year 12 university guidance evening may 2018orientation.fis.hk/uploads/1/7/3/4/17345209/yr12... ·...
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Year12UniversityGuidanceEveningMay2018
Ø GeneralAdviceØ ReferencesØ PredictedGradesØ Whatnext?Ø UKØ USAØ CanadaØ HKØ Europe(outsideFrance)Ø Australia
Year12UniversityGuidanceEveningMay2018
GettingReadyforUniversityApplications
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InternationalStreamFinalDestinations2011-2017
UK
USA
Canada
GapYear
HK
Australia
France
Europe(notUK)
Singapore
TimingsAllapplicationsdoneinYr13FISdeadlines:Oxford/Cambridge/UKMedicine endofSeptUSAearlydecision/action mid-OctUK(UCAS) mid-NovUSA endofNovHK mid-DecCanada earlyJanAustralia afterIBresultsUKUKCAT(Medicinetest)takebefore2Oct2018UKBMAT(Medicinetest)takeon31Oct2018UKLNAT(Lawtest)takebefore20Jan2019(by20OctforOxford)
GettingReadyforUniversityApplications
Isthereamagicformula?Yes…HardworkthatgeneratesgoodIBgrades+positivecommentsfromteachers+realisticuniversitychoices
=universityoffers
HowdoIdecidewhichuniversities?ProfMikeMerrifield,UniversityofNottingham
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdypNNlx1SM&t=9s
Watchfrom2.00–6.10
Rankings–Beware!Subject-basedrankingsmoremeaningfulthangeneralrankings,e.g:https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings#allSubjectsNewapproach:GlobalEmployabilityRankings:https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-graduate-jobs-global-university-employability-rankingHair-splittingtochoosebetweenuniversities=wasteoftime:degreeofprecisionrequiredexceedsthereliabilityofthedata.
HowdoIdecidewhichuniversities?
SubjectInterest
Country
Cost
Size+Location
AdmissionCriteria
Reviews/Rankings
FINALLIST
HowmanyapplicationscanImake?Ø UK(UCAS)=max5applications(Medicine/VetScience=4)
Ø USA–max20(!)butmultipleessays–impactonstudies–Recommend6-8max.
Ø Smallernumberofhigh-qualityapplications=higher%of
offers
Ø Alargenumberofapplicationsacrossmultiplecountriesmeansyouhaven’tresearchedandfocused
Ø Manystudentsapplyjustto1country
Ø Don’twastetimeapplyingtocountries/cities/unisthatyoudon’tactuallywanttogotoorwillnotbeabletofinance
Goodstrategy(UK)Ambitious,realistic&safechoices• 1xambitious(~1ptabovepredictedgrades)
• 3xrealistic(requiredgradesmatchyourPGs)
• 1xsafety(~2-3ptsbelowPGs)
Berealistic• Columbia6%admitrate
• Stanford4.8%admitrate
• MIT7.9%admitrate
• LSEavg8.9%admitrate• Agreatfitcanhappenatmanyuniversities
• Remember-vselectiveuniversitiescanalsobeaccessedatpostgraduatelevel
• Dangeroflikingthename,butnotthedegreecontent/social
make-up,geography.Findafit!–Size,degreecontent,urban/campus,cost…
BeRealistic–AnnualCostsinHKD(Basedonoverseasfeestatus,apartfromforHK)
Universityapplicationinfohttp://orientation.fis.hk/
Universitypresentations/eventsinHKhttp://orientation.fis.hk/events.html
Checkonline–OrientationwebsiteRegularemailssenttostudents,andparentsAlsopostedon5/Fnoticeboard
References
Ø UK/USA/HKuniversitiesneedageneralreference
Ø Commentscollectedfromallyourteachersandcompiledintoafullreferencebyformtutororcounsellor
Ø Self-ReflectionFormcompletedinautumnofYr13
Ø UScollegesneedageneralreferenceAND2ormore“teacherevaluations”–studentsneedtoapproachteachersinYr13
Ø Canada/Australia–referencelettersnotaccepted
Ø Noneedforyoutoapproachteachersforreferences,apartfromforUSA.Justinformthecounselloringoodtime
PredictedgradesØ TheIBgradesthatyourteachersthinkyouarelikelytoachieve,based
onyourperformancesofarontheIBcourse.
Ø YouwillbegivenatotalIBprediction(outof45)andindividualpredictions.Thiswillhelpyouchooseyouruniversitiesstrategically.
Ø Junepredictions–earlyindicator.ReviewedinYr13–canchangeifyoushowyou’veimproved.
