Debbie McDowell
debbiem@isb.ac.th
Grade 11
Junior Seminar was on Monday and all grade 11 students met with their university counselor during that time. The students were introduced to the Maia Learning platform that we will be using for university research, application lists and delivering application materials. The main topic of the seminar was about Junior Led Conferences. Students were given a template to guide their preparation for the meeting that will take place with the student, their parents and the university counselor.
Junior Led Conferences begin 1 Feb through 31 March (University Counselor office and/or Zoom). All grade 11 students are required to schedule a Junior Led Conference with their university counselor and their parents during the months of February and March. The meeting will be the starting point for the university research and selection process for each student and family. Please work with your child to set that appointment well in advance during the student’s free period or if the student doesn’t have a free, after school. This is a mandatory meeting and both parents are expected to attend, in person or via zoom. The counselors look forward to hearing from the students about what their plans are for after ISB!
Thanks to all the parents and students who attended the Junior and Parent University Night on Thursday. The counselors are always grateful for the opportunity to meet with families and provide information about the university selection and application process. To review the presentation, please find the link on the University Counselor website.
Grade 12
Application Results. Seniors should have heard back, or will soon hear, about the results of their Early Application or Early Decision applications. Universities making decisions on a rolling basis have also started releasing decisions. Please encourage your child to check their application portals, email inbox and spam folder regularly to watch for those decisions or in case other information or materials are required. Please be sure your child shares their university application results with their university counselor! The next Senior Seminar is 23 February.
University counselors have sent out the Mid Year Reports to all universities that require those updates and to which the seniors applied. Students should monitor their application portals to ensure all materials are received by the university.
Parent Coffees
Thank you to those who were able to attend the Parent Coffee on Monday. The topic was Higher Education in the United States. You can view the presentation on the recordings tab of the University Counseling website.
Future Parent Coffees:
The next two months of Parent Coffees will be focusing on the application process in different countries. This is a great introduction for grade 9 to 11 parents about what is coming in the next few years for your child. So, mark your calendars! The dates that are set so far are:
February 7: United Kingdom and the UCAS Application
February 21: Applying to Canada
February 28: Applying to the Netherlands
In March, the focus will be on Hong Kong, Australia, Japan, Korea, and Thailand. Watch this space for the details and dates!
Virtual university visits: Be sure to check the Virtual University Visit list for university presentations that are available for students and families to join.
Please check the ISB University/College Counseling website for loads of information. You will find university research tools, transition resources for students and parents, recordings of Parent Coffees and family presentations, virtual university visits, information about testing and how to sign up for the SAT at ISB, a list of summer programs about which the counselors have been informed, and the ISB School Profile.