The Importance of Attending University Visits

Living and studying in Singapore have many advantages; to begin with we’re part of a very  multi-cultural community.  Singapore is also a modern, clean, and safe country.  The travel opportunities around Asia and the chances to volunteer in different countries in this region all add to the positives of living in Singapore.  However, for those interested in pursuing degrees in North America or Europe, the disadvantage is that we are very far away for students and their families visit to university campuses.  We believe that visiting different universities is an extremely valuable way for students to identify a place that will be a good fit for them.  Walking around campus, meeting current students and sitting in on classes is a great way to get a feel for a particular place.  However, in the absence of an actual visit, another important element of a student’s research and skill-building is the opportunity to meet university representatives who visit UWCSEA East.

It is a testament to the reputation of UWCSEA that even without a graduating class this year, we have been very lucky to have so many university representatives walk through our doors. Representatives have met with students and presented about the university system in their country, how universities make admissions and financial aid decisions, and what is appealing and unique about particular colleges and universities.

Last week we wrote about networking online and this week we are extending that thought.  We encourage Grade 11 students to meet and network with university representatives.  These professionals are looking to generate interest in their institutions.  They come with brochures and business cards, and many welcome student contact after the visit.  We expect that the visitors this year will return next year and several will offer interviews to potential applicants.   Attending presentations by university representatives can give students valuable practice in meeting and interacting with admissions professionals.

While attending the presentations by university representatives, students should be developing a  list of important factors in their ideal university.   We want them to consider their interests, expectations and future plans and how those match with what is on offer at various universities.   It’s important for them to find a place that offers the courses and activities that they would like to pursue.  Location and setting may have an impact; weather may be another factor to consider.  Students should ask representatives, therefore, questions about what student life is like in the broadest sense, and find information about the services and support offered to international students, opportunities for internships and work experience, and prospects for graduate school and employment.

With this in mind, here are some questions students can ask at the next university visit:

• How large are the freshman classes?   How easy is it to get to know professors?
• Are these research opportunities for undergraduates?  What are the most popular majors?
• What type of housing is available?   Are the residence halls co-ed?  What are gender-neutral bathrooms?
• Is it mandatory to sign up for a meal plan?   Are there options for those with food allergies or other dietary restrictions?
• What is the university best known for?  What percentage of the student population/teaching faculty is international?  What kind of advising system is in place?  Where do graduates go after they leave?

Universities differ not only in size and location, but also in political leanings and global orientation.  It is important to dig beneath the surface of glossy brochures and get a sense of what the experience of attending a particular university would be.  When students listen attentively to visitors’ talks, it’s possible to glean a few things that they highlight about their schools.  Much of the information given at university visits can be used in application essays to show an understanding of a particular school and demonstrate genuine interest in it, which is a tipping factor in admissions at some colleges.

Upcoming university visits are listed in the UAC’s Google Calendar on our UAC GoogleSite.  If your family has the chance to visit universities that your child is considering, by all means do so.  If you won’t be able to travel to see university campuses firsthand, or in the meantime, please  encourage your Grade 11 child to start their university research by attending university visits at the UAC.

Social Media: Digital Footprint, Networking, and University Admissions

Over the past few weeks there have been several conversations on campus centered around the Internet, specifically the use of social media.  We, at the University Advising Centre (UAC), thought it was a good idea to chime in on the topic. We’ve made a splash in the world ourselves. We have our GoogleSite, this place on Blogger, we’re even on Twitter. We see the importance and the advantages of reaching out to students and families via the Internet.  Recently, at school, there was a panel discussion on the role of blogging in the classroom. Two of our teachers even blogged about that session: one prior to the event; the other post the event.  It was a timely discussion as students applying for admissions around the world have turned to blogging about their experiences via the New York Times. This proves that there is a network that is created as a result of blogging. This proves that there is a network where students are able to reach out and help each other. This proves that there is a network of peers waiting to be discovered. Reading first hand, through the posts, about the admissions process, adds value to the experience. Students realise that they share so many experiences with others. What better way to gain information than from your peers?