Ø Non-negotiable,butdoaskteachersforareasyouneedtoimprove.
Ø GradessenttoUK/Canada/HK/USA/someEuropeanuniversitiestohelpthemtodecidewhethertomakeanoffer.
Whatnext?Ø Studyhard-IBscoresarethebiggestdecidingfactor!Ø Researchuniversities+degreesonline;askquestions
Ø Starttonarrowdownandfocus–notamachine-gunapproach!
Ø Gooddepthofextra-curricular/humanitarianactivity,esp.forUSA
Ø Planforthissummer–visituniversities/summerprogramme/workexpifneeded
Ø IndividualmeetingwithMrH/MrsMcCarthyinJune
Ø PersonalStatement/CollegeEssayseminarsinJune
Ø Getusedtocheckingemaileveryday!
UKØ 3yeardegrees,or4withyearabroad/professionalexperience
Ø Applyforspecificsubject(unlesstakingLiberalArtsdegree)
Ø 5applicationsmaxviaUCAS(4forMedicine/VeterinaryScience)
Ø ApplyviaUCAS,exceptforArt+DesignFoundation
Ø Studentcreates+completesUCASprofile;schooluploadsreference+predictedgrades
Ø FISdeadline:mid-Nov.UCASdeadline:15Jan
Ø Oxford/Cambridge/Medicine/VetScience:earlierUCASdeadline-15Oct
Offerdecisionsbasedon:-PersonalStatement-PredictedIBgrades-Referencefromschool-IGCSEgrades-Intervieworadmissiontest(forminorityofdegrees)
UK
Offersareconditional,eg:
Ø Whenall5decisionsin(usu.byendMarch):
Choose1“FirmChoice”and1“InsuranceChoice”
Ø Feestatus(Home/EUorOverseas)willbepartofoffer
Ø Canaskuniversityfor“FeeStatusReview”
UK
UCASSearch:http://search.ucas.com/• Searchbycourse/city• Lookattheentryrequirementstab• Havingtheminimumentryrequirementdoesnotguaranteeanoffer
Ø UKuniversitiesarevfocusedonIBgrades
Ø Bestrategic–applytoarangeofuniversities
Ø Eg,ifpredicted36points,applytoarangefrom36/37-32points
PersonalStatement-UK
Ø 4,000charactersØ 75%academic,25%extra-curricularThemoreselectivetheuniversity,thelessimportantthe25%.
Ø Maintainafocusonthedegreesubjectallthetime.
Ø Thestrongestapplicantslinktheirextra-curricularactivitiestothedegreearea.
ü Whyyou’reapplyingforthisdegree(howyourinterest
developed,evidenceyouunderstandwhatthesubjectinvolves)
ü Whyyou’resuitableforthedegree(skills+experience)
PersonalStatement-UK
Oxford/Cambridge/MedicineUK
Earlyapplication–UCASdeadline15OctMedicine-mostuniversitiesrequireBMATorUKCATtest.UKCAT-testatPearsonHKbystartofOctBMAT–testatFISorBritishCouncil31stOctInterviewWorkexperienceneededOxford/Cambridge:Formanydegrees,extrateststakenatBritishCouncil,31stOctVhighacademiclevel,+demonstrated“super-curricular”subjectinvolvement.Interviewiscrucial.Both:musttellMr.Hbeforesummerholidaysofintentions.
USAØ Nolimitonnumberofapplicsbut…workload/effectonIBstudies!
Ø 4yeardegrees.MoreflexiblethanUK–choosemajorlaterØ LiberalArtsmodel
Ø FISdeadline:endofNovember.Officialdeadlinesvary;often1stJanuary
Ø Earlyaction/earlydecisionvs.RegularActionOfferdecisionsbasedon:-Transcript(recordofreportgrades/IGCSE-CollegeEssay-Writtensupplements-Extra-curricularactivities-CounsellorRecommendation-2TeacherEvaluations-PredictedIBgrades-SATorACTscoresØ Offersusuallyconditionalonmaintenanceofacademicperformance(colleges
willaskformid-yearreportandfinalreport)
Researchuniversities/requiredscoresUSA:BigFutureCollegeSearch:https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search• Searchbymajor/city/sizeofcollege/requiredSATscoresetc
USA
CommonApplication:systemusedby600ofthe4,000colleges/universities
USA
CommonAppsimplifiesthingsalittle,butmanycollegesaskforwrittensupplementsSomekeyuniversities(egUniversityofCalifornia,Georgetown,Rutgers)don’tuseit.
