Debbie McDowell
debbiem@isb.ac.th
Seniors met in Senior Seminar #6 on Monday for the last class before winter break. Those applying to the University of California and Cal State Universities have submitted their applications. Now, the focus on the final week of school before DELVE will be on completing all applications with due dates on or before 1 February. It is very important that seniors continue to meet with their counselor to review applications and essays before submitting them. Please help your child organize their time so that they can get all of their applications submitted before the holiday begins. They all deserve a break from school and applications so they can rest and rejuvenate before semester 2 begins. Reminder: University Counselors will be available until 6 pm on Monday through Thursday of DELVE week to meet with students on local trips. Then, just like everyone else, counselors will depart for holiday at the close of school on Friday, 16 December, and will not be available over the holiday.
Seniors with application deadlines 15 February and later, should set an appointment with their university counselor to formalize a plan and calendar for the applications. Please remember that all Transcript Request Forms must be completed three weeks before the university deadline for applications.
Application results are starting to be released. It’s great to see the absolute joy and relief in the student’s faces when they come to tell their counselor about being admitted. Congratulations to all of those who have already heard positive news from their applications! Please remind your senior to come share that information with his/her counselor; we want to celebrate with them.
In the next few weeks, Early Decision results will be released. Remember that an Early Decision acceptance is a binding admission. Each university will give a unique deadline by which the student must send their deposit to confirm enrollment. If a student is deferred in the ED round, their application will be read at a later date with the regular decision applications. If your child has any questions about the ED/EA results, please encourage them to meet with their counselor.
The last Junior Seminar of the semester will be on Friday, 9 December. Students should have already completed their Mission Statement and University Priority and Preferences Assignment by now. Please take time to have a conversation with your child about the university research and selection process. This should be focused on what makes a university a good fit rather than just talking about specific universities at this point.
Parents of Grade 11, mark your calendars. Junior Family University Night will be on Thursday, 19 January at 6:30 pm in the Chevron Theater. We look forward to seeing you there!
SAT Tomorrow: Saturday, 5 December
The final paper and pencil version of the SAT will be administered at ISB on Saturday, 5 December. Check-in will begin at 7:30 AM outside the MPB and the test is scheduled to start at 8:00AM. All students must bring the following items with them to be admitted to campus and the test rooms: School ID, National ID (passport or Thai national ID card), printed admissions ticket. Students are allowed to have a clear water bottle with them during testing but no food can be consumed in the testing room. Students may only bring pencils, erasers and acceptable calculators into the test room. All phones must be turned off and placed on a holding table during the test. If you have any questions about the SAT, please reach out to Ms Shrestha in the HS Counseling Office.
SAT Update
Beginning in March, the SAT will go digital. All tests will be taken on the student’s own laptop. Registration is now open for test dates during semester two. Students can register here. Please remind your child to follow the instructions found on the ISB University Counseling website in order to be able to sign up for the test at ISB.
Digital SAT Test Dates and Registration Deadlines |
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To find out more about the digital tests: Webinar for Students and Their Parents Students and their parents/guardians may watch this webinar (passcode: &DWat$XjM0) and learn all the updates about the digital SAT. You can also hear what other students had to say about their digital SAT experience. |
Grade 10 students will be assigned their university counselor in January. Students and parents will be able to find the name of the university counselor in PowerSchool.
Upcoming University Visits @ ISB
There are no scheduled university visits for the remainder of the semester.
There are many virtual and off campus university events taking place which our students are invited to attend. Check the Virtual and Off Campus University Events spreadsheet frequently to know what’s available. Please note that pre-registration is needed for some events.
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 and slide shows from Parent Coffees and family presentations, virtual and off campus 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.
Kindly,
Debbie