Universities, Life, Journeys, and Roundabouts

Driving in the UK, it is very noticeable  that there is a lot of open space. There is flat land, and hilly land, and  there are wide roads, and narrow roads.  There are two - lane roads, motorways, back roads, side streets, one-way lanes that pretend to be two-lanes and there are many, many roundabouts.

As Pamela is driving we start a conversation about all the roundabouts and link the roundabouts to life in general, and university decisions and life outcomes, more specifically. 

Life is like a roundabout. 

There is always a new path and there is always a way to get back on your original path, if you so need to. There is also always a way to turn around and try a new path or turn around and go back to where you started. 

Students and families may think that there are only a few places (paths/roads) that will lead to the final destination : success and happiness. These few paths generally seem to be known as highly selective universities all around the world. These places are seen as short cuts or "sure cuts" to ensure life outcomes.

We are not saying do not apply to highly selective universities, we are not stating that highly selective universities do not lead to success; what we are trying to convey is : there are also other paths. 

We encourage families and students to explore those paths as well. Also explore the paths that are less travelled. 

It is important for students to recognise all the role models around them and recognise the people they respect. Students should investigate these individuals. They should ask their parents,  aunts, uncles, cousins, siblings, neighbours, grandparents, friends' parents about their life path.  

Some questions to consider:

Did you, oh someone I think is very successful, go to university?  

If not, here's a great place to begin to discuss what makes this role-model successful.

If yes, where did you, successful person, study for your undergraduate degree?

Did you pursue a masters? Where?

The places where these successful people work, did other equally successful individuals they work with attend the same institution? 

Are people in a student's life just as successful if they did not attend a famous institution? 

We would say, for the most part yes.

We say it over and over again, and Frank Bruni has written a whole book about it, Where you Go is Not Who You Will Be. It is not where you go that matters. It is what you do when you are there that really matters.

Travelling in the UK we met many of our former students attending very different institutions. All of them were very happy with their choices, even if it was not their first choice university. All of them were making the most of the opportunities afforded to them at their universities. All of them were creating avenues for success for themselves.

However, despite everything we say, if attending a highly selective institution is a life ambition, know there are many paths to get there:

• be accepted and attend as an undergraduate student 
• complete undergraduate studies somewhere else, do really well, apply to graduate programmes right after your undergraduate degree, at your dream university
  
• apply for PhDs or MBA programmes at dream universities after working for a little while
  

Anything is possible.  There are many paths.

Have many dreams and many first loves when it comes to university choices. 

There will be flat roads, and ups and downs on hilly roads. There will be times when you will be able to see for miles and miles ahead and there will be times when the path is unclear. There will be yet other times, you'll have to stop to let incoming traffic through.  There will be times when you do not see other cars coming your way and times when you just have to rest on the hard shoulder.  There will be times when you keep up with traffic, other times when you slow down, and yet other times when you overtake others.

Just remember there is more than just one path. 

Life in general is like a roundabout: you can keep going on the same path, try new paths, or turn back around. 

There are always possibilities, you have to be open to them to see them and explore them.

Running a Flawless Campaign

This week the entire nation of Singapore will take the day off and vote. This is simply awesome!  In this bustling hub of commerce, the nation will stop what they are doing  and head to the polls and vote.  This made me consider my days from the not so distant past, when I lived in Washington D.C., a city packed with lawyers, politicians, lobbyists, ambassadors, and journalists.  The buzz in “the district” was palpable and you couldn’t help but follow what was happening in Congress, at the White House, or the World Bank.  I was glued to CNN during the Obama election and watched from the Washington Monument when he was inaugurated.  How quickly I became infatuated with politics and the real guts it took to run for office. It’s not easy, and you really have to put yourself out on a limb and “stick your neck out”.   

It was during this time that I met a very wise College Counselor from the St. George’s School in Rhode Island, who told me his theory. He said for a student applying to college is like running for a political office.  Oh yeah, I thought,  Well I love politics… so this ought to be good.  

He kindly broke it down for me piece by piece.

The student is the candidate who needs to go out into the world and impress the voters. Each candidate should have their platform in which they are running on.  The platform may focus on a specific talent, an overall contribution you will make for the voters, or perhaps your academic prowess. Your platform may also include your unique background and skills.

