Applications: Hard Work and then the Waiting Game

Jamie Buitelaar, Grade 12 student, describes the "Waiting Game" in the college admissions process. Read on and wish her luck:


It's December and my application has been submitted. I wrote my essays myself, checked off all my references and wore a nice skirt to my interview. 

Now what?

Now, I wait. 

I have to say, it is excruciating. There is a deadline looming and I've been counting the days since I left that Starbucks table in my nice skirt and sweaty palms. I am consistently revisiting my application in my head. There are some things I know I should have done - I should have taken the "additional details" section a little more seriously. Who knows? Maybe something someone else says creates the tipping point. Maybe all the things I wanted to say but couldn't find the space to could find their way into my application through that little "upload" button. 

Memories of my interview are never far behind. Was my skirt nice enough? Did I say what the interviewer was looking to hear? Did I smile enough? Did I fidget? Despite the fact that I was sufficiently prepped-up by the UAC office, and the welcoming air of the interviewer, I was much more nervous than I suppose I had the right to be. Even now, I can't help wondering, did I, did I, did I? 

At the same time, however, it's very comforting to know that I've gotten through it, and this last stretch is no longer in my control. Applying to a liberal arts college is interesting in that sense - it gives you control over so many aspects of the application. Your essays. Your short answers. Your interview. You can sculpt your application however you want. The thing is, there comes a time after that "submit" button has been pressed when that is no longer the case. It is the neater of the beast, and it must be accepted. 

Having gone through the process of application even once leaves me with a feeling of completion. I am so thankful to my teachers and counsellor and parents - oh my gosh, my parents - for the megaton of help they've given me. Now all that's left is to focus on my studies and wait. 

And hope. 

Oh, and wish. Wish on every star, eyelash and 11:11. Let's not forget the wishing. 

Amukelani, Grade 12, on Supplementary Essays

Supplementary essays are coming out of my friends’ ears!

Living in the boarding house, we are in each others’ space a lot of the time so, more often than not, we know exactly what’s on each others’ plates. My dear friends have no space for dessert because the Common App (and all its glitches) have taken up all the space. It’s a little amusing to watch everyone channel their creative juices as they attempt to fit in how awesome they are while sounding humble into 650 words.

I have had to do the same and I must say, having something to say really helps. Filling in my Common App has been a relatively hassle-free process for me, which I am grateful for. I do wish I had some more exciting supplementary essay topics, though!

One friend has to respond to the prompt, “If you were a professor teaching a university course, what course would you teach and why?” I can think of so many. One is “How to come to the terms with the fact that university is closer and closer everyday 101.”

The closeness of graduation and university is an exciting prospect for me and one that I think we are all going to be more than ready for, whether we believe that to be so right now or not. UWC has taught each of us so much and in different ways and thus has given us plenty to write about in those wonderful supplementary essays. The direction you take your essays in must reflect what you see yourself doing in university and, potentially, your life. Like CAS reflections, this is making us think of how far we’ve come and how far we want to go and looking at my peers, I’m proud to report: very far.

My university list is very different to that of many of my friends and we’re realising that this is going to scatter us all over the globe. That’s OK, though, because that’s the extent to which we’re needed.

Nupur, a Grade 12 Student,Writes for a Second Time with Application Advice

Nupur, in Grade 12, has completed her UK applications and is about to complete an Early Application to the US. She has some advice for Grade 11 students on the process. Read on because this whole experience is so fresh in her mind.

Dear Grade 11 students:

I hope you had a good and restful holiday, because Grade 12 has really taken off, snapping at our heels with deadlines for Extended Essays, university applications and numerous pieces of classwork. The best I can do right now is provide a plethora of advice that will hopefully help you during your own process. Here goes: It is absolutely imperative to adhere to each of the deadlines. My suggestion is to make a spreadsheet listing each of the colleges that you would like to apply to, their external application deadlines and your personal deadlines (these should be at least two weeks before the external deadline to account for any administrative issues). Having encountered credit card problems myself, while submitting UCAS, I was glad to have some leeway in terms of time.

