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For some students, the decision of whether to stay here in Mexico or go abroad for university is an easy one. For others, it is much more difficult. Here are a few things I encourage you to keep in mind as you make this important choice:

1) What do you want to study?

If you are uncertain about what you would like to study, going abroad may be a good choice for you. Local universities will ask you to declare your carrera when you apply during your senior year; universities in the USA, for example, usually give more freedom for you to take your time and explore before you decide. It’s also very important to know that there are a few fields that are difficult to study outside Mexico (e.g. medicine, law), and some others that may be easier to study here in Mexico because you can practice with

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Destination College Helping ASFM Students Achieve Their Goals for Life After High School

Class of 2016 11th Grade Spring Edition

Sarah Loring de Garcia College & Career Counselor sarah.loring@asfm.edu.mx

Where Should I Apply? Making the Decision to

Stay In Mexico or Go Abroad

Finding the Perfect Colleges for YOU Trying to decide where to apply can be overwhelming.

INSIDE

College Testing Should you take the SAT, the ACT, or the PAA? Do you need to take SAT Subject Tests? What about the TOEFL or IELTS? Make a plan now so that you will have the scores you need when you apply to college.

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Quick Notes Read carefully, and mark your calendars…

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Please READ

carefully!

Destination College Class of 2016 – Spring 11th

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only a licenciatura here, while you may need to get a masters or Ph.D. in order to practice in another country (e.g. psychology, nutrition). Keep in mind that here in Mexico, if you change careers you may have to start over, and it may take longer to finish your degree. Another thing to consider: If you would like to combine fields (for example, a major in engineering with a minor in economics) or study something that doesn’t exist yet in universities here (like art therapy or marine biology), going abroad is a good choice.

2) Do you want to build a strong local network, or meet people from other parts of the world?

If you want to work here in Mexico and it is important to you to use your time in college to develop your local network of professional contacts, staying here is a great choice. Alternatively, you can go abroad for college and develop a more global network of contacts that could help you in the future, regardless of whether you decide to return here for work or find a job elsewhere, although your local network may take a bit more time to develop.

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3) Even with all this technology, does four years abroad seem too long?

“Back in the dark ages” when I went away to college, the only way I could keep in contact with friends and family was by mail – not email, “snail mail” – or by making an expensive long-distance call. Times have changed, and in the era of Skype, Facebook, etc. it’s much easier to stay in contact with the people you love while you’re away. Still, some people prefer to stay here for college and maybe do an exchange semester or year. You know yourself best. Do what feels right for you!

4) If you’re thinking of going abroad, how open-minded will you have to be about fit?

If you don’t have top grades or test scores, and/or you need financial aid, you will need to keep an open mind. I may encourage you to apply to some schools whose names you don’t recognize. Can you really prioritize “best fit” above “big name”?

THE BOTTOM LINE…

Weigh your options carefully, and talk with your family. Remember that it’s okay to apply both here and abroad, and decide at the end of senior year… but be prepared for an enormous amount of work if you do. If you’re not serious about going, it may not be how you really want to spend your senior year.

If you are thinking about applying abroad, you need to attend JUNIOR COLLEGE NIGHT on Monday, May 18 at 6:00 PM in the Auditorium.

See you there!

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Should I stay, or should I go?

Destination College Class of 2016 – Spring 11th

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Did you know that I drive the best car? Seriously, I did all my research. It’s a gray mini-van. Spacious, great gas mileage for road trips, safe for my family… it’s the BEST!!!

You might be thinking, “Sure Ms. Loring, maybe it’s the best car for you, but it’s not right for me.” Of course, you are probably right. So why would you think that someone else could decide which is the best college for you? Many will try – parents, friends, media, rankings magazines. Using someone else’s criteria to choose “the best” college can only lead to one thing: you feeling like a square peg, trying to fit in a round hole. Sad.

YOU are the only person who can set the criteria for what makes the best college for YOU and once you’ve done that, it’s up to you

to find the schools that have what you’re looking for. Your college counselor’s job is to help you with this. I’m like a

matchmaker, helping you articulate the characteristics of your ideal college and offering suggestions of schools that might be a good fit for you. And FIT – that’s the key, really.

The best colleges for you will be a fit for you in many ways: academic offerings, size, location, campus feel, activities, cost, housing, selectivity, and much more.

It’s important to note that some people mistakenly believe that selectivity and quality are the same (i.e. if it’s

hard to get into a college, it must be good… and the reverse must be true too). But especially in the U.S. and Canada, when we’re talking about accredited not-for-profit colleges and universities, there is tremendous variation in selectivity… but the disparity in quality is largely a myth. In other words, the quality of education at a college that admits 10% of its applicants probably isn’t THAT much better than one that admits 80%! Selectivity ≠ quality.

