Debbie McDowell
debbiem@isb.ac.th
Thanks to everyone who joined the university counselors for the Senior Family University Night on Thursday. We are excited about kicking off the university application season with the Class of 2024. Please be sure to go here to see a copy of the presentation. Senior Family Conferences should be scheduled and completed before the end of September. This is an important meeting to make sure all parties are on the same page and prepared for all steps in the university application process.
Grade 12 students attended their first Senior Seminar on Thursday this week. Attendance at Senior Seminar is mandatory for all grade 12 students. This gives the counselor and students the best opportunity to be prepared for their university planning. This week many important topics were covered in Sr Sem #1: Counselor expectations, Dates & Deadlines, Senior Survey (for counselor recommendation), application types and timing, Common Application set up, and a reminder about Concourse. Ask your child about what was covered that was most important to them. The next Senior Seminar will be on Thursday, 7 September. Individual meetings are necessary as well. Encourage your child to set appointments with their counselor frequently!
Grade 11
PSAT
All Grade 11 ISB students are scheduled to take the PSAT at no cost to the family on the morning of Wednesday, October 4. The PSAT serves as practice for the SAT and is also the National Merit Qualifying Test for American citizens. For some ISB students, the PSAT may not be relevant to their university applications/planning, and therefore they do not need to take the exam. Please complete this OPT-OUT FORM by Friday, August 25 if you DO NOT want your child to take the PSAT.
On the day of the test, students will report directly to the MPB at 7:30 AM. This year, the PSAT will be digital; students will take the exam on their own school provided devices. Here is a slide presentation on the PSAT/NMSQT and how the test will be different in its new digital format. Here is a SHORT VIDEO that explains the changes. Students taking the PSAT must download the Bluebook app where they can practice test questions and the new digital format. All test takers will go through a digital readiness check in school on September 12.
If you’re unsure if your student should take the exam, please contact your student’s counselor. If you have general PSAT questions, please email Curt Nichols at curtn@isb.ac.th.
Parent University Coffees
The university counselors will host the first Parent University Coffee on Friday, September 8 @ 9:00 AM in the MPB 1. The topic will be “Introduction to ISB University Counselors and the University Counseling Program” and is open to all parents of students in grades 9 through 12. Mark your calendars and join us to find out more about university counseling at ISB!
University Visits
There are no university visits scheduled for August but there are virtual events that students can join. Virtual events can be found here.
Future University Visits:
- Thursday, 7 September @ 11:00: Miami University, Oxford, HS Conference Room
- Thursday, 7 September @ 3:00: Yamanashi Gakuin University, HS Conference Room
- Tuesday, 12 September @ 3:00: Lawrence Technological University, Counseling Conference Room
- Monday, 18 September @ 11:00: City University of Hong Kong, HS Conference Room
- Monday, 18 September @ 3:00: McGill University, MPB 3
- Wednesday, 20 September @ 2:00: Greater Bangkok Fair, HS Gym(Rajendra) & ES Gym
- Monday, 25 September @ 11:00: Indiana University-Bloomington, HS Conference Room
- Monday, 25 September @ 11:00: University of San Diego, TBD
- Thursday, 28 September @ 11:00: Hult International Business School, HS Conference Room
- Thursday, 28 September @ 3:00: University of British Columbia, MPB 1
Watch for future visits from: University of Boston, Berklee College of Music, and others
For more university counseling information, please check the ISB University Counseling website. There you’ll find university research tools, transition resources, recordings and slide shows from Parent Coffees and other presentations, virtual and off campus university visits, information about testing and how to sign up for the SAT at ISB, a database of summer programs, and the ISB School Profile.
Kindly,
Debbie