USA
Ø StudentcreatesaccountfromSeptember,completesabovesections,selectscolleges,entersdetailsofrecommenders
Ø Schooluploadscounselorrecommendationandtranscript
Ø 2teacherscompletesubjectevaluationsbyemailinvitationfromCA
USA
650wordsmax
Ø AbilitytowriteinterestingandaccurateEnglish
Ø Makeitvivid;catchthereader’sattention
Ø Oktogointodetailabout1singleeventanditsimpact
Ø Focusonwhatyoulearnedfromandexperience/event/challengeandhowitchangedyou
TheCommonApplicationessaytitlesfor2017-18are:1.Somestudentshaveabackground,identity,interest,ortalentthatissomeaningfultheybelievetheirapplicationwouldbeincompletewithoutit.Ifthissoundslikeyou,thenpleaseshareyourstory.2.Thelessonswetakefromobstaclesweencountercanbefundamentaltolatersuccess.Recountatimewhenyoufacedachallenge,setback,orfailure.Howdiditaffectyou,andwhatdidyoulearnfromtheexperience?3.Reflectonatimewhenyouquestionedorchallengedabelieforidea.Whatpromptedyourthinking?Whatwastheoutcome?4.Describeaproblemyou'vesolvedoraproblemyou'dliketosolve.Itcanbeanintellectualchallenge,aresearchquery,anethicaldilemma-anythingthatisofpersonalimportance,nomatterthescale.Explainitssignificancetoyouandwhatstepsyoutookorcouldbetakentoidentifyasolution.5.Discussanaccomplishment,event,orrealizationthatsparkedaperiodofpersonalgrowthandanewunderstandingofyourselforothers.6.Describeatopic,idea,orconceptyoufindsoengagingthatitmakesyoulosealltrackoftime.Whydoesitcaptivateyou?Whatorwhodoyouturntowhenyouwanttolearnmore?7.Shareanessayonanytopicofyourchoice.Itcanbeoneyou'vealreadywritten,onethatrespondstoadifferentprompt,oroneofyourowndesign.
USA
Writtensupplementexamples:“Whatoneinventionwouldyouuninventifyoucould,andwhy?”(Brandeis)“Agoodstorystartswithagoodbeginning.Getushookedinthefirst150words.”(NotreDame)“Celebrateyournerdyside.”(Tufts)“What’ssooddaboutoddnumbers?”(Chicago)“YouwerejustinvitedtospeakattheWhiteHouse.Writeyourspeech.”(UNCChapelHill)“Imagineascientistandartistcomingtogetherforaconversationaboutcolor.Howdoyouthinkthisexchangewouldgo?”(HampshireCollege)
http://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/files/gse-mcc/files/20160120_mcc_ttt_execsummary_interactive.pdf?m=1453303460
USA
• Extra-curricularactivities• Communityservice
SAT
RequiredformostU.S.collegesSomearetest-optional:http://www.fairtest.org/university/optionalSAT:Oct,Nov,Dec,Jan,MayACT:Sept,Oct,Dec,Apr,June
• Don’ttaketoomanytimes–max3timessuggested,usually1or2–egMay/JuneYr12,thenOct/NovYr13ifneeded
• SomecollegesalsoneedSATsubjecttests-researchRegisteronlineatCollegeboardPreparation• SATmanualsinlibrary
• KhanAcademy(freeonlineSATpreparation)
• NTK,TheEdge,CanaElite,Kaplanofferprepcourses(canbeexpensiveandmaynotbenecessaryifyouareself-disciplinedandcanworkthroughexamplepapersonyourown).
