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.

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.

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.

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. 

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."

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.

Campus Visits

We wrote previously that Grade 11 students should attend university presentations. In addition to that,  we would like to recommend that students in Grades 9, 10, and 11, (if they are able), should take campus tours.

Visiting a campus, stepping on the lawns, seeing a stream of students walk to and from classes, really goes a long way in finding a "right fit" university.  Each campus has a different vibe to it and by visiting a campus students will gain a better understanding of it and assess if that school is a good match.

When going on campus tours be sure to include various types of schools: big, small, urban, rural, and suburban to name a few categories.

Be prepared for the campus visit. Here is a checklist of things for you to do. Remember to ask the right questions. Here are some suggestions for questions to ask and what not to ask!

Students in Grades 9, 10 and 11 should make the most of their summer holidays. They could attend summer programs, get some work experience, and visit various campuses.

We hope that early planning and campus visits will help students learn more about themselves and in turn, help them make informed decisions.

Great Information, Advice, and Tools at the Careers Fair

We have our first Guest Blogger! 

One of our Grade 11 students, Istvan Cselotei, reflects on the Careers Fair (held on March 2, 2013; organised by our Parents Association). Istvan writes about the information he gathered, the advice he gained, and the tools he now has to help him on his journey. Read on to hear from him:


I arrived at the Careers Fair without much knowledge of what to expect. I was not the only one to do so. We (the High School Community of UWCSEA) all came, in order to find out new information about possible careers. I, for one, have no idea what I want to pursue as a job, though I do have some areas of interest. During the fair I was able to find out more aspects of these, and many other occupations in a friendly ambience fostered by the neighboring barbecue to support our school's Global Concerns.

I found the Fair extremely useful, because it granted me the opportunity to test my communication skills, and to practice 'selling myself'. Through this process, I was lucky enough to encounter two highly memorable people. One of them serves as a 747 pilot at Cathay Pacific, while the other (an economist by qualification) is currently on the board of our school. With both of them I was able to converse about not only their occupations (which they elected following their passion - a decision which they have never regretted), but also their opinions on many issues regarding our global and local community. I enjoyed being able to receive knowledge that interested me; as I was able to discuss personal matters with them, and I had the freedom to ask questions.  

 

Others had a similar view on the event. Those I consulted during the writing of this post shared the unanimous view that the event was beneficial for both those who had a particular career in mind, and for those who have yet to decide. In order to provide a greater understanding of the Fair I would like to share a few of the reflections:

Saksham emphasized how he was exposed to previously unknown occupations, such as human resources - a field he is now considering to engage in.  Sophie also gained ideas for her future, when consulting with a gene-specialist, who explained how information from research could be converted into helping others.

One of the great features of the day was that numerous experts attended, hence it was impossible to not find someone of your field of interest, for instance Jennifer was extremely happy that she could seek advice from individuals who conduct a life based on service. Sanjana stressed her appreciation of the helpful personalities of the participants, a fact that helped her learn about everyday facts regarding the professions, such as how it enriches day-to-day life.

All in all the Careers Fair was a resounding success and helped us think more about our decision-making process. We’d like to thank the Parents Association for organizing the event and also all the volunteers for spending their Saturday afternoon speaking with several students and answering questions with a smile. Thank you!

Istvan Cselotei
Grade 11

Application Essays and Involvement of Parents

Following on from our previous post on the application essay, we found an article on parents involvement in the process.

The article entitled Is it a Parent's Right to Read Their Kids College Essay? details Shelley Emling's journey through her child's college applications.


What are you thoughts? Are college essays personal? Should a parent have the right to read the application essays? Let us know what you think!

Finding Your Voice: Writing a Personal Essay for College Admissions

Over the summer holidays our Grade 11 students will work on college essays for US admissions and they will write a personal statement for UK admissions. Some other country destinations or specific universities/ colleges may require a statement of purpose or ask the question, “Why do you want to study at X Higher Learning Institute?”

Admissions offices don’t just come up with these questions just for the fun of it. There is a real purpose to all of this. Admissions officers, when they read these essays and statements, are trying to gauge a student’s personality. They have the numbers already: attainment grades, predicted grades, standarised test scores, admissions test scores. In addition to the numbers they want to make sure that the student and the university/course are a perfect fit.  For US Admissions purposes, students will write on an essay topic on the common application and will be required to write a few more essays for individual university applications. For the UK, students will write a personal statement on the UCAS website. This personal statement is not tailored to a specific university, it is generally about demonstrated passion for the intended course of study.

It’s nerve-racking for most students. They know why they want to study somewhere but they are not quite sure how to articulate it.  We have some tips on that for students:

• Free- Write. Write for 15 minutes, without stopping, without editing. Just write. Whatever comes into your mind. Hopefully, you will find a thought will pop into your head that you can then expand on. Continue doing this until you are able to tease out a topic.