If the universities are not part of the UCAS or Common App system, it is best to independently find out relevant deadlines and notify your advisor well in advance. Quite often, universities that are not affiliated with these systems run their own application website – they require candidates to self-report grades and other information so be completely honest (as there may be verification) and keep a copy of your transcripts and achievements with you as you fill in the details.

Once you start applying to universities, even if it is through the comprehensive system of UCAS system, there may be many accounts that you will need to keep track of. The universities tend to send you an acknowledgement of receipt of your application, and simultaneously enroll you for their personal online system. Try to organize all these login details in a comprehensive way.

During one-on-one university meetings, be open with your advisor – let her know of any concerns. If you have something in mind, any changes in application plans, queries regarding the process, ask her.  I have found this to be very useful not only to stay on top of everything that needs to be done, but also as a way of communicating my progress through the process.

As the number of university representatives visiting our campus steadily increases, it is highly likely that someone from a university that you are applying to will come to visit. Make sure you sign up for these events on Naviance (and now you can keep track of them on the new Facebook site and Follow the office on Twitter as well).

Ask the representative questions that are not necessarily available on the website, reconfirm pre-requisites for specific courses (one of my friends experienced a horrifying situation in which the university had not updated its website, but had changed its requirements). Be engaged throughout these meetings, as representative do tend to remember who had turned up. I hope these tips give you some insight as to what to expect, and how to handle it when the time comes. As I increasingly realize, it is crucial to stay calm and be organized in your thoughts and actions. 

Good luck!

University Rankings: How Important Are They? Forbes.com Article

In this October 17, 2013 article found on Forbes.com website, Eva Cairns interviews Nello Angerilli,  Associate Vice President International for the University of Waterloo in Canada.   Read Mr. Angerilli's common sense advice when it comes to interpreting global university rankings and deciding where to apply to university.  

The newly released QS University Rankings form one of the few global rankings of universities. How many such lists exist to rank universities around the world?There are four or five university ranking systems that take a global approach.  They are QS “World University Ranking”; Times Higher Education World University Ranking; Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU – often referred to as the “Shanghai Jiao Tong” ranking because it is produced by a unit at Shanghai Jiao Tong University); the CWTS Leiden Ranking and the Webometrics Ranking.  There is also an interesting one that ranks universities around the world in terms of their environmental sustainability: the UI GreenMetric World University Ranking created and compiled by the University of Indonesia.  More . . .

NYTimes.com: More Students Are Taking Both the ACT and SAT

This article in the New York Times from August 2, 2013 highlights how applicants to US colleges and universities are increasingly taking both the SAT and the ACT (with Writing) exams as part of their college application preparation.   Universities allow students to submit either one as evidence of standardized testing.  The ACT with Writing is often accepted in lieu of both the SAT Reasoning exam and SAT Subject Tests.  See this article by Nancy Griesemer, DC College Admissions Examiner, for more details.

There is a trend towards increasing flexibility in what standardized tests are required, with some prominent universities now accepting IB predicted grades or multiple SAT Subject test results instead of either the SAT or ACT.   Testing requirements can change from year to year, so students must check the individual websites of colleges and universities they are interested in.

The SAT is offered at UWCSEA East campus five times each year in October, November, January, May and Jone; the ACT can be taken at other locations in Singapore in February, April, September or October.  For more information, see our UAC website.

Advice on the Personal Statement for the UK

The representative from Durham University visited campus and spoke with students about writing a Personal Statement.

Krishan Naik, a Grade 12 student, distilled the information and recorded part of the conversation. (We apologise for the poor sound quality).

Top Five Tips for Writing a Personal Statement:

1.  Celebrate your Extended Essay and other aspects of your education that are uniquely IBDP (TOK)

2. Internships and Job Shadowing Opportunities related to your course will enhance your statement

3. Do not just list achievements; have evidence of learning

4. Be personal; be true to your voice. Do not use flowery language

5. Proofread

Have a look at the video too!

Here's some information that our intern, Mala Swaminathan compiled (from the talk by the Durham representative and from the UCAS website):

A personal statement that is written while applying to UK universities is very different from essays that are written while applying to universities in the US. A personal statement is a kind of letter that you write to your future self.

