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.

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).

College Acceptances and Making the Right Decision

Here's a great article for families to read on College Acceptances and Making the Right Decision. Thanks to Grade 12 student Dylan Sparks for sharing it with us.

An excerpt from the article :

CONGRATULATIONS. You’ve been accepted to more than one college. Now comes the hard part: deciding which to go to. Make a mistake and you could be repeating the whole application process again next year — to transfer out. 

Let’s say the cost is similar. How to choose between two good options?

Read on to find out more.

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!

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

By Aashika Anantharaman 

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

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

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

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

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

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

Interview Soon? Here's some advice from a Student

How To Get Into University 101: Alumni Interviews

By Mathilde Ooi

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

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

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

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

5 pieces of advice that I would give:

1.     Rule of thumb:

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

2. Don't be afraid to clarify:

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

3.     Be concise with your answers.

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

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

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

5.     Lastly, be specific.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.