Year12UniversityGuidanceEveningMay2018

Ø GeneralAdviceØ ReferencesØ PredictedGradesØ Whatnext?Ø UKØ USAØ CanadaØ HKØ Europe(outsideFrance)Ø Australia

Year12UniversityGuidanceEveningMay2018

GettingReadyforUniversityApplications

50%

20%

11%

7%

5%4%

1%1% 1%

InternationalStreamFinalDestinations2011-2017

UK

USA

Canada

GapYear

HK

Australia

France

Europe(notUK)

Singapore

TimingsAllapplicationsdoneinYr13FISdeadlines:Oxford/Cambridge/UKMedicine endofSeptUSAearlydecision/action mid-OctUK(UCAS) mid-NovUSA endofNovHK mid-DecCanada earlyJanAustralia afterIBresultsUKUKCAT(Medicinetest)takebefore2Oct2018UKBMAT(Medicinetest)takeon31Oct2018UKLNAT(Lawtest)takebefore20Jan2019(by20OctforOxford)

GettingReadyforUniversityApplications

Isthereamagicformula?Yes…HardworkthatgeneratesgoodIBgrades+positivecommentsfromteachers+realisticuniversitychoices

=universityoffers

HowdoIdecidewhichuniversities?ProfMikeMerrifield,UniversityofNottingham

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OdypNNlx1SM&t=9s

Watchfrom2.00–6.10

Rankings–Beware!Subject-basedrankingsmoremeaningfulthangeneralrankings,e.g:https://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings#allSubjectsNewapproach:GlobalEmployabilityRankings:https://www.timeshighereducation.com/student/best-universities/best-universities-graduate-jobs-global-university-employability-rankingHair-splittingtochoosebetweenuniversities=wasteoftime:degreeofprecisionrequiredexceedsthereliabilityofthedata.

HowdoIdecidewhichuniversities?

SubjectInterest

Country

Cost

Size+Location

AdmissionCriteria

Reviews/Rankings

FINALLIST

HowmanyapplicationscanImake?Ø  UK(UCAS)=max5applications(Medicine/VetScience=4)

Ø  USA–max20(!)butmultipleessays–impactonstudies–Recommend6-8max.

Ø  Smallernumberofhigh-qualityapplications=higher%of

offers

Ø  Alargenumberofapplicationsacrossmultiplecountriesmeansyouhaven’tresearchedandfocused

Ø  Manystudentsapplyjustto1country

Ø  Don’twastetimeapplyingtocountries/cities/unisthatyoudon’tactuallywanttogotoorwillnotbeabletofinance

Goodstrategy(UK)Ambitious,realistic&safechoices•  1xambitious(~1ptabovepredictedgrades)

•  3xrealistic(requiredgradesmatchyourPGs)

•  1xsafety(~2-3ptsbelowPGs)

Berealistic•  Columbia6%admitrate

•  Stanford4.8%admitrate

•  MIT7.9%admitrate

•  LSEavg8.9%admitrate•  Agreatfitcanhappenatmanyuniversities

•  Remember-vselectiveuniversitiescanalsobeaccessedatpostgraduatelevel

•  Dangeroflikingthename,butnotthedegreecontent/social

make-up,geography.Findafit!–Size,degreecontent,urban/campus,cost…

BeRealistic–AnnualCostsinHKD(Basedonoverseasfeestatus,apartfromforHK)

Universityapplicationinfohttp://orientation.fis.hk/

Universitypresentations/eventsinHKhttp://orientation.fis.hk/events.html

Checkonline–OrientationwebsiteRegularemailssenttostudents,andparentsAlsopostedon5/Fnoticeboard

References

Ø UK/USA/HKuniversitiesneedageneralreference

Ø  Commentscollectedfromallyourteachersandcompiledintoafullreferencebyformtutororcounsellor

Ø  Self-ReflectionFormcompletedinautumnofYr13

Ø UScollegesneedageneralreferenceAND2ormore“teacherevaluations”–studentsneedtoapproachteachersinYr13

Ø  Canada/Australia–referencelettersnotaccepted

Ø Noneedforyoutoapproachteachersforreferences,apartfromforUSA.Justinformthecounselloringoodtime

PredictedgradesØ  TheIBgradesthatyourteachersthinkyouarelikelytoachieve,based

onyourperformancesofarontheIBcourse.

Ø  YouwillbegivenatotalIBprediction(outof45)andindividualpredictions.Thiswillhelpyouchooseyouruniversitiesstrategically.