We, at the UAC, see the value of the connections made via the Internet; university admissions departments are also turning to Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Blogs. These tools are generally used for marketing and advertising purposes, but there is a trend to use social media more as an asset for admissions purposes.  As we started tweeting about visits from university representatives, university admissions officers re-tweeted us, followed us, and favourited our tweets. As a result, we’ve been able to establish contacts and make connections in a very short span of time. As students and parents follow us or follow admissions pages on Twitter, or as they Like official pages on Facebook, we ask students to be mindful of their digital footprint and to consider the impression that they are making.  While we urge students and parents to use social media for all of its advantages, we also urge caution in order to protect online reputations.

Here are our top five tips to consider as you think about your digital footprint:

1.     Did you create your email address when you were 13? Are you still cuteboy12 or pinkflowers? It may be time to change your email address to indicate your name.

2.     Before you Like a page on Facebook consider your privacy settings. Are your photos or your status updates available to your friends, friends of friends, and to members of the groups you belong to? It’s sometimes hard to do, but please do think carefully before you post photos, change your status update, write on other people’s walls, or comment on people’s photos. If you Like an official page, you will be informed about campus news and happenings. You can ask questions (make sure you don’t ask them something that is easily available on their website). In addition, you can make connections with current students. Recognise that it is a two-way street. You can see the happenings of the university and if your privacy settings are not right, university admissions staff are privy to your doings online too.

3.  University websites generally have a link to their official blogs. We recommend you follow these to gain information and see the current trends at the university.

4.     If you do not use Twitter solely for professional purposes, we recommend you protect your Tweets.  The advantage of Twitter (as we have discovered too) is the ability to follow specific professors and receive campus news. This information may go a long way in helping you write your college essays.

5.   YouTube is a tool that university officers use widely. When you subscribe to university channels you will gain lots of information (keep in mind, it is used for marketing purposes). Please think carefully before you post a comment. Ensure you consider all other videos you have liked or uploaded before you make yourself known to the YouTube channels of universities.

There are so many ways to make connections with students, professors, and admissions officers, to research universities, and to create your own personalised networks.  We want you to use them to acquire all the information you can devour, and to use your online presence to your advantage.  We do, however, also need you to think carefully about your actions online and offline.  

If you were to only take a few things  away from this article, we’d like you to use social media to gain information, to connect with people, and to form communities. Please take this opportunity to look at your digital footprint and analyse the aspects of your life that will become a permanent, public image. Happy, safe surfing and networking.

SATs and Standardized Testing for US Admissions

Many high school parents have been wondering and worrying about the SAT, a standardized test that is part of the admissions process for many US universities.  This information below is intended for Grade 11 students and their parents.  The best thing parents of younger students can do is support their children in focusing the first two years of high school on their academic studies and community life, and not on preparation for standardized admissions tests.  The role of standardized testing in US admissions is evolving, so parents are advised that this information may change from year to year.

Students in Grade 11 who intend to apply to universities in the US should sit down soon and make a plan about which standardized tests they will need to take and when is the best time to take them.  Most US universities will allow students to submit either the SAT or the ACT (with Writing) as part of their admissions requirements. More detailed information about these standardized testing options is found on the Admissions Testing tab of the UAC Google Site.

Most students perform in the same range on both the SAT and the ACT; however some students may find that one test works better for them than the other.   Most students are more familiar with the SAT.  The main difference is that the ACT is more a measure of mastery of curriculum and less of an aptitude test.  While both tests contain reading comprehension, math and writing components, the ACT has a section that tests scientific thinking, and it does not penalize for wrong answers.  The SAT tends to place more emphasis on vocabulary and English grammar rules, and has more questions that measure reasoning ability.  Students who take the ACT more than once are allowed to submit only their best overall score to universities, while students who take the SAT may find that they are required by some universities to submit the results of all of their SAT sittings.

UWCSEA-East will become a private test center for the SAT starting in January 2013.  This means that only UWCSEA students will be allowed to take the test on campus.  Instructions on how to register for this option will be distributed to Grade 11 students in October.  Students must follow UWCSEA’s specific instructions before registering with the CollegeBoard.

