Wednesday 21 August, 2013 with

Brenda Manfredi, Jackie Valenzuela,

and Joachim (Kim) Ekstrom

High School Counselors at NIST

Brenda

Year 10-13 (Personal, Academic and College)

Ms. Brenda Manfredi

Ms. Jackie Valenzuela

Mr. Joachim (Kim) Ekstrom

Year 7-9

Mr. Randy Wallis

Mrs. Michelle Vogel 2

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Your children are very well prepared university applicants

We have worked with this group of students for four years now.

Most students have done their research well.

Many of the US-bound students have already taken the SAT and have signed up for October, November, and/or December. (All students are guaranteed a seat at NIST. Reserved seats were added to the December test date today)

If your family missed the College Conference in April or May, it's not too late! Please email your child’s Counselor to make an appointment

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49 out of 86 Seniors (57%) in the Class of 2012 are attending their 1st

choice university in 14 countries around the world

Country Attending

USA 32

United Kingdom 17

Thailand 8

Australia 7

Canada 5

Hong Kong 2

Taiwan 2

Korea, South 3

Norway 1

Sweden 1

Finland 1

Switzerland 1

Japan 2

Singapore 1

Military 1

Gap Year 2

56 out of 98 Seniors (57%) in the Class of 2013 are attending their 1st choice

university in 12 countries around the world

Country Attending

USA 37

United Kingdom 18

Thailand 9

Australia 10

Canada 14

Hong Kong 1

Philippines 1

Holland 1

New Zealand 1

Netherlands 1

Japan 1

Singapore 1

Military 1

Gap Year 2

Today’s Presentation

• The processes and deadlines that we will go through today apply to MOST students, but NOT ALL.

• About 10 % of our students apply to countries with unique application procedures and deadlines.

• The Counselors will work with these students on an individual basis.

• We know that the content of this presentation will still be valuable and useful to all parents.

Jackie

Year 13 Students (Grad. 2012-13):

Year 13 Parents (Grad. 2012-13)

Year 13 Students (Grad. 2012-13):

• Keep calm!

• Don’t worry, you are in safe hands.

What

should I be

doing?

more than filling out applications?

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Important:

These schools should have been classified as Reach, Fit, or Star

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In September of Year 13, students will have a firm list of 6-9 schools to which they are applying with a range of Reach, Fit and Star schools (Deadline: September 16)

Students will apply to no more than ten universities

Note UK universities will count

as one choice, as will the University of California

campuses

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Students may apply to multiple systems

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Remember to do a Reality Check?

• Students have to be realistic about their academic profile (High School Transcript, Predicted IB scores and SAT scores) and choose schools that may accept them!

• If all/most of their schools are “reach schools”, we’ll give them a reality check.

• “Star schools” are also schools that they would really like to go to for 3-4 years and should not be a major disappointment.

• Star schools could increase their chances of earning an academic scholarship.

16 Brenda

University Applications: Around the World

in a few slides

Applications are submitted online through UCAS at www.ucas.com

Students need to register on UCAS as a NIST student using the NIST buzzword.

The student’s counselor will review, approve, and send the application on to UCAS

Students permitted to apply to five courses

Oxbridge/medical school applications are due 15 October; applications for all other universities are due on 15 January (20 September for Oxbridge with interview in Singapore)

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One School Reference Letter is required; it tells the story of the student and the field he/she wants to study. The counselors write these letters based on comments from teachers

Transcript is not required

Admission decision is based on predicted grades (October 28), application, Personal Statement and School Reference Letter

Most students will receive conditional offers between January and April

Final offers are confirmed after IB exam results have been sent in July

Teacher panels will be formed and students will be able to present their personal statement and gain valuable feedback from NIST Teachers

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There are two intakes for Australian universities

Students can enter in

July or February

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41 Universities in Australia

Australian citizens apply directly to universities or through Tertiary Admissions Centres (TAC) (There is a link on Naviance)

Deadlines

July Intake – deadline is late April (Students might be able to apply directly to universities)

February Intake – deadline is late September (Apply through TAC)

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New South Wales: Universities Admission Centre (UAC).