There needs to be a considerable emphasis on academic achievement through which the student’s personality should shine through. While several UK universities do not lay much emphasis on extracurricular activities, it may be a good idea to mention what your interests are other than academics. Talk about your wider contribution and what you do when you are not studying.

Two thirds of your Personal statement should focus on academic achievements with one-third that focuses on extra curricular activities.

        It is important to make a connection with your past and present  experiences.

Be specific.

Do not generalize.

Give selective examples of well-chosen ideas and experiences that have made you think. Aim to slow the reader down.

Avoid using overused opening sentences such as ‘I am passionate about History and I have wanted to study it since a young age”.

Tell the university why you are so keen to study the subject and demonstrate that by being specific.

Top 10 most overused personal statement opening sentences:

1. I am currently studying a BTEC National Diploma in ... (used 464 times)

2. From a young age I have always been interested in ... (309 times)

3. From an early age I have always been interested in ... (292 times)

4. Nursing is a very challenging and demanding career ... (275 times)

5. For as long as I can remember I have been fascinated with ... (196 times)

6. "Fashion is not something that exists in dresses only” ... (189 times)

7. Nursing is a profession I have always looked upon with ... (178 times)

8. For as long as I can remember I have been interested in ... (166 times)

9. I am an International Academy student and have been studying since ... (141 times)

10. Academically, I have always been a very determined and ... (138 times)

Reproduced from the 'UCAS Guide to Getting into University and College' with permission of UCAS - available from www.ucasbooks.co.uk

       

        It is not necessary for the personal statement to have the same thread running all the way through. Let the IB ‘ness come through. Talk about how you have made the most of the IB program and try to make the connection between the different subjects that you are studying.

Make use of your cultural and personal background to express yourself. Talk about ideas and events that have got you interested in the subject that you are applying for.

        If you have lived in several countries and have travelled widely it is advisable not to mention all the countries that you have travelled to. Instead, talk about your experiences and how travelling has shaped your personality.

Mention the extended essay.

If you have had the opportunity to do a bit of job shadowing do talk about your experiences. Do not focus on the company where you worked, but talk about what you learnt during the experience. What sounded more complex than you thought? Give examples.

Strive for originality. Try not to appear cliché.

Make each thing count and your personality will come through.

You’ve have to write within 47 lines and 4000 characters (including spaces). Hence use well divided paragraphs.

        Several universities now offer a substitute personal statement for students who are applying to different programs. This is available on the university website. In such cases the admissions officer would look at the personal statement on the UCAS website and the substitute personal statement on the university website. It is hence advisable to use the substitute personal statement if you need it. The substitute personal statement should be more course specific.

How to Get an Interviewer to Like You: Reflection and Tips

By Aashika Anantharaman 

I found the practice interview sessions on Thursday helpful not only because I learnt more about how to perform during the actual interview process but also because we got to meet some extremely interesting people and interact with them afterwards thereby working on our conversational skills with outside of the interview. 

There were 3 interviewers allotted to each student and each mock interview was 15 minutes long. At first I thought it would be hard to come up with information about myself to coherently talk about for 15 minutes, but my first interviewer made it seem like 15 minutes was not enough to convey everything she wanted to know about me. Being much younger than the other two interviewers, I guessed she was able to relate to my experiences more and ask me questions that really prompted me to talk a lot. Everyone seemed pretty nervous for their first interviews, some, like me were talking extremely fast and colloquially while some were freaked out by the number of awkward silences in their interviews where they completely blanked out.

 I think we can all agree that the second interviews went much better than the first. In my case it felt more like a conversation than an interview and the conversation flowed much better because I was warmed up and had organized my thoughts having already said them out loud during the first interview. The third was by far the best for almost every one of us. The practice really did help us gain a better understanding of what we struggled with and what went well, and we could revise this each time. We also learnt that it is better to adapt depending on the type of person who is interviewing you, for example if an interviewer doesn't have very much to ask you and is quieter, it makes sense to ask them questions about their experiences at the college and engage them in the conversation as well.