Ø  Junepredictions–earlyindicator.ReviewedinYr13–canchangeifyoushowyou’veimproved.

Ø Non-negotiable,butdoaskteachersforareasyouneedtoimprove.

Ø  GradessenttoUK/Canada/HK/USA/someEuropeanuniversitiestohelpthemtodecidewhethertomakeanoffer.

Whatnext?Ø  Studyhard-IBscoresarethebiggestdecidingfactor!Ø  Researchuniversities+degreesonline;askquestions

Ø  Starttonarrowdownandfocus–notamachine-gunapproach!

Ø  Gooddepthofextra-curricular/humanitarianactivity,esp.forUSA

Ø  Planforthissummer–visituniversities/summerprogramme/workexpifneeded

Ø  IndividualmeetingwithMrH/MrsMcCarthyinJune

Ø  PersonalStatement/CollegeEssayseminarsinJune

Ø  Getusedtocheckingemaileveryday!

UKØ  3yeardegrees,or4withyearabroad/professionalexperience

Ø  Applyforspecificsubject(unlesstakingLiberalArtsdegree)

Ø  5applicationsmaxviaUCAS(4forMedicine/VeterinaryScience)

Ø  ApplyviaUCAS,exceptforArt+DesignFoundation

Ø  Studentcreates+completesUCASprofile;schooluploadsreference+predictedgrades

Ø  FISdeadline:mid-Nov.UCASdeadline:15Jan

Ø  Oxford/Cambridge/Medicine/VetScience:earlierUCASdeadline-15Oct

Offerdecisionsbasedon:-PersonalStatement-PredictedIBgrades-Referencefromschool-IGCSEgrades-Intervieworadmissiontest(forminorityofdegrees)

UK

Offersareconditional,eg:

Ø  Whenall5decisionsin(usu.byendMarch):

Choose1“FirmChoice”and1“InsuranceChoice”

Ø  Feestatus(Home/EUorOverseas)willbepartofoffer

Ø  Canaskuniversityfor“FeeStatusReview”

UK

UCASSearch:http://search.ucas.com/•  Searchbycourse/city•  Lookattheentryrequirementstab•  Havingtheminimumentryrequirementdoesnotguaranteeanoffer

Ø  UKuniversitiesarevfocusedonIBgrades

Ø  Bestrategic–applytoarangeofuniversities

Ø  Eg,ifpredicted36points,applytoarangefrom36/37-32points

PersonalStatement-UK

Ø  4,000charactersØ  75%academic,25%extra-curricularThemoreselectivetheuniversity,thelessimportantthe25%.

Ø  Maintainafocusonthedegreesubjectallthetime.

Ø  Thestrongestapplicantslinktheirextra-curricularactivitiestothedegreearea.

ü  Whyyou’reapplyingforthisdegree(howyourinterest

developed,evidenceyouunderstandwhatthesubjectinvolves)

ü  Whyyou’resuitableforthedegree(skills+experience)

PersonalStatement-UK

Oxford/Cambridge/MedicineUK

Earlyapplication–UCASdeadline15OctMedicine-mostuniversitiesrequireBMATorUKCATtest.UKCAT-testatPearsonHKbystartofOctBMAT–testatFISorBritishCouncil31stOctInterviewWorkexperienceneededOxford/Cambridge:Formanydegrees,extrateststakenatBritishCouncil,31stOctVhighacademiclevel,+demonstrated“super-curricular”subjectinvolvement.Interviewiscrucial.Both:musttellMr.Hbeforesummerholidaysofintentions.

USAØ  Nolimitonnumberofapplicsbut…workload/effectonIBstudies!

Ø  4yeardegrees.MoreflexiblethanUK–choosemajorlaterØ  LiberalArtsmodel

Ø  FISdeadline:endofNovember.Officialdeadlinesvary;often1stJanuary

Ø  Earlyaction/earlydecisionvs.RegularActionOfferdecisionsbasedon:-Transcript(recordofreportgrades/IGCSE-CollegeEssay-Writtensupplements-Extra-curricularactivities-CounsellorRecommendation-2TeacherEvaluations-PredictedIBgrades-SATorACTscoresØ  Offersusuallyconditionalonmaintenanceofacademicperformance(colleges

willaskformid-yearreportandfinalreport)

Researchuniversities/requiredscoresUSA:BigFutureCollegeSearch:https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search•  Searchbymajor/city/sizeofcollege/requiredSATscoresetc

USA

CommonApplication:systemusedby600ofthe4,000colleges/universities

USA

CommonAppsimplifiesthingsalittle,butmanycollegesaskforwrittensupplementsSomekeyuniversities(egUniversityofCalifornia,Georgetown,Rutgers)don’tuseit.