Victoria: VTAC

Queensland: QTAC

South Australia: SATAC

Western Australia: TISC

Students rank their choices

Only one offer is given for each state

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Agencies: International students can apply through an agencies here in Bangkok free of charge. (See links on Naviance)

IDP (Education Australia Interview Program at Queen Sirikit Center)

Insight (Ms. Monte regularly meets with NIST students in the College Library)

The NIST Counselors endorse students seeking their assistance

Requirements: Letters of Recommendation (optional); Transcript and Predicted Grades (March)

Deadlines:

July Intake –deadline is May

February Intake –deadline is October

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Predicted IB scores (March) and

Final IBO scores ( First week of July 2014)

Most offers will be conditional upon the final IB scores.

If the student has a predicted score that is 2-3 points above what the university program requires, he or she may be offered an unconditional offer.

No NIST students will apply before March

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In the College Library

Presented by Montakan O’Neill from Insight Education Consulting

Overview of Australian universities

Entry requirements

Alternative pathways into programs

Fees

Application processes

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Entrance decisions are based on IB scores (converted into a GPA)

No recommendation letters required (Some faculty exceptions)

No essays required

Thai University Fair at NIST on October 17

TESTS

SAT/University Entrance Exams

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Chulalongkorn – SAT/ CU-AAT and

TOEFL/IELTS/ CU-TEP

Thammasat – SAT and TOEFL/IELTS/TU-GET

Mahidol – SAT/Written English and General

Knowledge Examination and TOEFL/IELTS

Webster University, Thailand Campus – 2

teacher recommendation letters,

TOEFL/IELTS, (NO SAT)

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Submitted online OR as paper applications

Letters of Recommendation are often required

Some universities have their own recommendation letter formats

Transcript is required

Predicted Grades are almost always required

Offers are often conditional; final offers come after IB exam results have been sent in July

Process may differ depending on whether the student is a citizen of that country

Students are requested to find out specific requirements and deadlines for each university

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Applications are submitted online through university websites OR Common Application OR by paper for some universities

Students typically require two teacher letters of recommendation (two different subjects) and a letter of recommendation from his/her counselor

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4000+ Universities in USA

90+ universities in Canada

Admission decision are based on transcript (NIST Year 10-13 grades), SAT/Subject Tests, predicted grades, application, personal statement and teacher/counselor letters

Early Action/Decision: November 1-December 1

All applications will be completed by the NIST Internal Deadline (December 2) and all supporting documents sent by December 18 when we leave for December vacation

Students will receive non-conditional offers by 1 April and be asked to choose their university by 1 May 30

Common Application

• www.commonapp.org – Now open!

• Online undergraduate College admission application

• Now used by over 500 colleges and universities in the USA

• Supplements

• Brand new Essay Questions this year - sent to students by email last school year

• May be some glitches with the NEW

online common app

• Common Application Lunch Seminar for students on September 4

Brenda

For students who hold a US passport and will be submitting FAFSA, please talk with your Counselor if you need assistance

This is also true for parents of students pursuing athletic scholarships and eligibility

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We strongly recommend that all students who don’t carry a passport from the following countries take TOEFL or IELTS

Australia

UK

USA

Canada

New Zealand

If you are thinking of applying to Australia we recommend IELTS

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Students will ask two teachers to write their USA/Canada recommendation letters which will be based on the student’s accomplishments in these particular courses

Teacher letters are due on October 28th

NIST teachers agree to write only “favorable letters” that help students gain admission to university

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Personal Statement/Essays

• The UK Personal Statement is highly structured. It’s about the student, his/her skills/achievement/experience and why these are a good fit for the program to which they are applying

• The USA/Canada essay questions leave more room for creativity. Students must show how they are unique and how they have grown as a student and as a person.