We also talked about how some of us may have struggled with getting a message across to the interviewer, for example we could tell them about where we have lived and how the experience was but still not show them 'who we are'. Through discussion I think most of us agreed that it was better to tell them about our qualities and then back them up with evidence, how they developed and why they are important to us.

Most questions that we were asked were about the activities we're interested in, what we want them to know about us, qualities we think we possess that will be useful in university, and where we have lived etc. It was tricky narrating these things about us but keeping in mind that it was not the actual facts about ourselves that the interviewer was interested in but how those facts form the kind of people we are today and our opinions and stands on different issues. The most important piece of advice I took back from yesterday was to 'be genuine', the initial speaker, an interviewer from the University of Pennsylvania who is also experienced in interviewing job applicants, said that he can always tell when a person is exaggerating or not being genuine and that that is extremely off putting.

I also realized that it is important to establish a good rapport with the person who is interviewing you, for example while the last interviewer could relate to me and liked me because she too was introverted and quiet, the second interviewer felt I was not confident enough and did not understand why I wasn't more bold and comfortable. It is in my experience important to adapt and in a sense mirror the personality of the interviewer in order for them to be able to like you easily. 

Interview Soon? Here's some advice from a Student

How To Get Into University 101: Alumni Interviews

By Mathilde Ooi

As Grade 12 students, one of the many big questions floating around in our minds is “what do I have to do to present myself as the best candidate I can be for the universities I am applying to?” Especially for those of us who are applying to schools around the United States, we have to prepare ourselves for what we see as the daunting alumni/university interviews. To help us anticipate what is coming our way, we were given the opportunity to practice as interviewees and to gain constructive feedback from our interviewers who were UWCSEA alumni, parents, and teachers.

 The evening allowed each of us three 15 minutes one-to-one interviews followed by time after to reflect on what went well and what did not.  Going in the evening, I felt extremely anxious: unsure of what to expect and unsure of what I would even say. I was particularly frustrated about the outcome of my first interview because there were many instances where I fumbled and I was unable express my points clearly. However, with each interview I felt more and more confident and the interviews began to feel more natural and conversational.

            The most challenging part about the night was being thrown questions that were extremely broad such as "tell me more about yourself." What was difficult to do for broader questions was sticking to a couple important points and then keeping my answers crisp and concise because you could potentially talk about anything. For example: I wanted share my Project Week experiences, my SEASAC experiences and so on.

            On the other hand, there were also many positive outcomes from the evening such as gaining valuable advice from our alumni, getting a better idea of how to structure my answers and being able to think faster on my feet each time. I felt more and more prepared for whatever question that was coming my way each time. Overall, this experience was especially informative and worthwhile because not only did I learn more about how I could improve my interview skills but also more about my most prominent qualities and myself. 

5 pieces of advice that I would give:

1.     Rule of thumb:

Be yourself and treat the interviewer as a friend. You want them to love who you are and they also want to love you.

2. Don't be afraid to clarify:

If you are asked a specific question such as "what do you think about Bradley Manning's sentence", for those of you like myself who do not know who Bradley Manning is just ask.

3.     Be concise with your answers.

Make your point, then back it up with evidence, what have you done that exemplifies what you just said.

4.     Try to relax and make good eye contact with your interviewer

It sets up a better environment for them to interview you and for you to be interviewed if you're both comfortable

5.     Lastly, be specific.

If giving an anecdote, be specific. If talking about your qualities, be specific; why are you drawn to these qualities, how have they helped you along high school.

Lifting the Veil on the Holistic Process at the University of California, Berkeley

Want to understand what goes on in admissions? There's a great article in the NY Times entitled, 

Confessions of an Application Reader : Lifting the Veil on the Holistic Process at the University of California, Berkeley. 

The article highlights the nitty gritty of holistic/comprehensive admissions policies. 

Once you've read the article, please let us know what you think of this "confession."

