+1,3+2, 4+1 Combined Bachelors and Masters degrees

● Masters degrees and PhDs

Year 9 - 10 (Exploration)

● Extended Learning Team sessions on career exploration & alumni sharing

● Preparation for the University & Career Fair● Self assessment: Personality (Holland Codes)● Self assessment: Character Strengths● Y10 Opportunity to be a HE Ambassador● Opportunity to sit PSAT at DC

Year 11 (Knowing themselves)

● Extended Learning Team sessions on careers/resumes/alumni sharing

● Individual advice on IB subject selection (Y11)● Self assessment: Career Interest profile (Career Clusters)● Self assessment: Personality (ex. 16 personalities)● Research and Interview preparation for work experience● Opportunity to sit PSAT at DC● Opportunity to be an HE Ambassador

Year 12 - 13 (Creating Action Steps)

● Help select universities and programmes/course/major

● Advice on admissions testing (SAT/ACT, BMAT, LNAT, etc.)

● Assist in writing admission essays

● Conduct admission mock interviews

● Discuss individual applications with uni admission officers

● Writing & co-ordination of teacher & HEC references

● Collate and process all university applications

Year 12 - 13

● Extended learning team (Y12-10 & Y13-6) and lunchtime workshops● Meet with every student individually and regularly ● Host universities visiting DC for information sessions and academic

tasters● Visit universities to establish relationships with admission officers

(Open Days, campus tours, etc)● Run admission essay writing workshops ● Conduct mock interview sessions

Apply to a Course Specific

Programme

Apply to aFaculty or

College-based Programme

Apply to aOpen or

“Liberal Arts” Programme

Type of University Programs

Example Selection Criteria: UK vs US

UK: USA:

IB Scores

Test: LANT, BMAT

UCAS Personal Statement

UCAS Reference Statement

Reasons NOT to Select a University

● My parents want me to go there● My parents told me I should

study this course● My friends are all applying to

the same university● It’s the most well known

university. It’s high in the rankings and its name brand!

● Where else should I go?● I think it’s the right one for me…

Reasons to Select a University

● This university matches my interests, needs, and academic goals. It’s right for me!

● This university offers what I am looking for. I can bring something special to this university.

Our Strategy & Advice

Use the Classic Selection Formula

❏ Two reach universities

❏ Two match universities

❏ Two insurance universities

Begin with a wide selection of choices❏ Narrow your choices to fit

your own profile and needs

❏ Make a final selection of “8” well researched universities

Application Components● Application Forms & fees (through a system or directly to a university)● Academic records:

○ Official Transcripts (Academic record from Y10-13)○ Predicted Grades for IBDP, IBCP, and IB Courses○ Test Scores (SAT, ACT, UKCAT, BMAT, LNAT, etc)

● Essays: Personal Statement, College Essay, Supplementary essays, Motivational Letter, etc

● Recommendation Letter/References: Teacher and/or Counsellor● School Forms: School Profile, Letter of Attendance, Testimonial, Graduation

Certificate, English Proficiency Letter, etc● Interviews: Formal or Informal (In-Person, Video/Skype, Recorded answers, etc.)● Other: portfolio, auditions, CV/Resume, sports recruiting, pre-admissions

screening● Financial Supporting Documentation● Visa paperwork (after admissions)● Guardianship paperwork (For students starting university under 18)

Who Submits what?

STUDENTApplication Form(s) & Fee

Essay(s)

Testing Results

Portfolio & Extra Work

Financial Documentation

CV, Resume, Activity List, etc

HEOSchool Profile

Official School Transcript & Predicted Grades

Teacher Recommendations

Secondary School Report (Counselor Recommendations)

School Forms

Remember

● Read the rankings with a critical eye

● The main point of your research is to find the right match for YOU!

● Each country has a different and unique system

● Know yourself and be realistic

● Identify your strengths and weaknesses

● Different institutions are right for different people

Final Comments

● There is rarely a clear or straight answer

● The university application process is complex: each system is different

● All universities respect and value the IB

● The process is very much a partnership between the student, the parent, the HE counsellor and DC.

Communicating with the HEO● The HEO resource centre and noticeboard● BridgeU● Ding! ● HEO updates on Explorer● HEO Newsletter● Parent & Student University Handbook ● Parent Coffee Mornings● Email/Phone● Meetings ● Open door policy

Discovery College University Fair & Career FairThursday, Sept. 19th 2019

DC Career Fair - We need your help!

We have eight parents already signed up, but we urgently need around 30 more. In particular, we are looking for parents from the following fields: IT, Hospitality, Law, Engineering, Physiotherapists, Doctors, Vets, Art & Design (all creative fields), Transport & Logistics.

Student Sharing