USA

Ø  StudentcreatesaccountfromSeptember,completesabovesections,selectscolleges,entersdetailsofrecommenders

Ø  Schooluploadscounselorrecommendationandtranscript

Ø  2teacherscompletesubjectevaluationsbyemailinvitationfromCA

USA

650wordsmax

Ø  AbilitytowriteinterestingandaccurateEnglish

Ø  Makeitvivid;catchthereader’sattention

Ø  Oktogointodetailabout1singleeventanditsimpact

Ø  Focusonwhatyoulearnedfromandexperience/event/challengeandhowitchangedyou

TheCommonApplicationessaytitlesfor2017-18are:1.Somestudentshaveabackground,identity,interest,ortalentthatissomeaningfultheybelievetheirapplicationwouldbeincompletewithoutit.Ifthissoundslikeyou,thenpleaseshareyourstory.2.Thelessonswetakefromobstaclesweencountercanbefundamentaltolatersuccess.Recountatimewhenyoufacedachallenge,setback,orfailure.Howdiditaffectyou,andwhatdidyoulearnfromtheexperience?3.Reflectonatimewhenyouquestionedorchallengedabelieforidea.Whatpromptedyourthinking?Whatwastheoutcome?4.Describeaproblemyou'vesolvedoraproblemyou'dliketosolve.Itcanbeanintellectualchallenge,aresearchquery,anethicaldilemma-anythingthatisofpersonalimportance,nomatterthescale.Explainitssignificancetoyouandwhatstepsyoutookorcouldbetakentoidentifyasolution.5.Discussanaccomplishment,event,orrealizationthatsparkedaperiodofpersonalgrowthandanewunderstandingofyourselforothers.6.Describeatopic,idea,orconceptyoufindsoengagingthatitmakesyoulosealltrackoftime.Whydoesitcaptivateyou?Whatorwhodoyouturntowhenyouwanttolearnmore?7.Shareanessayonanytopicofyourchoice.Itcanbeoneyou'vealreadywritten,onethatrespondstoadifferentprompt,oroneofyourowndesign.

USA

Writtensupplementexamples:“Whatoneinventionwouldyouuninventifyoucould,andwhy?”(Brandeis)“Agoodstorystartswithagoodbeginning.Getushookedinthefirst150words.”(NotreDame)“Celebrateyournerdyside.”(Tufts)“What’ssooddaboutoddnumbers?”(Chicago)“YouwerejustinvitedtospeakattheWhiteHouse.Writeyourspeech.”(UNCChapelHill)“Imagineascientistandartistcomingtogetherforaconversationaboutcolor.Howdoyouthinkthisexchangewouldgo?”(HampshireCollege)

http://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/files/gse-mcc/files/20160120_mcc_ttt_execsummary_interactive.pdf?m=1453303460

USA

•  Extra-curricularactivities•  Communityservice

SAT

RequiredformostU.S.collegesSomearetest-optional:http://www.fairtest.org/university/optionalSAT:Oct,Nov,Dec,Jan,MayACT:Sept,Oct,Dec,Apr,June

•  Don’ttaketoomanytimes–max3timessuggested,usually1or2–egMay/JuneYr12,thenOct/NovYr13ifneeded

•  SomecollegesalsoneedSATsubjecttests-researchRegisteronlineatCollegeboardPreparation•  SATmanualsinlibrary

•  KhanAcademy(freeonlineSATpreparation)

•  NTK,TheEdge,CanaElite,Kaplanofferprepcourses(canbeexpensiveandmaynotbenecessaryifyouareself-disciplinedandcanworkthroughexamplepapersonyourown).