If it’s the right fit, then who cares what the rankings or people say? You will be judged for what you accomplished while you were in college. After you graduate, if someone hasn’t heard of the school you attended, see it as an opportunity to tell them all about what a wonderful place it is.

BOTTOM LINE: Decide what’s important to you, and make your own choice. Best fit is ultimately more important “big name.”

Finding the Perfect Colleges

FOR YOU

WEBSITES:

Naviance • SuperMatch College Search • College Search • Scattergrams

Princeton Review

Niche

College Data

College Board “Big Future”

BOOKS:

College Match (Antonoff)

The Fiske Guide to Colleges (also available as an iPad app, including pictures)

College Board International Student Handbook

Many more resources are available on Ms. Loring’s website:

https://sites.google.com/site/ loringcollegecounseling/

Where to begin? Here are some search tools to help you get started:

Destination College Class of 2016 – Spring 11th

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Applying locally? Consider the “bump” you’ll

get by testing in English,

Admissions Testing

PAA, SAT, or ACT? TOEFL or IELTS? Subject Tests?

It’s confusing to decide which tests to take and

when to take them.

UdeM will accept the PAA or the SAT (but no ACT yet) PAA: 500 verbal, 500 math*

SAT: 430 crit. reading, 370 math*

TEC will accept the PAA, the SAT, or the ACT

PAA: 1200 (crit. read. + math)*

SAT: See chart in Naviance - “bump” is up to 223 points!

ACT: 21 composite*

* For most careers – not all. See Naviance for complete details about SAT/ACT revalidation.

Also worth considering: If you have a diagnosed learning difference and might qualify for extra time, you can only get that for the SAT/ACT (not PAA). See Ms. Gonzalez for more info.

PAA, SAT, or ACT? The PAA is the SAT (in Spanish). Many Latin American universities use it as their admission test. Take the SAT if you want to test one time and have it count at both TEC & UDEM, and also get a big “bump” for testing in English. You can take the SAT as many times as you need to pass; TEC & UdeM allow you to take the PAA twice. Take the PAA only if you feel strongly that you would do better by testing in Spanish, and you don’t mind taking it twice (once for TEC, once for UdeM). Take the SAT no later than June of 11th grade and you’ll have your scores in time to submit with your TEC & UdeM applications in the fall.

SAT or ACT? The UDEM does not yet accept the ACT, so it’s wise to take the SAT at least once during junior year if UDEM is a possibility for you. If you plan on applying to schools in the USA, consider trying the ACT too. See which test is better for you, and spend the summer preparing to take that one again in the fall for an even better score.

Subject Tests? If you’re planning on applying to any highly selective universities, check their websites. Many require subject tests. Some colleges say that they “recommend” subject tests. (If they say that, consider it a requirement.) Some colleges will even accept the ACT in place of the SAT and Subject Tests! Do your research. It’s your responsibility to determine exactly which tests you will need.

TOEFL or IELTS If you are applying to universities in any English-speaking country, take the TOEFL or IELTS. NOTE: The UK will not accept TOEFL! Be sure to take it before October 1 of your senior year because after that, test dates fill up quickly (wait until the last minute and you might have to travel to find a space).

For More Information: See the testing section on Ms. Loring’s website. https://sites.google.com/site/loringcollegecounseling/CollegePlanning/collegetesting

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

Ms. Loring is working hard to make sure that every 11th

grade student who is not taking College Prep 10-11 has an individual

meeting (or in a few cases, a small group meeting) before the end of the school year.

Please keep an eye on your email for your invitation from Ms. Monica Martinez, our counseling secretary.

Junior Meetings WORKIN’ SO HARD

GETTIN’ GOOD GRADES

YOUR FUTURE’S SO BRIGHT

YOU’VE GOTTA WEAR

SHADES

AP Exams

AP Exams

No Classes – Labor Day

SAT Exam

June SAT/ACT Registration

Deadline

JUNIOR COLLEGE NIGHT

Monday, May 18 6:00 PM – Auditorium

Thinking about applying

to universities outside Mexico?? Please

attend with a parent!

Even if there is only a tiny chance that you will actually go abroad,

please join us.

Junior College

Night DETAILS

TEC Campus Visit – Wed. May 20 from 11:45am-5:00pm

Lunch, campus tour, meetings with career directors, Q&A. You must ride the bus both ways if you wish to participate!

Register online at http://tinyurl.com/ASFM-TECvisit2015

TEC Visit

Review Week

DETA

ILS

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