Welcome to Senior Year

Class of 2012

Counselors Are Here To Help You…

• Find the best fit scenario

• Determine what a “good college” really means

• Select “good” options that fit your academic profile

• Understand application requirements

Students, please…• Be Proactive

• Get Organized

• Communicate Well

• Be an Expert

• Stay Positive

• Enjoy Senior Year!

Be Smart About Senior Year• Application regulations

– 10 apps worldwide (UC/UCAS are 1 each)– 10 application rule applies to entire application cycle

• Know deadlines and requirements

• Procrastination is your enemy (and doesn’t make a good impression)

• Strong to the finish

• All offers are conditionalQ

FAMILY CONNECTION

Senior Profile & Journal Entries

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Colleges I’m Thinking About & College Visits

Colleges I’m Thinking About

Scattergrams

Waive Your Rights

Enter Common App Username and Password

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APPLICATION PROCESS

What Do I Do Now?

• Update Senior Profile• Check Transcript for Errors• “Why College ?” Essay – Sept. 15• Two Teacher Recommendations• Finalize Plans/Colleges

– With Parents– With Counselor

• Essay/Personal Statement Draft• Create Application Account(s)• Register for Testing (SAT, ACT and TOEFL)

“Why College ?” Essay

• Required for: – Early Decision– Single-Choice Early Action

• Helps your counselor tailor a version of your evaluation for the individual college

• This essay format is required by some US colleges to determine fit and genuine interest

Teacher Recommendations

• Ask your teacher(s)

• Complete the Teacher Rec Data Sheet

• Bring to Your Counselor to be Signed

• Give Signed Form to Teacher

Colleges request these letters because they want to know more about you as a person, especially in the context of the classroom. They are not seeking confirmation of your grade in the course or your memberships of various clubs and activities. The reader of your application is looking for characteristics that will make you a valuable addition to his or her institution. Q

Essay Writing Tips

• Be genuine and personal

• Focus on one aspect of yourself

• Tell a good story

• Avoid gimmicks and clichés

• Use specific examples and details

• Proofread!

Know That Admissions Officers Are Real People Too. Be Human In Your Essay!

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Video from perspective of Admissions Office

Senior Essay Writing WorkshopsThese optional after-school workshops will be launched in September.

Stay tuned for more information!

DEADLINES & DOCUMENTS

Deadlines To Request Transcript (and other documents)

• Early Decision I/Early Action – Sept. 30• ED II, Regular Decision (Jan 15 and earlier)– Nov. 11• All Others – Three Weeks Notice!

• Documents Could Include:– Transcript, HS Profile– IB Predicted Grades– Counselor Evaluation– Teacher Evaluation(s) – Financial Documents (only if we’re not sending other docs online)– Mid-Year Transcript

Online Transcript Request

Documents Online• We send Documents Online to US and Some of Canada

(1,200+ total institutions)– Transcripts– Teacher/Counselor Evaluations + Forms– IB Predicted Grades (All IB Diploma Students)– Mid Year Report (1st semester grades)– Final Transcripts

• “Online Document Colleges” Posted on HS Guidance Portal• If not online (e.g. Georgetown, UT-Austin)

– Send hard copy documents through the Counseling Center– We use our own Teacher/Counselor forms for these schools

What We Don’t Send For These 1,200 Universities…

• Financial Documents– International Student Certification of Finances– International Student Financial Aid Application

• Additional Recommendations or Materials

• You CAN ship these from the school via UPS– Address the envelope– Fill out the form with Gigi– No later than 3pm! Q

Application Deadlines

• UK– Oxbridge; Medical/Dental/Veterinarian (UK) – Oct 15 – UCAS- Apply first semester; Final deadline – Jan 15

• US – Early Decision/Action – Nov 1/15– U of Florida – received by Nov 1– U of California – Nov 30– Others – Regular decision tends to be January; Rolling

Application Deadlines, cont’d

• Canada – Apply first semester (around November)

• McGill due Jan 15• UBC due Jan 31

– Send ISM documents at request of university in Jan/Feb

• Korea– KAIST due Early January– Seoul National due in March (12 year students)– Others: Summer after graduation

Application Deadlines, cont’d

• Japan– Waseda: Spring (not yet posted)– Sophia: December/May– ICU: Jan 31/March 15

• Hong Kong– HKU: December 30 (based on last year)– HKUST: December 31, March 31 (based on last year)

• Australia, Singapore, Others– National University Singapore: February 21 (based on last year)– Applications are generally due in spring and summer– Check with individual universities

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Common Applications• Common Application – www.commonapp.org• University of California

– October 1 – November 30 – Two essays; prompts already posted

• OUAC – Ontario University Application Centre– 105D – Canadian citizens– 105F – International applicants– Available mid-September– May apply to 2-3 faculties per university– Preference– Additional fee beyond initial 3 universities/programs

• UCAS– Up to 5 choices– One course for either Oxford or Cambridge– Four courses in medicine/dentistry/veterinary

Common Application WorkshopsEach senior applying to at least one US college through the Common Application must attend one session.

Oct 3-7, 12-14 from 3 to 4pm.

Register in the Counseling Center.

Applying to the UK?Learn to apply through UCAS with Mr. David Birchenall.

August 25 from 4:45 to 5:45pm in Room P045.

• ISM CEEB Code: 705 720

• Test Center: See your counselor or check your ismanila e-mail for ISM’s test center number. You will need this to register to take the test at ISM.

• Register NOW so you can be guaranteed a seat at ISM

• www.collegeboard.com

Testing DatesSAT Test Date

Registration Deadline

October 1 September 9

November 5 October 7

December 3 November 8

January 28 December 30

May 5 April 6

June 2 May 8

ACT Test DateRegistration

Deadline

October 22 September 16

December 10 November 4

April 14 March 9

June 9 May 4

Sending Test Scores

• SAT Reasoning (SAT I) and Subject Tests (SAT II) – www.collegeboard.org – Score Choice

• AP – Call 609-771-7366

• ACT – www.actstudent.org

• TOEFL – www.toefl.orgQ

Colleges Visiting King’s College London: August 31 Loyola Marymount University: September 8 Albion College: September 8 Colorado College: September 12 Northeastern University: September 12 Swiss School of Tourism & Hospitality: September 20 Michigan State: September 22 Hofstra University: September 26 Ringling College of Art & Design: September 26 Denison University: September 26 Sarah Lawrence College: September 26 Macalester College: September 28 Fordham University: September 28 Loyola University New Orleans: September 28 Lewis & Clark College: September 28 Boston University: October 3 University of San Francisco: October 10 Wesleyan University: October 21

RESOURCES

HS Guidance Blogguidance.ism-online.org

Portal

Family Connection

Website

Counselors’ Contact Info

• Elizabeth Mohr (A-I): – mohre@ismanila.org– 840-8656

• Curt Nichols (J-N):– nicholsc@ismanila.org– 840-8661

• Lisa Ball (O-Z):– balll@ismanila.org– 840-8658

FINAL QUESTIONS?

US ADMISSION DECISIONS

A Behind the Scenes Lookhttp://thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/16/today-grinnell/

• What criteria are they evaluating?– Rating Scale

• Grades & Test Scores• Activities & Leadership• School Rating• Essay• School Evaluations• Demonstrated Interest

– Comparisons• School Group• Historical Applicants

– Demographics• Passport• Financial Aid

Behind the Scenes…

• How are decisions made? – Two Readers

• Preliminary Decisions• Committees

– Subjectivity• Compelling arguments• Essays

– “How can you know what they’re looking for?”

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