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.

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. 

The IB is temporary, but what UWC leaves you with is forever : Amu's Reflections on UWC and University

"I'm in a state of relative calm right now as I write this as my toughest exams of my first semester at university are behind me. I have just one left (beginner level Kiswahili) and then I'm off to sunny, beautiful South Africa for Christmas break. Shoutout to everyone reading this - I miss UWC and Singapore so much! I digress. The first semester of university has been similar to my first one ever at UWC - a massive jumble of trying to figure things out. Where classes are, where is it cheap to eat; how little homework can I get away with doing and still keep a solid GPA (they do GPAs in America!) ... I came to uni with this in mind: before anything else - I'm going to have a fun first semester. Putting that in the front of my mind meant I was not killing myself trying to do every piece of reading, going to every extra credit lesson, sleeping at 2am every night and passing up getting to know new people. Deciding from the get-go to seek balance made it come a lot easier than it did when I was in the tumultuous beast we lovingly refer to as the IB. Don't get me wrong - I have been working hard - haha! It hasn't all been meeting new people and seeing new places. In terms of academics, I'm so thankful for the intense training of IB. Three papers, a presentation and two midterm exams in five days? Is that all? Are you sure? No problem! My time at UWC has taught me invaluable time management skills. Most importantly - don't multitask! Do one thing at a time, focus and do it well. Then pick up the next thing and repeat. Shout out to Mr O'Connor for that life lesson.

My favourite thing about uni is the total control I have over my time. No more curfews! Woohoo! Time in between classes is in abundance and so there really is no excuse for unproductivity. Plus, there is plenty more time to do things that interest you, as well. Uni classes are like a buffet - so many different options. So, everybody's academic experience is really different. A lot of my courses this semester were to do with development, trade and humanitarianism and they overlapped well, which I suggest. Next semester, I've set up a completely different set-up with a focus on creative writing. How cool is that?!

One of my greatest frustrations was being in class with many people who have not experienced cultures other than their own and take offense when you bring up a different perspective rather than respect and think about it. I think coming from a UWC inevitably places that curse on us. But if I had to pick a curse, it would be this one! My suggestion? Patience. I have had to keep reminding myself how privileged I am to have gone to a school as phenomenal as UWC and that it is unfair of me to hold it against others that they have not had the same privilege.

There's so much more to write but I could go on for days!

My overall advice to you all as you decide what university you're going to, is to think with your heart. Gather all you can about what it will feel like to live there and be a part of that community. Prioritise what's important to you: diversity? a particular range of courses? the opportunity to study abroad? extracurriculars? and go to a university that fits that rather than one with a fancy reputation. You need to be happy, or else everything will suck. For four years. That's 48 months.

Have a great rest of your year and soak it all in - you are in one of the most magical places in the universe. Every time I (or any of the other UWCers here) explain what UWC is, the usual reaction is, "What?! That is the coolest thing I've ever heard! I'm so jealous!" 

The IB is temporary, but what UWC leaves you with is forever.

"All I know is in retrospect.." Jamie looks back and discusses life at Yale - NUS

Jamie Buitelaar on Life at Yale - NUS

It's been - what, eleven months? - since I sent in my application, ten since I was accepted, and two since I moved in to college. 

Frankly, I have no idea how to respond to this information, now that it's laid out in front of me. All I know is in retrospect, the process seems incredibly short - applying, getting in, getting to know other admits, moving in, starting college life...this all seems to have happened over the course of about a week.

Now that I'm actually studying, there are other things to think about. How do you explain a parallax angle in a single, uncomplicated sentence? Should I sign up for ballroom or bhangra? What would Confucius' fanboy Xunzi say to Socrates if he came over for tea? 

And yes, that last one was actually a real assignment.

The readjustment has happened and while I am still in close contact with old friends, I am also having heaps of fun with the new environment I'm in. 

As someone who applied to all of one university, I can't say whether I ultimately "chose" the right school out of my offers. What I do know is that I'm in the right place - or, at least, the place that seemed like home three weeks in. 

To close, let me be cheesy and thank, with utter sincerity, the East UAC, because I would NEVER have gotten here without them. To the teachers who wrote my recommendations - woah, you guys must've really worked some word-magic. Either way, thank you so much, to UWCSEA, for not only supporting me while I was on campus, but helping ensure I was taken care of afterwards as well. 

I'm out of cheese - see you guys later! For those of you starting the applications process (early action/decision people, hats off to you), best of luck, and please don't worry - the other side is 100% worth it.

How Can Parents Best Support Their Child Through The University Application Process? - Dr Mallika Ramdas

Our Guest Blogger is Dr Mallika Ramdas, Head of University Advising, UWCSEA Dover Campus.  Mallika looks at the role of parents in the University Application Process.

How Can Parents Best Support Their Child Through The University Application Process?

The answer to this question is actually quite a simple one: by letting their child be in the driver's seat of the exploration and decision-making process, by respecting their child's choices, and by engaging in honest and mutually respectful conversations about any constraints (such as financial ones) that may limit the young person's range of options. Happily, universities around the world now offer a wide selection of courses or educational models (single subject, combination courses, liberal arts and sciences, and other variants) to enable students who do have cost, climate, family proximity, or other considerations to find options that would be a good fit for them. 

Most importantly, we believe that parents should be 'a cheer squad, not a nag squad,' in their child's university application process, to quote renowned adolescent expert, Michael Carr-Gregg.  Celebrate your child's aptitudes, abilities, and passions; understand your child's cultural and social preferences and values, or help him or her to explore what those may be; and allow these to shape your child's university selection process.  Sadly, too many young people are made to feel that they simply don't match up to their parents' very high expectations, or even worse, to some external (and often highly questionable) measure of success - the name and fame or ranking of the universities they get into. 