Essay/Personal Statement Feedback from Counselor

The deadline for sending essays/personal statements to counselors for feedback is

Wednesday, November 20

Jackie

2 December, 2013

Time Until

Deadline

2 December,

2013

3 months

1 week

4 day

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BIG Application Dates

Monday 2 September: Teacher Letter of Recommendation Agreement Form

signed by teacher and returned to Counselor.

NIST University Application Agreement signed by student and parent and returned to counselor.

Preliminary short-list on Naviance

BIG Application Dates 1. August 26-September 13: "Senior check-in meeting" 30 minutes with counselor

to prepare for university applications

2. September 16: Final short-list on Naviance

3. October 1: UC Application opens online

4. September 2-3: Predicted grades given to students applying to Oxbridge/UK medicine and US Early Decision (see your counselor to make an appointment)

5. September 20: Deadline for Oxbridge if student wants to interview in Singapore. (UCAS application needs to be completed no later than September 16).

6. October 15: Deadline for Oxbridge and UK medicine related courses (UCAS application needs to be completed no later than October 10)

7. October 28: Teacher Recommendation Letters due

8. November 1: First day students can ask counselors to send supporting documents. (Early applications not included)

9. October 28-November 8: Students receive predicted grades from counselors

10. November 1- December 1: US Early Decision/Early Action Deadlines

11. November 30: UC Application Deadline

12. December 2: NIST Internal deadline for UK and US university applications

Kim

Lunchtime Workshops:

• August 29 - UCAS Application

• September 4 - The Common Application

• September 5 - North-American College Essay

• September 9 - UCAS Personal Statement

• September 10 – Applying to Thailand and other Asian Countries

• Other suggestions?

University Fairs 2013

September 1: Japanese Uni Fair (most unis.) at Central World

September 21: AEO Uni Tour (18 US unis.) Plaza Athenee Hotel

September 24: Study in Australia Info Session@ NIST 2.30-3.30

October 2: CIS US College Fair (30 US unis.) at NIST 2:15-4 pm

October 6: Canadian University Fair - Renaissance Hotel 1-5 pm

October 17: Thai Uni Fair (most Thai unis.) at NIST 2.30-3.30 pm

October 31: University Fair at PBS (36 US unis.) 2.30-4.00 pm

November 2-3: OCSC University Fair (100+ unis.) at Paragon

January TBA: British Council UK Uni. Fair (70+ UK unis.)

U. of Chicago, Rice U., Vanderbilt U. in the College Library on 2 September 2.30-4 pm

• Helps you understand the application process “behind the scene”

• In groups, you will review 3 mock applications.

• Each “admission committee” will discuss each candidate and choose to admit one, waitlist one and deny one.

• Together with the admission officers, you will then compare each group’s decisions and talk about the process

UK Personal Statement Workshop

• by Warwick University

• August 28, 10.45-11.35 am in the College Library

US College Essay Workshop

• by Macalester College

• September 6, 10.45-11.35 am in the College Library

Brenda

University of Pennsylvania and Brown University

September 26

7-8 pm:

Open Session to the community in the NIST

Theatre

CIS US College Fair at NIST October 2:

30 US Universities

2:15-3.15 pm: University Fair

3.15-4.00 pm: Workshops

UCLA - 2nd time in Thailand

October 3

10.45-11.35 am:

Meeting with NIST Students in the College Library

6-7 pm:

Open Session to the community in the NIST Theatre

New Predicted Grade Procedures

• Predicted Subject Grades are shared with students this year

• All students will submit a Self-Predicted Grade and Rationale form to their Counselor and will cc each subject teacher

• Student will receive their predicted grades (by subject) from their counselor October 28- November 9 (September 2-3 for students applying to Oxbridge/UK Medicine or Early Decision US)

• All questions and concerns will go through the counselor – please do not contact teachers directly

Essay/Personal Statement Verification Form

This year students must send the essay(s) or personal statement that they have submitted to the university to their counselor on the Essay/Personal Statement Verification Form

This form will be reviewed by the counselor, submitted to “Turnitin.com” and sent to universities as supporting documentation

Each essay/Personal Statement will be signed by the student acknowledging the following statement:

“Your signature below certifies that the content of this essay/personal statement is your own work, factually true, and honestly presented. Your signature also

confirms your understanding that the above essay/personal statement will be sent from NIST as supporting documentation to the university stated above. You are

aware that if the essay/personal statement is not your own work, factually true or honestly presented that NIST will inform the university stated above.”