An Inside Look into Yale NUS College, Singapore

Our UAC intern, Mala Swaminathan, attended a weekend event in May 2013 to introduce Yale-NUS  and had this to share:

      The Yale NUS College (YaleNUS) orientation for parents, counselors and 60 admitted students was held at the Ngee Ann Kongsi Auditorium at the Education Resource Centre on the NUS campus.

      YaleNUS is the first liberal arts college in Singapore and it is a collaboration between Yale University and the National University of Singapore. A total of 11,000 applications were reviewed for the year 2013-2014 of which 4 % of students were accepted. Currently, the student population is 2/3rd Singaporean and 1/3rd international and the college will eventually have a student body of 1,000 and a faculty of 100.

    The campus is adjacent to the NUS’s University Town and has well-equipped classrooms,a great library with rare books from Yale University and state of the art computer rooms. The college is fully residential and all the students can enjoy a comfortable residential life with study spaces, sky gardens, butteries and informal student run eateries. Tuition per semester will range from 7,500 Singapore dollars for Singapore citizens to 15,000 dollars for foreign students, or from $6,000 to $12,000.

      YaleNUS is looking for students with an ‘extra something’ –students who could add to the college community, students who are articulate, interesting and well rounded individuals. While the admissions office does not specify an exact IB or SAT score, they go through a holistic process by considering every aspect of an application. Good academic performance and rigorous coursework are qualifying factors in applying to YaleNUS. Admissions for IB students would consider a student's transcript from Grades 9 to 12 and a student's predicted grades.  Offers are not strictly conditional; however, a discrepancy between predicted grades and final grades can lead to the student’s admission status being revoked. Once the application has been completed online and all the relevant documents submitted, the admissions officer interviews all candidates after which a final decision is made.

      There are three aspects to a degree from YaleNUS:
      - Common/Core Curriculum
      - Pure Electives
      - Majors (15 majors including a double degree in law)

      Students will take a common curriculum in the first year, including courses on literature and humanities, philosophy and political thought, scientific inquiry and social institutions, before selecting a major.Class sizes are limited to 18-20 students. Students, all of whom will be required to live on campus, will also have the option of pursuing a combined undergraduate degree with law, with the law component taught through the N.U.S. law school, or combining an undergraduate degree with a masters in environmental management through Yale.

      All students will also complete a senior capstone project in their final year that will require them to conduct original research. All students are guaranteed: an international experience, internship opportunities and special leadership programs. Some of the special leadership programs include; first summer@yale (only available for students who have been admitted this year), Study at Yale or at one of the NUS overseas colleges (one year), 40 global programs and independent research programs. Students become alumni of three bodies -Yale, NUS,and YaleNUS.

      Please visit the following websites to learn more about YaleNUS:

      http://www.ync.nus.edu.sg/learning.html
      http://yalenusblog.com/2012/10/17/why-university-students-need-a-well-rounded-education-by-james-bradshaw/

Fourth Guest Student Blogger: "So….do you already know what are you going to study after UWC?"

"So….do you already know what are you going to study after UWC?"


That is probably one of the questions that we all have heard the most over the last months from many adults and friends. What I always answer is: I'm not really sure yet… I know I don't want anything related to sciences or maths, and I am extremely interested in humanities, psychology or sociology….we'll see!


My name is Miguel Angel Zambrano Boy, I am 17 years old and I come from the far-away lands of Peru. Incredibly I have already been living 10 months in Asia, and I have traveled around some places in South East Asia and Europe that I would have had never dreamt of before. As my mates who previously posted on this blog, I am currently in Grade 11 studying the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program.  I wanted to start this set of blog posts of "university feelings and perspectives" , as I like to call this space, with a question (and my personal answer) that we all have heard or will hear at some point of our high school.


