H3 STUDENTS AND PARENTS
UNIVERSITY INFORMATION EVENING
THE UNIVERSITY SEARCH
PRESENTED BY: JACK SHULL
UNIVERSITY AND CAREERS COUNSELLOR
CONSIDER YOUR CHARACTERISTICS

What kind of person are you?

What makes you happy?

What are your interests?

Are you sure you know what you want to study?

Why do you think studying in another country will be
good for you?

What about studying in another country makes you
anxious?
UNIVERSITY SEARCH CRITERIA

Program of Study
 Does the university offer what you
want to study?
 Undecided (difficult to change)

Location
 Geography – climate
 Distance
 Surrounding Community
 Safety

Institutional Characteristics
 Student body
 Individual attention
 Community Style

Academic life
 Academic program
 Class structure
 Degree Structure

Cost
UNIVERSITY SEARCH

Does the university offer the degree you are seeking in your desired field of
study?

What type of university is it?

How many students are enrolled? How many of them specialize in the field
you are interested in? How many international students?

Can you describe the campus environment from what you have read about it?

What is the total cost? Are scholarships or other forms of financial aid
available?
University/College SEARCH

Resources
 TES UCC Website
 Websites
 University Representatives
 University Fairs

Naviance

Rankings

Should not drive the college selection process
Components of a Student’s Candidacy
Helpful, if not necessary

Strength of HS academic program

Standardized Testing
 When required



Could help, could harm

Athletics/Arts/Service/Leadership

Objective Extracurricular Experience

Demonstrated Interest in the School

Child of Alumnus

Diversity

Financial Need
School Recommendation
Teacher Recommendation
Limited and Polite Additional
Information – School Profile
Components of a Student’s Candidancy

HARMFUL DON’T DO IT

Unsolicited Contact from Parents

Too Many Ungrounded Recommendations

Overly Aggressive School Lobbying
ACADEMIC RECORD
TES TRANSCRIPT


H1, H2, H3 AND H4
IGCSE RESULTS
IB PREDICTED SCORES
OBTAINED IN JUNE 2015
Used for UCAS
Early applications
OBTAINED IN JANUARY 2016
Mid-Year Report sent in January
UNIVERSITY ADMISSIONS TESTS

KNOW WHAT TESTS ARE NEEDED

SAT I/ACT




UK Universities



Dates and Registration
Plan Schedule of Tests
Test Prep
Specific Programs may requires certain test
LNAT, BMAT, UKCAT, etc.
English Proficiency
TEACHER LETTERS OF RECOMMENDATION

Give careful thought to which teachers you will request LOR

Two teachers – academic subjects

Will write about ‘you’ the student. What are you like in the classroom?

Ask them in person

September 1 deadline to request

October 1 LOR due to UCC

Listed in Naviance
DEADLINES

JUNE 2015 – long list of universities in NAVIANCE

SEPTEMBER 2015 – Short list of universities in NAVIANCE


September 1 – Request Teacher Letters of Recommendation
OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2015 (Internal Deadlines)




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October 1 -UK Medical programmes and Oxbridge
October 15 – ED and EA applications
November 1 to 30 University of California deadline
November 15 – UCAS
November 15 – Regular decision deadline
ADVICE FROM CURRENT H4 STUDENTS

Peer advice

Listen to your classmates

They have been through the university planning process
ADVICE – Kevin (US and UK and Canada)

Start early: plan essay ideas during the summer

Know all the deadlines and decide on your schools as soon
as possible

Collaborative work and peer advice when it comes to
essays is often helpful as well

\
Advice – Sunny (UK/Australia/Canada)

If applying to UCAS remember to check with Mr. Shull
your grade requirements and predicted IB score range.

Give good impressions to teachers you will be asking
recommendations from.

Don’t be too ambitious, always have a backup/safety school

Talk to Mr. Shull a lot

Do lots of Reach
ADVICE FROM – Jensen (UK and US)



1. RESEARCH, RESEARCH, RESEARCH.
Start thinking about what schools
you want to apply to during summer
– before H4.

4. Watch out colleges coming to
visit. They can provide insight!

5. Think about what you want to
write about in essays? Do you have
any defining moments in your life?

6. Sometimes, for essays, the impact
of a seemingly ‘mundane’ event may
be most effective.
2. Watch and list the deadlines. They
don’t change.
3. Prepare for early deadlines!
EVEN MORE ADVICE – Anni (UK)

Time management (plan ahead, leave time to sort out problems, less stress)

Research know the requirements (any additional tests to take – IELTS, SAT,
TOEFL)

Know what your goal is – helps guide you

Ask questions if you’re unsure (email the university/go to university
fairs/international offices in Taipei

Interviews (show your enthusiasm, ask questions, prepare for possible
questions you could be asked)
MORE ADVICE – Denise (Australia)

Focus on getting the best IB score possible because besides your
recommendation letter it is the only thing will get you into one of the
Australian universities.

Make sure you know enough about the university and the “course” you
want to study.

No SAT required for Australian universities.

Research about the course you want to take…..

THE FINAL ADVICE –Fiona
(UK and USA and Canada)


Know the difference between the countries you are applying for and their
‘wants’ in regards to the Personal Statement

US wants to know YOU as a person, your passion, what you can contribute

UK PS focused on the course you want to pursue, add some activities and other
things you feel passionate about. Be creative!
If you get an interview chance, don’t reject it, its great preparation and to
show universities what your’re like as a person.
H3 UNIVERSITY CONFERENCES

INDIVIDUAL H3 STUDENT CONFERENCES


Starting in December and January
CONFERENCE WITH STUDENT AND PARENTS

Starting in February 2015 – earlier by request
NAVIANCE

WEB BASED CAREER AND COLLEGE

COMMUNICATION


Emails

University Visits

Share with UCC, students, parents
FILE SYSTEM

Personal Data

Test Scores (SAT. ACT, TOEFL)

Resume

Colleges I Am Thinking About


Colleges I am Applying to



Long List of universities
Short List of Universities
Transfer of Documents

Transcripts, Predicted IB scores

LORs, IGCSE results
Tracking System of Documents
SUMMER 2015

University Visits
 Plan ahead – check the website may need to register
 Contact university

University Tours
 TS College Tours
 www.tscollegetours.com

Summer University Programmes

Work/Internships