• Ask yourself questions. Then you must answer them. Why are you applying to college? What do you hope to gain? Why do you want to study at this place? Why do you want to pursue this course? What have you learned about this place? What have you learned about this course?

• Be aware of your strengths and weaknesses. Think about how you have changed since you    arrived at UWCSEA- East. What have you learned about yourself? How were you able to handle challenges?

• Think about your activities (Make sure your resume is up to date). Look at your CAS reflections. Find several significant moments in your activities and try and think about what they meant to you. What did you gain?

• Demonstrate Passion: Research the course/major you would like to pursue. Look at university course outlines. See what they offer and link those with things you already do/have done.

• Take a risk. Write a Dangerous Essay.

• Be Honest. If you are, you cannot go wrong. If you’re asked a question in an interview, you will be able to answer it.

• Write using your voice. Admissions officers, like your teachers, can pick up when something does not sound like you. Yes, get help with proof-reading to ensure you’re not making silly mistakes, but ensure the essay is true to who you are.

• Avoid writing about the three D’s: Death, Divorce and Destruction

• Brainstorm. Write. Proof-read. Revise.  The writing process is an important element in ensuring your essay will be of the best possible quality.

We’re running a 7-week writing workshop right now. We intend to offer it again in Season Four. In addition, all Grade 11 students will attend a session, in May, with their university advisor on personal essays and subject specific essays.  We, as University Advisors, will also offer feedback of essays and personal statements after the summer break.

We encourage you to find your passion, find your voice, and write!

Tuition Fees: Home Status and Overseas Student Status

After our presentation to Grade 11 parents on the application process in the UK several questions on tuition fees and the fee structure for International students and domestic students have cropped up.  With this post, we hope to point families to some resources as they start researching universities and the fee structure. Please note that policies and fees change, and at the time of writing this post, the details are correct. We encourage families to peruse individual university websites and also to contact university representatives directly, for clarification and up-to-date information.

Broadly speaking, all country destinations have two categories: International and Domestic. Domestic students are termed as those who hold a passport of that country. So you could be an Australian citizen, having lived in Singapore your entire life, and you are still considered an Australian national for university fees. This is also true for Canada, most European destinations, New Zealand, and the US (in-state tuition for State Universities has an additional category; we will speak with students one-on-one about this).  The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has published an e-book, this has a section on tuition fees policies for OECD countries for 2012.

The education department of the UK Government decides the categories of student fees. There are two broad categories however,  UK/EU known as “home” and Non-EU or “Overseas”.  The fees increase in the UK, for domestic students from £3,000 to £9,000 has everyone talking; even British Intellectuals are discussing the increase in tuition fees.  With the increase, families are more concerned about what category they will fall into.

As mentioned earlier, usually universities look at a student’s passport and citizenship. However, in the UK, a student’s citizenship and residency status are evaluated. If you are an EU passport holder or a UK citizen, you may not instantly be considered “home status.” Usually families have to prove that they pay taxes in the UK or an EU country and have records of this for three years prior to a student enrolling in university. In addition, if you already hold citizenship of an EU country or the UK, and a parent works for a UK or an EU-based company, this will benefit the student’s claim for home status. Finally, if the family is only outside of their home in the EU or the UK (for two years or else), this should be highlighted to gain home status.

However, the classification of “home” fees can be complicated and we recommend that individuals contact specific universities to clear doubts. Families should also visit the UK Council for International Student Affairs website for detailed information on Home status vs. Overseas status

To assess whether someone is viewed as “Home” or “Overseas,” students may be asked some questions and will need to provide some information:

·           Do you have permanent residence in your current country?

·           Give details of countries in which you have lived with the dates.

·           Do you own property / pay taxes / have medical insurance in the UK?

·           Is your father’s / mother’s work contract temporary?

·           Is your father’s / mother’s employer UK / EU based?

Please note that documentary evidence will be required for all claims.

According to Education UK average costs, per year, for International students are:

·         Arts courses: £7,000 to £9,000

·         Science courses:  £7,500 to £22,000

·         Clinical courses: £10,000 to £25,000

 

It is important for families to understand that a university can charge different fees for different courses. It is up to the university to decide what fees it will charge for the courses it offers. However, the Guardian University League Table lists the minimum and maximum tuition fees charged by each university for domestic and International students for the academic year 2012-2013.

The next question may be, is there financial aid available in the UK?  The UK government wants to ensure people are not deterred from enrolling into university because of lack of funds. Bursaries and scholarships are forms of financial help for International and home status students.  Students will have to look at individual universities to see if there are bursaries they are eligible for.