Many of us don't know how to feel about university and careers, and college life itself, some of us might be confident and have thought about what they want to study since they were in the womb and haven't changed mind from then (good for them!!!), others might change their minds about careers every time they hear a good talk from an expert or a university comes to talk (it is normal!!) and some others might just be T-E-R-R-I-F-I-E-D about the idea of applying to a university (for those….keep calm, drink some nice tea). Personally, I have been through all of them, sometimes all at the same time! In order not to panic, I would like to tell you something that my mum has always said: "If you are not the first one that has gone through this, ask someone who already has", and I am pretty sure millions of others have gone through university applications, and who would be better advice than them? And who would be even better than experts on the field? The reason behind this personal advice to you all is that to be honest, I was quite afraid at the beginning of the year to talk about my position regarding universities to University Advisors. At UWC East we have two wonderful advisors, Pamela and Shruti, and before I continue with this post, I have to tell you: Go and talk to them! Be honest! Share your fears and confusions! Tell them your dreams and aims!. In my case, my advisor is Pamela, and we have already have a couple of meetings and plenty of short talks. And something else to keep in mind is that at the end of the day, its you who are going to study wherever you decide and whatever you feel more keen of, so be completely honest about everything, we don't want you to end up studying medicine when you faint at seeing a blood drop…


After this gentle advice, I would like to talk about myself a little bit, you might feel related to some aspects. I studied in a Chinese-Peruvian school in Lima, capital city of Peru, for almost 10 years, in an environment where everyone knew each other and the community feeling was never absent. I have always considered myself in "extrovert category", however also had in mind that I have many doubts about my future, which I then learnt was okay!. I came to UWC in Singapore 10 months ago, and I am taking six subjects of IB: Psychology, Spanish Literature, English Literature, Chinese Ab, Environmental Studies and Math Studies. Yes, three languages. Yes, Math Studies and ESS. And I am in love with them. One of the things that I learnt from the beginning of the year is that you should/must pick your subjects based on what you enjoy studying. There is no point on choosing something just because "its more serious". I learnt that what you have to show in your subjects to have a good application is personal engagement and challenge. I changed (in spite of many people saying that I couldn't make it) from an English B level class to an English A Literature class Higher Level, which I might not be excelling in at, but which I am definitely enjoying and learning, and obviously challenging myself. In terms of Maths and ESS, something that you need to be careful is where are you applying. It is true that some (sadly) universities do not accept Math Studies or don't take "seriously" ESS, so that's some research that you need to do before hand.


Now, talking about countries and destinations, the US is a really good option for me because of many factors that I consider are important when choosing where to apply. The liberal arts methodology is something that I feel goes along with my interests. In colleges where they have this liberal arts approach, they offer a degree of Bachelor of Arts and you study from a broad curriculum that includes different perspectives and you can choose to major and minor depending on your area of interest. It is a great option because you don't have to "choose" the definite career and gives you the opportunity to explore various courses. So then you can have the scientist with sculpture classes and so on. I would choose definitely something related to sociology or psychology or maybe international relations, I want to work with communities and society models, always linking it with education. Another good thing from US colleges is the payment options, even though they are one of the most expensive ones, the scholarships programs are incredible. Something that I also truly appreciate is the chance to show yourself through the personal essay and the extra curriculum activities at the application. So, its not everything about grades.


To finish this first post, I also want to be honest with you all and bring up the Gap Year option that has gone through my mind in a serious and potential way. Something to be taken into account is that before taking a Gap Year, you should DEFINITELY have a plan for the year and not just take and decide later. My personal advice is also to apply before taking the gap year, and get the acceptance and then request to defer your admission. Also, make sure your plan is productive and would have an impact in your life. I would take a gap year in China to finish studying Chinese, having the opportunity to do local volunteer work.


As you can see, my options are still quite broad, in the coming months I would narrow them down.   Research is something that I must do over the summer, I also have to write my application essays. I took the SAT test in May (necessary for almost every US college), along with a preparation course. My advice, take it in January of G11, you can prepare before in a less stressful way. IB can be absorbing sometimes. But at the end of the day, it’s all about being happy with what you are studying and enjoying your time wherever you are. So I am going to enjoy UWC, and balance myself. That’s the key! See you soon.

Third Guest Blogger: The University Advising Centre and the Application Journey

Amukelani Muyanga, writes about her journey from South Africa to Singapore; from thinking about UWC applications to now thinking about University applications:

The day I’m submitting this column of sorts is significant because exactly a year ago today (23^rd May), I found out that I’d been awarded a scholarship to study at UWCSEA. I had no idea of the journey ahead that’s about to come full circle in a few weeks when I return home for a month and a half in summer.

