Andrew Weiser
andreww@isb.ac.th
Grade 11
Junior Conferences are past due. There are few juniors that have not set the appointment with their counselor. Please ask your child if he/she still needs to complete the work and turn it in to Khun Vannee in the High School Counseling Office. Once that is done, the student can then make the appointment for their Junior Conference with the counselor and his/her parents.
University Lab started on Monday, 3 March, and will be open each Monday through April 28 from 2:15-3:00 in room 203. Juniors are encouraged to come to the session to work on their university research. A counselor will be present to support their research and answer questions.
Grade 12
It’s not too early to start organizing for Exams!!! Students should be getting all their paperwork in order!
Senior Smoothie Party!! Thursday April 3rd, 2:15 – 3:00. This will be a mandatory Info session for seniors about Exams, Final CAS hours and seniors will update their activities for the Final Transcript!!! Very important meeting!! Oh yea- and free smoothies!!!
Application results are coming in! Please remind your child to come by to see their counselor about their application decisions so we can keep track of them. Also, encourage your child to thank the teachers who wrote a letter of recommendation for him/her! See below article “The Waiting Game.”
All
Summer Internship
Students who are interested in doing a summer internship through ISB (June 9-19) need to complete a one-minute survey on Naviance to express their interest. Go to Naviance –> About Me –> Summer Internship 2014 (upper left of page). Students who complete the survey will get preference for internships.
Japanese Parent Presentation
April 2, 9:00, Room 203. This presentation will include information for parents about the application process to Japanese Universities. Machiko will be provided translation.
SCAD Workshop
Professor Derek Black, Program Coordinator of Communication Arts Professor of Graphic Design and Typography Savannah College of Art and Design, Hong Kong, was on campus Friday, 28 March to work with ISB art students.
During the workshop participants were introduced to the most common forms of book design/production and forms of decoration with serigraphy (screen-printing). Students explored the fundamental elements of design (including conceptual image development) and they created their own binding and serigraphic covers.
This was a great opportunity for ISB students and teacher to have a hands on experience with a professor from a well known college! Thanks to Professor Black and SCAD for sponsoring this event!
Counselor Info Session for PTA
On Thursday, Debbie McDowell, provided a brief presentation for the PTA. A few of the highlights are below:
- As of 26 March, more than 1250 applications have been processed for the Senior Class. 154 students have applied to one or more universities. 115 students have admissions to one or more universities for a total of 340 + acceptances.
- Grade 11 should be focusing on researching university choices at this time. Ways to do research: attend sessions offered by university admission officers at ISB, come to University Lab every Monday to work on research with friends and a counselor, visit university campuses when possible, attend university fairs at ISB or in the city, and read the university’s website, profile and prospectus!
- A brief explanation of the calendar and deadlines for next year’s seniors was presented.
- And a few rumors were put to rest:
- Senior’s were rushed to complete their applications this year. It is true that most seniors completed their applications before the winter break. Many seniors (and parents) reported that winter break without the pressure of university applications made for a much more relaxing and happy break for the student and the family (than they had experienced with older siblings).
Seniors have received admissions decisions much earlier this year due to the early submission of their applications.
- Counselors are only familiar with US and Canadian Universities.
This year 80% of the applications filed went to the US. In the past years 70% or more of ISB graduates have actually attended university in the US. So the counselors are very involved in the application process to the US.
However, this year 250 + applications have been processed to universities in 18 countries other than the US. In the past three graduation classes, students have attended university in over 25 different countries around the world. The counselors processed these applications.
Counselors travel around the world to visit universities and learn about the application process and requirements. During 2012-13 and 2013-14 school years, counselors have been on university visits/tours to Holland, UK, Canada, Japan, and Hong Kong. ISB hosts more than 350 university visitors from around the world. A counselor hosts each university admission officer during his/her visit to the school. Counselors are always learning about new programs and new colleges/universities.
- Students must research their own university choices, especially if not in the US or Canada.
This is not really a rumor because, yes, students are expected to research their own university choices so that they can make informed decisions about where they will apply and what universities will be a “good fit” for them. But, counselors are here to help students with that research. Every Monday in March and April and until 5 May, University Lab occurs in room 203 from 2:15 to 3:15. A counselor is present help any student with research. It is true that in some rare cases the counselor is unable to assist with their research because the student is returning to a home country university and the websites are in their native language. In those cases the student and family will need to assist the counselor in the research process. The counselor will sit with a student and help direct their search if asked.
Please don’t hesitate to come see your child’s counselor if you have concerns! We are here to work with you and your child!
