Devising a long-term approach to university applications The development of application management strategies

A successful approach to finding the “best-fit” university for your child using ex-student case examples An evaluation of application management strategies and a recommendation for making a successful application Two main themes …

“Dream” university choices versus “real” application outcomes Finding the “best-fit” university involves recognising …

University destinations of West Island School students in 2014 (as of September 2014)

QS RANKAUSTRALIACANADAHKUKUS 2Cambridge (2) 5University College London (2) 11Chicago 13Pennsylvania 14Columbia 16Kings College London 17Edinburgh 19Cornell 20Toronto (2) 21McGill (3) 27Uni. Of California – Berkeley (2) 28HKU (6) 33Melbourne 40HKUST (4) 43British Columbia (5) 46CUHK (6) 55Glasgow 59Uni. Of California – San Diego (2) 61Warwick (6) 64Birmingham (3) 69Sheffield 71London School of Economics 77Nottingham (3)

Typical WIS student’s preparation for university/college entry “Profiling” and “tracking” take place between Year 10 and Year 13

Year 10 students … build e-portfolios using the Fast Tomatoes resource - psychometric component (Morrisby) to explore different career areas may be offered the optional opportunity to sit an external psychometric test with specialist feedback (opportunity is being investigated) use the above information to complement their IB/ID options selection encouraged to attend university /college talks held in school register for PSAT test (taken in Y11)

Year 11 students … investigate university pathways, destinations and course entry requirements (if subject is known.) E.g. specific subjects at a specific level may be a routine requirement. For Mech. Engineering, HL Maths and HL Physics normally required by top UK and HK universities. In Canada, IB HL Chemistry or HL Biology may be required additionally (depending on subspeciality) offered the PSAT test; investigate SAT/ACT requirements (for those US bound) encouraged to further network with university representatives

Year 12 students … attend the ESF University and Applied Learning Fairs; also other HE events in and outside of WIS advised to register and sit required university/college entry tests introduced to the application systems of the five main countries most popular with WIS students encouraged to “tailor” CAS/summer school/work experience to complement their extra-curricular portfolio for application are able to access university guidance (supports academic tracking)

Year 12 students … are able to access a US college essay writing workshop in school. (All students get personal statement writing support from form tutors and subject teachers) are asked to submit a list of universities and programmes, and choose teachers as subject referees (if required) register their interest for applications to Oxbridge, Ivy League, medicine, dentistry, vet science, and the US and HK “early” applications. request Upper School assistance in summer school applications (up to the maximum of three)

Year 13 students … August – September complete personal statement/US college essays work on applications for Oxbridge, Ivy League, US and HK “early” applications, medicine, dentistry and vet science to meet Oct-Nov deadlines (re)sit specific university/college entry tests with academic concerns are referred to HE counselling review university choices for consistency with their UA grades

Year 13 students … October – November work on regular applications to UK, Canada, US and HK to meet Dec-Jan deadlines who are short-listed by Oxbridge and HK early invited to sit tests/interview December – February Work on regular applications continue Notification of university decision begins Short-listed candidates for interviews continues

Year 13 students … March - May Students are able to access counselling to help with choosing their university offers July Post-publication of IB and BTEC exam result counselling available for students who have missed their university offers

Pre-university application advice offered to parents Contact individual universities about financial aid, domestic vs. international fee status, scholarships, visits during school holidays Contact individual consulates about student visas Encourage your child to make realistic university / college choices Support your child by accompanying them to university visits/events - check university events calendar in the WIS weekly bulletin Support your child by understanding their pressure in Term 1 of Year 13, particularly if they are applying to top universities in multiple countries

Juggling application pressures-multiple countries Case study 4: IB student – predicted 44 points (achieved 44 points)  IB HL subjects: English A Literature, Physics, Maths, Economics  IB SL subjects: Chemistry, Chinese Language B  IGCSEs - 9A*; 2 A  SAT ; SAT subjects: Physics - 800; Maths Applied for Mathematics – UK and Mathematics and Business - USA Aug – Oct: Cambridge University application in progress for mid-Oct deadline Oct – Nov: SAT test and SAT subject tests. US ‘early’ applications for mid-Nov deadline (UPenn and Chicago). University of California - end of Nov deadline Nov-Dec: Princeton, Columbia regular applications in progress for early Jan deadline Prepare and attend Cambridge interview and tests XUnsuccessful – Cambridge, Columbia, Princeton, UPenn, Chicago Successful – US: UC Berkeley, UC San Diego, UCLA UK: London School of Economics, University College London, Durham, Imperial College London

Scattergun vs. sniper application strategy Scattergun (random fire) Sniper (focused/ co-ordinated fire)

Year 12 (US-bound students) – Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) or American College Test (ACT) – taken at different times during the academic year (resits/subject tests in Term 1 of Year 13) Year 13 (UK-bound students) – tests taken in Term 1 Oxbridge: e.g. TSA, EMLAT, HAT, LAT, MAT, PAT or college’s own test Biomedicine, Dentistry, Medicine, Vet Science: e.g. BMAT, UKCAT Law: e.g. LNAT (Australia/New Zealand-bound students) – tests taken after publication of exam results Dentistry, Medicine, Vet Science: e.g. MCAT, UMAT or university’s own aptitude tests * TOEFL or IELTS (English Language proficiency test) may be an additional university requirement. Examples of common standardized university / college entry tests – Y12 and Y13

Worldwide applications up to the maximum of six – UCAS (UK) counts as one application; UC (USA) counts as one application North America (Canada and USA only) Up to the maximum of eight – UC (USA) counts as one application Year 12 students and below The maximum number of school-supported applications to Summer School programmes worldwide will be three. Current WIS policy on the number of HE-related applications

North America “Undeclared” major More flexibility, e.g. a liberal arts/“undeclared” pathway enables students more time to develop skills, maximise different knowledges before deciding on their major. VS. “Declared” major if a particular major is chosen, e.g. Engineering in Canada: IB Chemistry is an additional requirement/Engineering Science: IB Maths and two IB sciences are needed, and in Business in N. America, IB Math Studies might not be considered as adequate preparation. Hong Kong Extremely high entry requirements compared with other systems – should not be considered as ‘safety’ choices. Conclusions

UK Offers “straightforward” access onto degree courses for ID students. Early specialization in chosen subject (with some universities requiring specific subject combinations taken at specific levels) Australia Most applications made post-publication of exam results though some universities (e.g. Monash and Melbourne) willing to make conditional offers to international applicants based on predicted IB scores. Conclusions

General contact: Higher education counsellors: Catherine Schofield: Ellie Tang: Awing Lui: WIS Careers team