The voters are the universities, and as we know, the voters often have different priorities and opinions. Do the voters value your commitment to service? Do they value very high academic scores? Do the voters really care about the arts or sports, or outdoor education pursuits? Do they care what type of roommate you will be?  

Will the voters see your candidacy as authentic? Can they see your real desire to get their vote, or is your candidacy a last minute decision made on December 31st (The application deadline).  Will the voters see a fit between your values and theirs?    

Ugh.. but these voters can really be very fickle changing their mind from year to year!  One year they want trombone playing scientists,  the next year they want a mathematician who can tap dance.   

Now of course, every candidate needs donors. You guessed it Mom and Dad, you are the donors!  The donors are a necessary part of every campaign whether you like it or not. The donors will often have influence towards which votes the candidate should go out and get, and how far and wide the net is cast.  The major risk is that the  donors have TOO MUCH influence on the candidate, and the voters can see it!  (ie. don’t let your dad write your college essay!)   The voters want independent candidates who can speak for themselves and express ideas freely, unhampered by their donors.  

Finally, every candidate needs a good campaign manager and that’s your University Advisor. Don’t worry about this part, you have some of the best in the business at UWCSEA!  The campaign manager is your biggest supporter, your biggest cheerleader, and your biggest advocate. They’ll spend the late nights helping you craft your platform and finding the voters that will love to hear your message!  The campaign manager will also have to be brutally honest with you sometimes. They’ll tell you when your platform is weak. They’ll tell you when you’re aiming towards the wrong voters and they’ll tell you when your messaging has gone astray. You may be tempted to fire your campaign manager after an early defeat in the primary elections; but stick with them and trust their judgement, they’re in it for the love, not the money.   

If you do this right you will take time to think about  your platform, and  REALLY think about the voters who share your values and interests. If you take the time to craft your message and listen to your campaign manager, your election will be flawless and you will have the most  amazing three (or four) years in office!    

Robbie Jefferiss

University Advisor

UWCSEA - East Campus

 

That 'Useless' Liberal Arts Degree Has Become Tech's Hottest Ticket - Forbes

As students start thinking about returning to school, we thought we'd share this article with you. Here's an excerpt:

Engineers may still command the biggest salaries, but at disruptive juggernauts such as Facebook and Uber, the war for talent has moved to nontechnical jobs, particularly sales and marketing. The more that audacious coders dream of changing the world, the more they need to fill their companies with social alchemists who can connect with customers–and make progress seem pleasant.

The New SAT Format

Here is a link to an article from the New York Times where the author shares his view of the new format of the SAT exam, which will be adopted as of May, 2016.   The current SAT format will be offered for the last time in January 2016.  The SAT is part of the university admissions process for many, but not all, US colleges and universities.

A preview of the new SAT format will be offered in the October 14, 2015 PSAT (Preliminary SAT) for Grade 10 and Grade 11 students who would like to experience the new format in a no-stakes environment.   The ACT is an alternative to the SAT which is viewed as equivalent by US colleges and universities.   More information about testing options in the US is available on the UAC website.
The Big Problem with the New SAT (NYTimes, May 4, 2015)

ACT or SAT? Take a Quiz to find out which test is best for you.

Greetings from the University Advising Center!

We hope everyone is having a great spring break.  Over the last few months we've had a lot of students asking us about which test to take, the ACT or SAT.  For those in the Class of 2016, it really is an option.   Our friends at Arborbridge, a test prep company have put together a quiz that can help you decide which test to take.

Meanwhile, if you are in the Class of 2017, we are recommending that students take the ACT. This is primarily because the SAT is changing in the spring of 2016 and there are still a lot of questions about how the "new" SAT will work; at the same time there is limited test prep material available for the new version.  If you want more information on why this recommendation is being made, this article highlights many of the reasons for taking the ACT if you are in the Class of 2017.

What to do with a Waitlist Offer?

It has been an exciting week for us in the UAC as our grade 12 students are receiving news back from universities around the world. Good news and bad, we've been pleased with the maturity and strength of character shown by our Grade 12 students.