On this note, you may be interested to read a hard-hitting but powerful blog post written by a former ivy-league US university admissions officer and mother, titled 'Parents: let Harvard go.' 

We would also encourage you to read a thought-provoking article written by our very own colleague, Johanna Fishbein, in the forthcoming edition of the College magazineDunia, titled 'Don't Take it Personally: Thought on the Holistic Admissions Process.'

Happy reading, and enjoy supporting your children as they begin the journey towards life beyond school - they're counting on it.

Admissions Advice from Tufts

Looking for advice from experienced admissions officers about your US application?  Follow Tufts University's Inside Admissions blog for tips on choosing courses, writing essays and more.  

University Acceptances and Success : TedX

Our colleague at UWC Dilijan addressed the UWC Costa Rica community in a powerful TedX Talk. 

Grade 12 is for celebrating achievements, saying goodbye to high school…and college applications. Brian seeks to change the way you think about college admissions by answering the age-old question : "Why didn't I get in?"

Brian worked at United World College Cost Rica as a University for three years and is now working at United World College Dilijan.  He has seen every type of college application: the great … and the not-so-great. His job has given him perspective into what colleges are looking for and the concept of institutional priorities. 

We encourage our community to watch the video. Please also let us know what you think.

Learn How to Cook : Transitioning from UWCSEA - East to a Gap Year

LEARN HOW TO COOK!! PLEASE! For your own good (and survival)!

 The very first thing I realized when coming to China was: I am hungry. The second thing I realized was that one cannot go to restaurants everyday, for three meals a day. It is simply not smart in terms of finances and health - nor for personal growth. I contacted my mum, cousins, aunts, friends and more, asking for easy recipes. Problem solved! 

It is all about learning, and solving the (many) obstacles you might encounter. It also about having the best time possible. Work hard, push your limits - do further research. I am currently working in a school in the outskirts of Beijing, China; and I am really enjoying the challenges.  

Contrary to the misconception of Gap Years being lazy years, I always find myself busy. If I am not at work, doing household duties, exploring the country or meeting friends…….I would be reflecting! 

I honestly reckon that when we fall into the routine of just following schedules, we do not stop to just THINK! 

So my suggestion would be to take breaks, read a good book, eat good and healthy food, sit down at parks, watch people interacting, make plans, travel, create stories. And more importantly, create your own story :-) 

Take care, and Happy UWC Day! 

Miguel Angel

Looking for Merit Aid?

Looking for a Merit Award to reduce the cost of university?   In order to be considered for merit awards, students are usually in the top 15% of the applicant pool at a particular institution.  Often no special application is needed, consideration is typically automatic and based on grades and standardized test scores.

Here are some colleges and universities that we know awarded merit scholarships to our first graduating class.  There are many others out there, but they are not always advertised.   Many Canadian universities offer merit awards automatically based on IB scores.  Research to see if any of these are a good fit:

Boston University
Drexel University
Earlham College
George Washington University
Hofstra University
Lafayette College
Marist College
Northeastern University
University of San Francisco
Syracuse University
Simon Fraser University (Canada)
New York University - Shanghai (China)

If you know of more universities that offer merit awards, tell your Advisor!   More information will be provided in another post on applying for financial aid based on need and on the Davis UWC Scholars Program, which is need-based.

Transitions: Goodbye! Good luck! Keep in Touch!

Today is the last day of classes for our Grade 12 students.  We have had the immense pleasure of working with the closely. We are sad to see them go.  Our final transitions assembly was one filled with  loads of advice. We've whittled it down to a few bullet points:

1. Be kind to yourself

2. Make time for yourself

3. Be safe

4. Be  a good bystander

5. Keep in touch


There's also a great Buzzfeed article on leaving school. Please check it out here. 

Finally here is the video of Grade 12 Mentors giving Grade 12 students advice. (Thank you to Joan Liu for running around getting the mentors to record the advice, to the Grade 12 mentors for taking the time, and finally to Grade 11 student Shukri for putting it all together for our department).

How the College Bubble Will Pop

Richard Vedder ( an adjunct scholar at the American Entreprise Institute, a teacher at Ohio University, and the director of Center for College Affordability and Productivity) and his student at Ohio University, Christopher Denhart discuss how despite education being promoted as the ticket to economic success, college enrollment has fallen.  

The article, titled, "How the College Bubble Will Pop" published in the Wall Street Journal on January 8 2014,  states:

Yet despite such exhortations, total college enrollment has fallen by 1.5% since 2012. What's causing the decline? While changing demographics—specifically, a birth dearth in the mid-1990s—accounts for some of the shift, robust foreign enrollment offsets that lack. The answer is simple: The benefits of a degree are declining while costs rise.

You can read the full story here.  

Thank you to Katie Day at UWCSEA East Library for passing on this article. 

Harvard President and Composer on the Value of an Arts Education

Harvard President Drew Faust invited  trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis to discuss the value of an arts education. They state the arts prepares students with skills, for a world we do not know yet.

Here is an excerpt from the article in USA Today:

We need education that nurtures judgment as well as mastery, ethics and values as well as analysis. We need learning that will enable students to interpret complexity, to adapt, and to make sense of lives they never anticipated. We need a way of teaching that encourages them to develop understanding of those different from themselves, enabling constructive collaborations across national and cultural origins and identities.

In other words, we need learning that incorporates what the arts teach us.

Read the full article here. 

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!

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.