The last thing I was thinking about when I arrived was university. I was too excited to be in a school as big as one! (The school has since shrunk, as large things do when you become used to them). I, like many other IB students, was a bit perplexed about the massive amount of university talk coming our way when we were just trying to get a grip on our Diploma. Most of us assumed that university was a long way off but the months just kept rolling past and university is now a lot closer than when we began. I also think the reason we’re so reluctant to think about university is because beginning that journey will mean end of our UWC one. The University Advising Centre (UAC) has made our views on that a little less dismaying, though. There is a constant stream of university representatives floating in and out of the UAC doors that have made my peers and me a lot more aware about the myriad of possibilities ready for us.

Before I came to Singapore, I thought my options of universities in South Africa were plentiful: more than 30 to choose from. The realization that the number in South Africa was a mere drop in the ocean compared to the rest of the world was an incredibly liberating, exciting and daunting. The paradox of choice became very real. Personality and career aptitude tests, numerous talks with the advisors, help with SAT preparation as well as testing, and honest assessments of our strengths and weaknesses encouraged by the UAC have helped a lot of us tremendously.

The UAC always has something new to help us with our journey and one of them was the “Finding Your Voice” writing sessions that doubled up as therapy ones. The free writing helped us think individually about why our progressions came about. Mine, for example, was from doctor to psychologist to sculptor and perhaps back again. Even so, I’m secure in the awareness that even if I decide to pursue the most bizarre and unheard of career path in existence, the UAC will have a 3-page list of universities they think would be great. “Ain’t nobody got time” for 3 pages, though, which is where the one-on-one sessions with the uni advisors really help.

I speak for most of the IB students when I say that we really feel supported by the UAC, and even though we take ages to fill in their surveys, we’re really thankful they’re there. The UAC has forced us to think about things a lot of us would have left for the last minute and have made us pretty excited about the future, too. Who knows, maybe we’ll register for a degree in university counseling in their honour.

Second Guest Blogger: Thinking About University

Here our second guest blogger, Jamie Buitelaar (Grade 11), shares her journey:

At the start of 11th grade, I was quite scared about universities. The only thing I knew was that I didn't know anything, and I didn't want to major in anything "professional" - ie. law, engineering, etc. I had one - and only one - university in mind and I thought applications were ages away.

Right now, they're closer than ever. It's crunch time, and I have to admit, I'm a little bit scared. 

Despite all that, though, I'm looking forward to 12th grade and university applications. Throughout the year, I've been researching some universities and struggling with the decision whether or not to apply to the U.S. I realized just how important it is to consider where I'll be living and the kind of community I'll be in. 

Also, about universities themselves - who knew the U.S and the U.K were so different! And then there's smaller vs. larger classes, liberal arts vs. professional degrees and even on-campus or off-campus living! Some of these decisions are easy to make, others require some thought - mainly because I hadn't given them much thought before - but all are important.

Another thing I learned is just how much there is in a university application - references, grades, personal reflections, resumes…they are MASSIVE! But I'm glad to know about it so I can be prepared for the process of applying. 

Heading into grade 12, I'm mentally preparing myself for the guaranteed insanity that will come with applications. I'm worried, but more than that, I'm excited, because I'll have a chance to actually show off what I've done in my high school career. During an average school day, the thought "what have I really achieved so far" doesn't tend to come to my mind very often. Through these applications, though, I'm not only trying to make myself look good for a university, I'll also be giving myself a major confidence booster. 

I know I'll end up in a university where I can have a great time while studying what I love. I can't wait!