University Visits
| Ohio State University | March 31 |
| William Jewell College | April 1 |
| Central Film School London | April 2 |
| Northeastern University | April 3 |
| Chapman University | April 4 |
| Furman University | April 4 |
| Cal. State, Northridge | April 9 |
| Hamilton College, NY | April 9 |
Other Off Campus Opportunities:
1) British Council Thailand is holding its annual Education UK Exhibition on Saturday-Sunday 29 – 30 March 2014, 11.00 – 18.00 hrs. The exhibition this year will include over 94 institutions including universities and colleges from the UK. Aside from the Exhibition, there will be other events including seminars on Undergraduate Degrees in the UK, Scholarship information, UK visa application, IELTS Speaking practice, and IELTS workshops. Where? Seminar Room 1 and 2, Royal Paragon Hall, 5th Floor, Siam Paragon. For the programme of seminar, please visit https://www.britishcouncil.or.th/en/events/education-uk-exhibition
2) World Class Study UK
Pinnacle 4 – 6, Intercontinental Hotel B
Scheduled program 29/30 March 12:00 Introduction to Imperial College London 12:30 Introduction to King’s College London 13:00 Introduction to SOAS 13:30 Introduction to UCL 14:00 Postgraduate Application and Selection 14:30 Introduction to UCAS 15:00 Business, Management and Economics 15:30 Engineering 16:00 Law 16:30 Medicine and Biomedical Sciences
Be sure to check Naviance regularly to see the up to date information as it changes often!
The Waiting Game
Dr. Brian Harke
Each year, high school seniors spend the month of March in a nail-biting, gut-churning, adrenaline-fueled state of anticipation. It’s the anxiety that each March brings as thousands wait for their college acceptance letters.
Like many associated with college admissions departments, I have started to receive dire calls and emails from potential students hoping for an early indication of their admittance status. As I reflect on these communications, I realize how controlling we have allowed the college admissions decision to become.
Yes, getting into your first pick college is important, but let’s keep it in perspective. Being accepted by your first choice college is certainly something to celebrate, but it’s not the end of the world if it doesn’t work out exactly as you’d hoped. Too often I see students who don’t get admitted into their first pick college beat themselves up, think they did something wrong, or succumb to the belief that they weren’t good enough. I’ve heard of friendships that end because one student got admitted to the college and the other didn’t. To add to the drama, parents often take the admittance or denial as a personal victory or defeat. Some wear it as a badge of pride while others blame themselves and see it as failure. It isn’t!
Here are some things to keep in mind if you receive a denial letter from your first pick college:
1. The process is very subjective.
Forget about your GPA, SAT score and all the advance placement classes you took. Yes, the numbers are important, but when compared to other’s scores they are just that: numbers. Looking at applications through a quantitative lens, one would think that the highest scores should get accepted. Oh, if it were that easy. There is a qualitative component that makes getting admitted to college much more subjective than most students and parents realize. Subjectivity comes into play as application reviewers contextualize what you have submitted in comparison to what they have reviewed in the past. Reviewers have their own take on things and there is no black and white with subjectivity. It is out of your control.
2. As hard as it is, don’t take denial personally.
Someone at the college just didn’t think you were the right fit at the time. Try to trust that they know what’s best. As much as you wanted to get into the college, chances are pretty good that the admissions team did you a favor. If they didn’t see you as a good fit, you’d probably end up disliking the college had you gotten in. There is a lot of thought about “fit” and student success when making the decision to admit students. Sometimes the shoe just doesn’t fit no matter how much we think we love them.
3. You are not a failure.
Too many students assume they are a failure by not making it into their top pick college. Nothing could be further from the truth. Remember subjectivity? It is really out of your control. There are so many variables in making the admit decisions that I could write books and books on the topic. You are still the same successful person you were before you got your admit or denial letter. Don’t forget that. The sting of a denial will go away.
4. Celebrate the colleges you do get into.
Whether it is your first choice or third, any college you get into is something to celebrate. For every college you get into, someone else didn’t. Keep that in mind and be humble. It is an incredible accomplishment.
5. Parents, give your students a break.
The selection process belongs to them, not you. You’ve had years to learn how to deal with the rejections life often throws our way. This may be the first major rejection many students experience. Be supportive and find the good in the situation. There is always good.
The bottom line: You are a success regardless of the college you get in to. Don’t let a college admittance letter take that away.
So, stop biting your nails and worrying about your life crashing down if you don’t get into your first choice college. Whatever your future holds will unfold as it is supposed to. Trust me, I was one of those students who didn’t get into their first pick college. I did okay and so will you.