We recommend that students take the SAT for the first time in January or May of Grade 11; the ACT is offered in April and June; if students feel it would be worthwhile to try a second time, both tests are offered again in October of Grade 12.   We discourage students from taking these standardized tests prior to Grade 11.  Taking the test too early or too often can be counterproductive and negatively affect students’ grades, which are definitely more important to American universities than standardized test scores.

Studies have shown that familiarization with these standardized test formats may modestly improve students’ scores.  There are several methods of preparation to suit different learning styles:

• Study guides are available for purchase in Singapore bookstores or can be reviewed in UWCSEA’s library.
• There will be a commercial SAT preparation course offered by Testtakers on campus starting in mid-November for several Saturday afternoons prior to the January 26th SAT test.
• Starting next month, all Grade 11 students will have access to a school-based online subscription called PrepMe for SAT test preparation at no cost.  PrepMe allows students to practice on their own online, at times convenient to them, with immediate feedback.

About 30 colleges and universities have additional testing requirements beyond the SAT Reasoning Test.  SAT Subjects Tests focus on a single subject.  Some universities will accept the ACT with Writing in lieu of both the SAT Reasoning Test and SAT Subjects Tests; it is important that students check the websites of each university they are considering to determine which tests are accepted.   We advise students to plan to take SAT Subject Tests, if needed, in June of Grade 11, or October or November of Grade 12.

Several studies have suggested that standardized testing is not a strong predictor of success at university.   More than 800 US colleges and universities do not use standardized testing in their admissions process.   However, students who apply to these institutions should be aware that if they do not submit scores, there will be a heavier weighting on their grades and teacher references, so it will help to have a strong academic profile.

When US universities consider standardized testing in their admissions process, it is only one of many parts of a holistic application review.  Universities do not have published minimums or cut-offs for scores.  Students should not focus on SAT preparation at the expense of their IB subjects or commitments at UWCSEA.   Planning ahead can help make this aspect of US admissions more manageable.   University Advisors are here to answer any questions students might have.

Liberal Arts Education: What is it Good For?

There are a lot of myths surrounding the Liberal Arts.  George Forsythe the President of Westminster College addresses the advantages of a Liberal Arts education.  He asks:

What can you do with a degree in classics? How are you going to get a job with that degree? Many people still fail to understand what a liberal arts education is and how it translates into success in the job market. This attitude raises a fundamental question about undergraduate education in the 21st century: Are we preparing students for careers, or educating them for a lifetime of learning? A better question is: why do people continue to believe these are two separate things?

The article is thought-provoking and we recommend that you read it.

Roles and Responsibilities in the University Admissions Process

As students settle into the first term of this school year, we wanted to let you know about happenings in the University Advising Centre.  We have already had several visits from representatives of Canadian, US and UK universities.  The visits were well-attended and Grade 11 students are starting to learn more about the different academic offerings in different countries.  Upcoming assemblies to Grade 9 and 10 will highlight the factors that universities consider when selecting applicants and what younger high school students should be doing as they look ahead to university.  An introductory assembly for Grade 11 this month will be followed by a talk in early October by Jeremiah Quinlan, Admissions Dean of Yale-NUS College here in Singapore, on “Why Go to University?” which should spark some interesting conversation around the dinner table.

It is worthwhile at this early stage to reflect on the roles and responsibilities of students, university advisors and parents throughout the process.  We see the university admissions process as a natural extension of our students’ growing self-awareness and self-development.  Students will be expected to conduct their own research into those places that would be a good match for them both academically and socially and target their applications accordingly. It is each student's responsibility to be aware of, understand and meet the requirements and deadlines of each university.  UWCSEA will also have internal deadlines to facilitate the processing of a high volume of applications.  Students are of course assumed to be the sole authors of their application essays, and to conduct themselves with honesty and integrity in all dealings regarding university applications, financial aid and scholarships.

University Advisors are here as resources to provide the background context of university considerations that allow students to make informed decisions throughout the process.  Advisors will assist in all aspects of the application process, including discussing goals and future plans, refining university lists, identifying testing requirements, providing essay feedback and advice, processing all supporting documents, advocating for students with university representatives and troubleshooting as needed.  University advisors promote UWCSEA at international conferences and keep abreast of trends and developments that might be valuable our students.