Jackie

New Supporting Documents

• Students will E-mail the Counselor as soon as they have completed, paid for and sent each online application.

• They will attach the signed Essay/Personal Statement Verification Document (PDF Format) which includes the College Essay(s) and Personal Statement that he or she has submitted with the application to this particular university.

• Certified Extracurricular Activities Document. This is a certified attachment to the academic transcript that will outline each extracurricular activity that the student has participated in years 10 through 13.

Your child doesn’t know WHAT he/she wants to study (exception UK)

Your child doesn’t know WHERE he/she wants to study

Your child disagrees with you about where and what to study

Your child has not yet written the SAT

Your child wants to take a Gap Year or work

Your child may not get into his/her dream school

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It is a lot of information in

the beginning of the process,

try to not get stressed about

it and work step by step.

Read the College Counseling

Newsletters and keep in

contact with your Counselor.

Advice from Year 13 Parent (2012):

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Year 13 Parents

(Grad. 2012-2013)

Kim

Communicate:

Talk with your child about:

1. What they would like to study and why?

2. Which universities are they applying to?

3. How much money is available each year over 3-4 years

Sign up for your parent account with Naviance

Read the NIST College Counseling Newsletter from Counselors Last Thursday of every month

Check in with your child about this process while encouraging him/her to be independent

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Parents, do not bother your child constantly

because it gets very annoying.

The child is constantly checking on

themselves and their work for both school

and university.

They will contact you once they receive

notice, good or bad news will be there.

Choosing a college is really tough, because

one has to take many things into

consideration .

Parents should be supportive of the child and

should not force the child into doing anything

they do not want to.

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Year 13 Students’ (2012) Advice:

• Start writing the application essays early, do not cram them in the last week (of December) before the internal deadline at school.

• Start your application essays early as many assignments will be due during the same time. (and perhaps also mocks)

• Don't put it off, but don't stress about it either. It's easier than you'd think.

• Just stay calm, it will all be okay.

Year 13 Students’ (2013) Advice:

• Don’t get other people to write your college essay. It isn't honest and most universities can probably tell when its written by a professional. Don’t let what other peoples say affect your choices.

• TIME MANAGEMENT: Making a schedule early and balancing between school work and university work is very difficult especially in the first couple months of Year 13. during that period, students are flooded with work so they may lose focus on the university work.

Brenda

What we do: Guide students and parents with post-

secondary goals Enable and empower our students to

become leaders in their own post-secondary future

Teach our students how to contact universities to obtain essential information (email, phone, Skype)

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Process the academic part of our students university applications and submit supporting documents

Verify Essays/Personal Statements

Certify the Extracurricular Sheet

Review and approve the UCAS application before it is sent to UCAS

Review university essays and personal statements

Help students evaluate their chances of being accepted to universities they have chosen to apply to (Star, Fit, Reach)

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Provide a structured College Counseling Program where students are guided through the application process. Write letters of recommendations for our students Liaison between student and university when necessary Schedule university representatives to visit NIST students during lunch hours and after school Organize University Fairs Provide monthly College Counseling Newsletter with important information, updates, and deadlines

Role of the Secondary School

Counselor

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Brenda Manfredi: bmanfredi@nist.ac.th

Phone extension: 204

Room 4204B

Jacquelyn Valenzuela: JValenzuela@nist.ac.th

Phone extension: 202

Room 4202

Joachim (Kim) Ekstrom: jekstrom@nist.ac.th

Phone extension: 353

Room 4203

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