COLLEGE COUNSELING @ ISM

Who Are We?

• Experience– Counseling– College Admissions– College Visits– Professional Organizations/Conferences

*we often know who is reading the application

What We’re AboutAs counselors, and as with the rest of the ISM faculty, we strive to promote a healthy balance between work, rest, and play. We believe in education for healthy growth. We guide and support students as they embrace the important process of self-discovery vital not only to an appropriate college search, but also to a successful transition to and adult life. We believe that the college counseling process begins and ends with the student and our goal is to help students find learning environments that best fit their unique talents and interests. When embarking on the college search process, parents and students should keep in mind that college should not be considered as a prize to be won, but rather focus on finding a good match. Not all colleges are right for everyone and it is crucial that students take the time to find the school for them and not apply to a school simply because of its name.

A key element in a student-centered approach to the college process is the clear expectation that the student will take control. We strive to enable students to develop a fuller sense of autonomy and responsibility. As such, our job is to guide, counsel, probe, refer, suggest and inform. The student is ultimately the one responsible for the key decisions in driving the process forward.

PLANNING FOR THE FUTURE

What is Important to Colleges? (US)

What is Important (UK/Canada)

• UK– IB scores– Personal Statement– Reference– Course related activities

• Canada– IB scores– activities

COMPONENTS

Transcript

• From Grade 9– Countries: US, Canada, India, Korea, Japan– Colleges will look at 9-12(11) or 10-12(11)– Increasing focus 9-12; 11/12 crucial

• GPA– US colleges typically calculate GPA using their own

methodology– Unweighted

IB Predicted Scores

• From Grade 11– Countries: UK, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong

(Canada)– Conditional offers based on predicted

• When predictions occur:– October (Gr. 12); December (Gr. 12), earlier as

needed

HS Profile

• Gives contextual school data to colleges– GPA distribution– Testing ranges– IB Data– College matriculations

Recommendations

• US– Honest, focusing on student’s strengths– Anecdotal– Classroom experience– Comparative

• UK– Geared to a specific course– Suitability (ie. ability, passion, preparation)

Counselor Evaluation• US– Honest*, focusing on student’s strengths– Puts the student in the context of the school,

graduating class– Big picture, whole person• Interests• Personality• Intellect• What makes him/her get out of bed in the morning

– Tells the students story– Can address fit

Testing

• (New) PSAT– Grades 10 & 11 for future SAT/ACT testers– Timed, proctored practice– National Merit Scholarship for US citizens (11)

*Not seen by colleges

Testing

• (New) SAT – as of spring of 2016

– Reading and Writing, Math, Essay (optional)– Total possible points: 1600 + essay– ISM average: 1250 (1863/2400)

– First attempt: December/January of Gr. 11– Hoping to finish by October/November of Gr. 12– We typically recommend taking it 2-3 times

– Offered: October, November, December, January, May, June each school year

Testing

• SAT Subject Tests– Subject specific 1 hour exams:• Math• Biology, Chemistry, Phyiscs• English Literature• US History, World History• Languages (w/ listening)

– Required only at most selective US colleges– Offered on the same test dates as the SAT

Testing

• ACT– Accepted equally in US and Canada– English, Math, Reading, Science, Essay (optional)– Total possible points: 36

– Increasing in popularity at ISM– Substitute ACT w/ writing for SAT + Subject Tests– Offered: September, October, December, April,

June

Activities

• Quality vs. Quantity

• Genuine

• Depth

• Consistency and Continuance

RESOURCES

Naviance

College Counseling Sitehttps://sites.google.com/a/ismanila.org/ism-college-counseling/

Bloghttp://guidance.ism-online.org/

College Visits

QUESTIONS?