Home status students can also apply for a loan. The Students Loans Company administers all student loans. It manages student loans to EU students from any national UK student finance company. Students must apply to the Student Finance Company that is in the area they are from (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland, or Wales).  There’s also information on Student Loan Repayment.

Deciding where to study and what course to enroll in is a difficult task. Add to the mix the complication, for some, on fees category, and the university application process becomes an emotional and financial journey.  We encourage families to find out all information about fees and additional costs (accommodation, transportation, food and so on) as students explore their options. To make it a little less difficult, we ask families to ensure they have open and frank discussions about several factors: location, course of study, and definitely about finances.

Good luck researching university options!

UK or US?

Finding a university that is a good match for you requires not just an understanding of yourself as a person and a learner, but also an understanding of the type of experience that different universities have to offer.  Many of you are considering universities in both the UK and the US.   While both countries have terrific reputations for higher education and are home to some of the most prestigious institutions in the world, the experience of attending university can be quite different in each country.  There are some important distinctions that may make one country a better fit for you than the other, depending on your interests, learning style and aspirations.  Here are some of the key differences between these two university systems.

Commitment to course of study.    In the UK, university applications are subject-specific. This means that when you apply, you must apply to a specific course.  If you are UK-bound, you will need to have a good idea of the direction you would like to head in by the beginning of Grade 12 at the latest.  At US universities, in most cases you will apply for a place at the university, rather than in a specific course, and it is perfectly acceptable to arrive at a university without a clue about what you would like to specialize or “major” in.

Professional and specialized degrees uncommon in US.   The UK allows you to study professional degrees in the first instance, as a Bachelor degree.  Programs such as the Bachelor of Medicine and the Bachelor of Laws are particularly popular.  You will be also surprised by the breadth of offerings in the UK, degrees, with degrees available in specialties as far and wide as Brewing and Distilling, Physiotherapy, Television Production and Puppet-Making.  In contrast, professional and highly specialized degrees are most often offered in the US as Master’s or PhD programs.   It is possible to major in Engineering, Business or Architecture as a US undergraduate, but these programs are not offered at all universities.

Depth vs. Breadth followed by Depth.  In the UK there are generally no distribution or general education requirements.  You will take most of your classes in the area you applied for with a few choices of electives.  As a result, most degrees take only three years to complete, although Scotland requires students to take a wider selection of classes in the first year, and so Scottish degrees take four years.   In the US, Bachelor degrees take four years to obtain; most universities require that students sample courses in a broad range of subjects before specializing or majoring in one subject for the last two years.  This flexibility makes it possible in the US to major in two unrelated subjects, and at some US universities, you can design your own major to suit your particular interests.  While the US liberal arts and sciences approach makes it very easy to change your mind about what you want to study, in the UK it is far less common but still feasible to change your original choice of subject to a related subject.  There are also several combined and dual degrees in the UK that allow study in more than one subject, and liberal arts-type offerings are becoming more available.

Public vs. Private, Large vs. Any Size.  The vast majority of the UK’s over 300 higher education options are government-funded rather than private, and are relatively large institutions, catering to both undergraduates pursuing bachelor’s degrees and graduate students in master’s and PhD programs.   The average size of a UK university is 15,000 students, and after the first year many students live independently off campus in their own accommodation.  While the US has many large, well-reputed state universities, funded by American states, most of the over 4,000 higher education options in the US are privately funded and endowed.   Liberal arts colleges, which focus solely on undergraduate education, are often as small as 1,200 students and offer residential living communities for all four years.

Application Procedures.  Applications to UK universities are processed through a central governmental agency known as UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service).  You can only apply to five universities in the UK, and only to four if you are applying to medicine programs.  You can apply to Oxford or Cambridge, but not both.   Because you will only submit one Personal Statement for UK applications, it makes sense to apply for the same or very similar subjects at each institution so that you can write about your interest and suitability in that area.  Applications to US colleges and universities are processed by the individual institution, although there is a private application consolidator known as the Common Application, which has about 400 members, that makes it easy to apply to many popular universities using a single online application, with individual supplemental essays for specific institutions.

Admission criteria.  Admission in the UK is largely credential-driven, with UCAS publishing minimum IB requirements, and offers of admission are made conditional on attaining IB results that are consistent with predicted grades.  UCAS distinguishes between UK and European Union residents and other international students, and admissions criteria and fees differ for these two groups.  The US has a holistic admissions process and considers a large range of factors above and beyond a student’s academic ability (as evidenced by assessment grades since Grade 9, predicted grades and standardized test scores), including how applicants would enhance the diversity of the student body, what special talents or contributions they would make to a learning community, and in many cases, their ability to pay.

Upcoming presentations to Grade 11 will focus on the special features of the UK and US university systems and the procedures, requirements and timing for applying in each country.  Future presentations will cover other countries popular with UWC students, including Canada, Australia and Singapore.