"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.  

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

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).

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!

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.

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.

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!

Plan Well, Eat Well, Sleep Well, and Other Things : Checklist of Things for High School Students to Do Over the December Holidays

           December break is just around the corner. We know you’re looking forward to sleeping in, catching up with friends and family, and just all in all having a good time. We would like you to rest and relax; we’d also like to give you a few tips in order to ensure are making effective use of your time. We’ve divided the list up by Grade level. Grade 9 and Grade 10 students will be introduced to more tools through Family Connection in term two.


Grade 9 and Grade 10 Students:

•          Ensure your resume is up-to date.
•         Write! Find your “voice.” Reflect on your experiences so far. Write about a particular  significant event at an activity/in class/on the field/in the canteen.
•         Read! Get caught up on personal reading; spend some time exploring topics you enjoy.
•        Look for summer internship opportunities.
•        Stay involved in service projects/activities/ sports that you are passionate about

Grade 11 Students:

•        Set goals for yourself for next term.
•      Watch a play.
•      Complete the Personality Quiz on Family Connection
•        Complete the Career Profiler on Family Connection
•        Practice your music pieces.
• Prepare for SAT through PrepMe.  You can find this through Family Connection.
•     Explore Courses and Universities on UCAS or Family Connection, or through our Resources tab.
•        Continue to develop your art portfolio.
• Complete the Google Form entitled, “Finding the Right Fit University.”
• Update your resume.
• Come up with a list of 1-3 universities and your reasons why you like them.
• Return to your CAS reflections and add more details to them. These reflections will serve you well when you have to write essays for college applications
• Get caught up on any reading that you need to for your courses or read a book for fun!
• Stay involved in service projects/activities/ sports that you are passionate about
• Research internships for the summer/ summer programmes.
• Have frank conversations with your parents about the decisions you are making. Ensure all constraints (financial, geographical, courses/majors) are all clearly laid out on the table. If you and your parents are on the same/similar page it may make decision-making easier.  Remember you are the one going to university for 3 - 4 years. Also remember your parents are the ones paying for you to go to university for 3 - 4 years.
• Look for the calendar invitation for a one-on-one meeting with your university advisor. Accept the invitation.  Set a reminder for your one-on-one meeting time. If you cannot make the scheduled meeting, please let us know ASAP. The invitations will go out early next week, for meetings scheduled for the first week back.  After that, invitations will go out a week before meetings are scheduled.  

It may appear to be a long list, but most of this can be done within a solid hour or two a day (PrepMe and a conversation as a family will take more time and dedication).  Planning and being organised are essential elements to succeed and will make your life a lot easier as you are thrown back into the throes of classes and activities. So plan well, eat well, sleep well, and have a lovely December break!

Self-Assessment and Career Exploration Tools

Students thinking about university often jump right to “Can I get in?” without spending sufficient time on "What do I want from a university experience?” and "Which kind of university is right for me?"   The first step in identifying which universities would be a good match must start with students themselves.  It is important that students invest some time and energy reflecting on their own interests, learning styles and aspirations as they embark on their university search and application process. Students with a higher degree of self-awareness are better able to determine what criteria would make a college or university a good match for them.  This week Grade 11 students will be meeting with University Advisors to learn about some resources to explore their own interests and potential future careers. Here are some of the online tools we will share.  These resources will be made available to younger high school students over the course of the school year.

FAMILY CONNECTION
Family Connection is the university and career website that is used to manage and track all university applications of UWCSEA students.  It provides a self-discovery assessment called Do What You Are an online questionnaire to help students match themselves to careers and majors or courses of study.   Students can take about 30 – 45 minutes to complete the questionnaire and get immediate feedback.  By clicking on the Explore Careers tab in Family Connection, students can search careers by name or keyword and read detailed profiles of specific careers.  Under Explore Interests, students can complete a Career Interest Profile and identify interests based on Holland Occupation Themes, a system of matching personalities to careers.

CAREERSCAPE
Careerscape is a UK-based careers exploration site where students can learn about many different careers and the courses of study recommended as preparation.  Careerscape includes information on all UCAS Higher Education courses (currently around 50,000). This information is organized by career or by a search facility for keyword, region and type of course.

UCAS
UCAS is the online site students will use when the time comes to apply to universities in the United Kingdom.  Under Course Search, students can see the different kinds of courses of study that are available in the United Kingdom and the increasing variety of joint degree combinations.  Students interested in particular careers can see where in the UK a variety of professional degrees are offered.


We recommend that parents start a conversation with their children about their own career paths and share how their thinking about careers and career preparation has evolved over time.  Many of us are not currently in the career that we initially studied for.  The path to a satisfying and fulfilling career is not usually a straight line, and students will be comforted to know that the decisions they make now about which subject to study or where to enroll in university are not final determinants of their potential for success.

The Importance of Attending University Visits

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Roles and Responsibilities in the University Admissions Process

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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