SAT/ACT
FinancialAidforInternationalStudents
Institution Need-Based MeritBased AverageAward %ReceivingAid
AmherstCollege x $55,673 89.5%BaylorUniversity x $13,993 77.8%BostonUniversity x $36,904 4.7%BrandeisUniversity x x $35,177 12.8%BrownUniversity x $44,925 30.1%BucknellUniversity x x $42,372 11.8%ClarkUniversity x $25,328 64.9%ColbyCollege x x $51,794 52.6%CornellUniversity x $52,332 14.9% GeorgeWashingtonuniversity x x $22,777 23.5%
GeorgetownUniversity x $54,847 2.5%HarvardUniversity x $52,634 74.5%LehighUniversity x x $35,056 19.7%TheNewSchool x x $11,775 70.9%TulaneUniversity x x $19,965 46.9%UniversityofCalifornia x $9,225 18.6%UniversityofVermont x $18,075 43.3%VanderbiltUniversity x x $46,781 26.9%VillanovaUniversity x x $37,904 45.8%WashingtonandLeeUniversity x x $52,278 95.8%
YaleUniversity x $55,862 56.6%
CanadaØ 4yeardegreesØ BetweenUKandUSAintermsofflexibilityØ 3-yearPost-GraduationWorkPermitfornon-CanadiansØ StrongCo-Op(alternatingstudy+workplacements)Ø Conditionaloffers,butnotasgrade-specificasUK
(eg“ObtainIBDiplomawith32points”)FISdeadline:15thJanuary.Officialdeadlinesvary–check.UsuallyJan-MarchOfferdecisionsbasedon:-TranscriptofgradesfromYr10-Yr13-PredictedIBgrades-Applicationform(includesextra-curricularactivities,workexperienceetc)NoreferencelettersacceptedSAT/ACTnotrequiredLesstime-consumingapplicationthanUSAUBC/SimonFraser/TorontocanofferadvancedcreditforgoodIBscores
CanadaOntario:OUACsystemallows1applicationtoseveraluniversitiesinOntario.Examples:TorontoWesternOntarioWaterlooQueen’sYorkMcMasterCarleton
HK4yeardegreesDifferentsocialexperienceHKU,CUHKandHKUSTseenasmostprestigiousSomedegrees(egMedicine/Law/GlobalBusinessManagement)ashardasOxbridge–don’tunderestimate!FISdeadline:15December(officialdeadlinesDec–March)Non-JUPASapplication–online,directtouniversityOfferdecisionsbasedon:Ø PredictedgradesØ TranscriptØ StatementofinterestØ Referenceletter(someuniversities)Ø Interview(forsomeprogrammes)
OffersconditionaloncompletionofDiplomawithcertainnoofpoints
Europe(outsideUK/France)Ø GlobalinterestacceleratingØ GloballyrecogniseduniversitiesofferingBachelordegreestaughtinEnglishØ VeryinternationalØ ReducedfeesforEUpassportholdersE.G:Rhein-WaalUniversityofAppliedSciences,GermanyBScMechanicalEngineering–3.5yrs,notuitionfeesKatholiekeUniversiteitLeuven,BelgiumBABusinessAdministration–3yrs,890EurosUniversityofGroningen,NetherlandsBAIntlRelations&IntlOrganisation–3yrs,2060EurosErasmusUniversity,Rotterdam,NetherlandsBScIntlBusinessAdministration–3yrs,2060Euros.UniversityofAmsterdam,NetherlandsBScPPLE(Politics,Psychology,Law+Economics)–3yrs,4066Euros
Europe(outsideUK/France)Offerdecisionsbasedon:Ø TranscriptØ Predictedgrades(someuniversities)Ø StatementofinterestØ Skypeinterview(somedegrees)Ø Deadlinesvary–usuallyawidewindowegNovtoJune
Searchengine:http://www.eunicas.ie/
AustraliaØ 3or4yeardegrees(BachelororBachelorwithHons)Ø Typicallyapplytospecificcourse,butsomeflexibilityoncethere:majorsubjectis2/3of
degree;1/3canbeanyothersubjectsØ Focusonindependent,creativethoughtØ GenerousIBentryrequirements
Groupof8(QSWorldRankings)• AustralianNationalUniversity,Canberra(20) • UniversityofMelbourne(41)• UniversityofNewSouthWales,Sydney(45)• UniversityofQueensland,Brisbane(47) • UniversityofSydney(50) • MonashUniversity,Melbourne(60) • UniversityofWesternAustralia,Perth(93)• UniversityofAdelaide,(109)
AustraliaØ Semester1startsFeb/March:applyafterIBresultsinJuly–deadlineoftenOctober
Ø Semester2startsJuly/Aug:applybyendDecemberofYr13usingpredictedgradesfor
universitiesacceptingthem(e.g.Sydney).Thisoptionvrarelyused.
Ø OfferdecisionbasedonfinalIBscores.Referencelettersnotaccepted
Ø IBresultoftenconvertedtoATARscore–canseepreviousyear’srequiredATARonline
Ø AustraliannationalsapplythroughTAC(TertiaryAdmissionsCentre)
Ø Non-Australiansapplydirectly;upto3coursechoicesperuniversity
Ø Decisionusuallywithin3weeks
Ø AEC(www.aecl.com.hk):officialeducationalagencyrepresentingAustralianuniversitiesinHK–alsohelpwithvisa/accommodation