Debbie McDowell
debbiem@sb.ac.th
It’s that time of year again! Grade 10 students are starting to think about their course selection for next year. Next week, sophomores will be able to see who they have been assigned to for university counseling by looking in Powerschool.
The next two weeks will be busy for the grade 10 students and the university counselors as sessions have been scheduled for them to meet in small group settings. Any sophomore who does not have a free period will be assigned to a session with a university counselor on Tuesday, 1 February, between 1:20 and 2:40. Students who have a free period will be meeting with a university counselor on Thursday (Feb 3), Friday (Feb 4), Monday (Feb 7), or Tuesday (Feb 8) during their free period. General guidance about course selection will be discussed. Please encourage your child to seek advice and ask questions during these sessions.
Of course, grade 10 students are welcome to stop by and speak to a university counselor in the HS Counseling Office and/or once they can see who their university counselor is, they are welcome to set up an appointment to speak directly with him/her.
Grade 11 students should be working on the Junior Led Conferences that will be taking place during the next two months (please see below). All juniors should get their appointment time scheduled with their counselor now so they know when to have their presentation prepared.
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!
The university counselors meet with the Community Liaison Officers for the Thai, Japanese, Korean and Chinese communities this week. The university counselors are thrilled to work with the liaisons and to answer questions and concerns brought forward from the community. We look forward to continuing the conversation with them and the members of each community.
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
March 7: Applying to Hong Kong
March 14: Applying to Australia
March 21: Japanese Community Meeting
March 23: Korean Community Meeting
March 28: Thai Community Meeting
March 31: Chinese Community Meeting
Watch this space for the details and times! As we get closer to the dates we will announce if these meetings will be virtual or on campus.
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.
Ms. Debbie McDowell (she, her, hers)
Head of University Counseling