We know that parents can find it stressful to anticipate their child’s university admissions process.  We therefore have a few recommendations:

•Let your child have the driver’s seat on this journey.  While parents can support and encourage their children, sometimes too much parental involvement may not be the best thing in the long run. Students who take ownership of and experience some measure of autonomy in the application process are better equipped to succeed independently once they get to university.   

•If you have financial, geographic, or other constraints on your child’s search, discuss them early on before your child gets too invested in a particular destination. 

•Encourage your child to see university as a match to be made, rather than a prize to be won.  Students should research universities for good fit, where they will be happy, appropriately challenged and grow as individuals. 

•Try to help your child resist applying to certain universities just because his or her peers are.  It is important that students need to imagine themselves as successful in a variety of settings.  As most parents are aware, decisions made at the age of 17 rarely determine where adults find themselves in mid-career.  

•Help your child maintain perspective and see the university search and application process as simply the first step of a life-long process of self-discovery.  

Parents, let your child know that you believe in their ability to navigate the university admissions process.   Hold on to your hats, and enjoy the ride!

Welcome!

I am delighted to have the opportunity to head the University Advising Centre at East.  Originally from New York, I practiced law in San Francisco before moving to Asia nearly 20 years ago to found a small international school in Phuket, Thailand.  I came to Singapore in 2008 and shortly thereafter joined UWCSEA’s University Advising department at Dover.  Having raised two daughters in a multicultural environment, I feel strongly aligned with UWC’s mission and believe in the transformative power of education.

I am privileged to work with a team of dedicated professionals.  Shruti Tewari comes to UWCSEA from Jakarta, Indonesia where she worked for the past two years as a College Counselor and as an IB MYP and DP English teacher. Prior to that, Shruti worked at UWC Mahindra in India for three years as the Director of College Guidance and an IB DP English teacher. She began her career in a school in New Jersey, USA where she was an Upper School English teacher for five years. She’s an Indian national who grew up and studied in the UK, Hong Kong, India, and the US.  Shruti is excited to be back in the UWC fold and is looking forward to working with students, parents, teachers and mentors throughout the application process.

We are lucky to have Irene Mok, Senior Secretary for University Advising, transfer over with me from the Dover campus where she spent four years in the University Advising department.  Irene brings an enormous amount of expertise in processing university applications and organizing university-related events.  She joined UWCSEA after working in the corporate world for over 30 years.  Having brought up two children of her own, Irene still enjoys the company of young people and is very invested in helping students obtain their goals.

This month has been a time of many firsts for high school students on East campus, and we have just had our first visit from a university representative from the University of British Columbia.  Students learned about the programs and offerings available at UBC and can look forward to visits from many more universities around the world over the coming year.  While most high school students attend university in the country in which they were born, UWCSEA students are in the privileged position of thinking about options for their tertiary studies all over the world.  This is an exciting, but also daunting prospect, and the University Advising program for IB students is designed to help support, inform and guide students as they navigate the university admissions process in their chosen destination.

Through assemblies, mentor group visits, individual consultations and their own research, students will gain information about universities around the world, areas of specialization and pre-professional training, scholarship opportunities, testing and other admissions requirements.  University Advisors will help students identify appropriate universities and present themselves to those universities in a manner that highlights their strengths.  We have recently visited all Grade 11 mentor groups to ask students to consider the subject choices they have made in light of potential IB-course pre-requisites that may exist.  In the coming months, we will initiate a series of assemblies for Grade 11 students on the unique features of university systems in different countries.

Over the course of the year I will write about different aspects of the university admissions process across the globe, and pass on articles and resources that may be of interest to students and parents.  Our University Advising Google Site will be up and running shortly, and will become the central clearinghouse for all information and events related to University Advising.  Future University Advising presentations, workshops, lunchtime talks and visits from university representatives will be marked on the High School calendar.  Unless otherwise indicated, these are intended for students and are noted for parents to be aware of.

We are excited to be a part of building a high school culture and community, and look forward to working with your children.