In the U.S. some universities have waitlists, and this can be confusing to students. So we have put together a little guide to walk you through it.

I got Waitlisted….. Now what do I do?

What is a Waitlist?
Colleges and universities in the U.S. offer students a spot on their waitlist so that they have a pool of additional  students to admit if they have spaces available. Higher education institutions want to have the exact number of first-year students on campus and they use the waitlist to ensure they get that number.
This means you are an admissible candidate but they didn’t have room for you in the class.  The university will wait to see how many admitted students say YES to their offer by placing a deposit by May 1st.  If they don’t have enough deposited students, they go to the waitlist to fill spaces.
It’s usually starting around the 3rd week of April when colleges will try to predict if the number of deposits from admitted students are coming in on target and how many spaces they might have for students on the waiting list. Some colleges make offers of admission before May 1 while others wait until all deposits from admitted students have been received after May 1.

Stay ON or Off the Waitlist?  

OFF
If you are happy with your other university options and don’t want to be on a college’s waitlist,  it is best to respond right away  and say “No Thanks.”  This is a courtesy and lets the college know who is interested and who is not.  This frees up space on the waitlist for seriously interested students, some of which could be your classmates, so do the right thing and respond accordingly.

ON

If you do want to pursue the waitlist at a university, follow these steps: 

1.     Respond to whatever directive they’ve given you. You are not officially on a waitlist until you respond to the university.  This can be  responding to an email, or checking a box on their online portal, etc.   There is usually a time limit placed on this that states you must reply by a certain date to be on the waitlist.

2.     Email or meet with your Advisor to discuss your situation and think about what you might add to your application at this stage to show you’ve remained an engaged student at school and are keen to enroll at their university.  This type of follow up could include: 

-       A letter from you - (This is required and can be an email attachment, but should be done in a proper letter format addressed to our admissions representative - see your advisor if you need their details).  The letter should bring the admissions committee up to date on your academics and activities since you have applied being sure to include accomplishments, experiences, etc. Include a statement about your continued interest in the college; what do you continue to find compelling about their institution?  If it is the truth.. you can include a statement  that if you were offered a place at their university you would definitely enroll.  This can be a  key statement because they only move people from the waitlist who are keen to enroll. But don’t say this unless you mean it and you would, in fact, enroll. Because your word in this case is equivalent to a verbal agreement and promise. 
-       An additional letter of recommendation-  It is sometimes possible to include a letter of recommendation from someone new and different - someone you didn’t have write for you before. Maybe a G12 teacher who knows you well.  Speak to your University Advisor before approaching any teacher.
-       Another connection- If you or your family have a “connection” at a college that is your first choice  (alumnus,  friend of the family, relative) contact that person and explain your situation and ask for his/her  support.


3.     You need to show SIGNIFICANT, AUTHENTIC interest in a college to  get offered a spot from a waitlist.  Think about communicating with the college representative once a week in a meaningful way (not just to say “Hi”).

4.     Some colleges will make offers to students on the waitlist in late April.  Most will wait until after May 1.  You should therefore plan to place a deposit at one of your colleges by May 1st, be hopeful for your waitlist option, but be excited about the university you’ve deposited to. You may only deposit at ONE school; depositing at two schools is called “DOUBLE DEPOSITING” and is considered a violation of the rules.

Waitlist movement? 
Waitlists are hard to predict. They vary from year to year.  Some colleges last year only took 2 or 3 international students off their waitlist.  Other places may take 20 or more.  It depends on their number of deposited students.  

Coordination
It is important that you are in contact with your University Advisor in this process so efforts are not duplicated and that we are “in the loop” with your efforts.  Please CC us on all emails to the university and check in with us about your status.  

East University Advisor Joan Liu's article in NACAC Bulletin

Our very own Joan Liu was featured this month in the National Association for College Admissions Counselling (NACAC) Bulletin.  NACAC is the largest professional organization of college counselors in the world and its readership exceeds 13,000.  Joan's excellent article shows a deep understanding of how international students approach the US college admissions process. Great Work Joan!  

Eight Tips for Counseling International Students at US High Schools by Joan Liu, University Advisor at United World College of South East Asia, East campus and OACAC Vice President for Inclusion, Access and Success.