First Guest Blogger: University Applications Experience

We asked a few students to share their experiences of the application process. Here's our first entry. Nupur Chatterji, (Grade 11) writes about her journey:

I admit, I am not one of those lucky ones who know exactly what they want to study at university, but at the same time, I am not someone who has absolutely no idea – let me tell you a bit more. My name is Nupur Chatterji, and I am drawing to the close of Grade 11. Before moving to Singapore and UWCSEA, I was based in Hong Kong, so, added to the pressure of starting IB, and getting ready for college, I was also moving countries and adjusting to a new life. All this made me very apprehensive about the process of applying to universities. Ever since the start of Grade 11, I have been working with my university advisor, Ms. Shruti Tewari, to focus my ideas and narrow down on the possible higher education options for me – the journey has been one of self-discovery: very rewarding and very informative.

Being someone interested in science and maths (I take Maths, Physics and Chemistry as higher level subjects), I knew that I would remain within this domain for further studies. The main challenge was to decide which doors to close (I realised that medicine was not my forte) and which doors to leave open (Engineering seemed the ample option for my combination of subjects and interests). As easy as it is for me to preach through a computer screen, I have learnt that it is best to start eliminating options as soon as possible – if this means you become bent upon studying law, then so be it, if it means that you are sure that you still want to explore, then liberal arts may be the option for you.

With my field of study slightly more focussed, I remember discussing possible destinations for higher education. During this phase (but frankly throughout the entire process), I found it imperative to keep my parents in the know, and discussed tiny details with them whenever possible. The USA, UK, Hong Kong and Singapore were the top destinations. The freedom of choice and collegiate experience of the USA appeals to me, especially because I am still contemplating between different possible engineering majors. Then again, the rigour and focus on academics in the UK, in Hong Kong and Singapore is also highly desirable. It is a dilemma which I have to overcome, however by applying to all these destinations I have kept my options flexible. Apart from the academic aspect, I have realised that it is important to consider culture as well. Having lived in Asia all my life, I identify with the customs, traditions and way of life – keeping this in mind, destinations like Hong Kong and Singapore offer more ‘social security’ and eliminate the possibility of a culture shock.

Over the past year, I have come to understand more about the general process of applying to universities after interacting with everyone at the University Advising Centre (or the UAC as you will fondly come to know it as). UWCSEA sets a maximum quota of applying to 10 universities around the world. This might come as a surprise to some (as it did to me initially), but I have come to realise that it is necessary to curtail the possibilities or students will go berserk applying all around the world. The restriction has made me more selective about which universities to consider, so I focus my energy and spend my time only researching relevant places.

If you are completely clueless about the difference between universities and colleges or are unsure of what liberal arts means, do not panic. The best thing to do is to attend the sessions, which are usually held at lunchtimes, during which representatives from various universities come to give information about their respective universities – do not forget to take a brochure and contact details, especially if you are interested in the destination. These sessions really helped me to form a perspective on what type of university (big or small; liberal arts or not; in the city or in the suburbs) would be ideal for me. On a larger scale, the university fair and careers fair are options to talk to even more people who are experienced in the field. From these, the most important thing I learnt is that choosing subjects for the IB is not the end of the world – there will always be education paths or career choices available based on the skills acquired. For more individualised attention, the one-on-one meetings with your advisor are scheduled in regular intervals. I’ve been able to accomplish tons during these meetings – there are always little things which slip your mind, which your advisor gently reminds you of. I find it convenient to drop into the UAC whenever I have a quick question – the more I ask, the more confident I feel.

There is always a stigma against the testing and essay-writing for universities. By planning out a schedule for testing (I need to take the SATs since I am applying to the USA), I have found it easier to bring about a balance to my timetable. My friends who are interested in medicine have a different set of tests to face, so make sure that you know what kinds of tests are required for your course of study.

We (the USA applicants) have just submitted forms to our subject teachers for recommendation letters. This really provides a transition that will facilitate us into Grade 12. It is the first ‘real’ step towards writing applications that we have taken, and quite frankly it is exciting. Over summer, I intend to develop my thoughts and ideas and orientate them towards prospective college essay topics, as this will help to write effectively. Being as informed as possible about my prospective universities is also a must – the more you know about the college, the more your enthusiasm shines. I plan to scour through the university websites picking up details that the university wants me to know.

I hope this gave you an inside scoop on what is going on in my brain regarding universities, check back again next year (when I will be in Grade 12) to see how I have progressed.