SAT/ACT

FinancialAidforInternationalStudents

Institution Need-Based MeritBased AverageAward %ReceivingAid

AmherstCollege x $55,673 89.5%BaylorUniversity x $13,993 77.8%BostonUniversity x $36,904 4.7%BrandeisUniversity x x $35,177 12.8%BrownUniversity x $44,925 30.1%BucknellUniversity x x $42,372 11.8%ClarkUniversity x $25,328 64.9%ColbyCollege x x $51,794 52.6%CornellUniversity x $52,332 14.9% GeorgeWashingtonuniversity x x $22,777 23.5%

GeorgetownUniversity x $54,847 2.5%HarvardUniversity x $52,634 74.5%LehighUniversity x x $35,056 19.7%TheNewSchool x x $11,775 70.9%TulaneUniversity x x $19,965 46.9%UniversityofCalifornia x $9,225 18.6%UniversityofVermont x $18,075 43.3%VanderbiltUniversity x x $46,781 26.9%VillanovaUniversity x x $37,904 45.8%WashingtonandLeeUniversity x x $52,278 95.8%

YaleUniversity x $55,862 56.6%

CanadaØ  4yeardegreesØ  BetweenUKandUSAintermsofflexibilityØ  3-yearPost-GraduationWorkPermitfornon-CanadiansØ  StrongCo-Op(alternatingstudy+workplacements)Ø  Conditionaloffers,butnotasgrade-specificasUK

(eg“ObtainIBDiplomawith32points”)FISdeadline:15thJanuary.Officialdeadlinesvary–check.UsuallyJan-MarchOfferdecisionsbasedon:-TranscriptofgradesfromYr10-Yr13-PredictedIBgrades-Applicationform(includesextra-curricularactivities,workexperienceetc)NoreferencelettersacceptedSAT/ACTnotrequiredLesstime-consumingapplicationthanUSAUBC/SimonFraser/TorontocanofferadvancedcreditforgoodIBscores

CanadaOntario:OUACsystemallows1applicationtoseveraluniversitiesinOntario.Examples:TorontoWesternOntarioWaterlooQueen’sYorkMcMasterCarleton

HK4yeardegreesDifferentsocialexperienceHKU,CUHKandHKUSTseenasmostprestigiousSomedegrees(egMedicine/Law/GlobalBusinessManagement)ashardasOxbridge–don’tunderestimate!FISdeadline:15December(officialdeadlinesDec–March)Non-JUPASapplication–online,directtouniversityOfferdecisionsbasedon:Ø  PredictedgradesØ  TranscriptØ  StatementofinterestØ  Referenceletter(someuniversities)Ø  Interview(forsomeprogrammes)

OffersconditionaloncompletionofDiplomawithcertainnoofpoints

Europe(outsideUK/France)Ø  GlobalinterestacceleratingØ  GloballyrecogniseduniversitiesofferingBachelordegreestaughtinEnglishØ  VeryinternationalØ  ReducedfeesforEUpassportholdersE.G:Rhein-WaalUniversityofAppliedSciences,GermanyBScMechanicalEngineering–3.5yrs,notuitionfeesKatholiekeUniversiteitLeuven,BelgiumBABusinessAdministration–3yrs,890EurosUniversityofGroningen,NetherlandsBAIntlRelations&IntlOrganisation–3yrs,2060EurosErasmusUniversity,Rotterdam,NetherlandsBScIntlBusinessAdministration–3yrs,2060Euros.UniversityofAmsterdam,NetherlandsBScPPLE(Politics,Psychology,Law+Economics)–3yrs,4066Euros

Europe(outsideUK/France)Offerdecisionsbasedon:Ø  TranscriptØ  Predictedgrades(someuniversities)Ø  StatementofinterestØ  Skypeinterview(somedegrees)Ø  Deadlinesvary–usuallyawidewindowegNovtoJune

Searchengine:http://www.eunicas.ie/

AustraliaØ  3or4yeardegrees(BachelororBachelorwithHons)Ø  Typicallyapplytospecificcourse,butsomeflexibilityoncethere:majorsubjectis2/3of

degree;1/3canbeanyothersubjectsØ  Focusonindependent,creativethoughtØ  GenerousIBentryrequirements

Groupof8(QSWorldRankings)•  AustralianNationalUniversity,Canberra(20) •  UniversityofMelbourne(41)•  UniversityofNewSouthWales,Sydney(45)•  UniversityofQueensland,Brisbane(47) •  UniversityofSydney(50) •  MonashUniversity,Melbourne(60) •  UniversityofWesternAustralia,Perth(93)•  UniversityofAdelaide,(109)

AustraliaØ  Semester1startsFeb/March:applyafterIBresultsinJuly–deadlineoftenOctober

Ø  Semester2startsJuly/Aug:applybyendDecemberofYr13usingpredictedgradesfor

universitiesacceptingthem(e.g.Sydney).Thisoptionvrarelyused.

Ø  OfferdecisionbasedonfinalIBscores.Referencelettersnotaccepted

Ø  IBresultoftenconvertedtoATARscore–canseepreviousyear’srequiredATARonline

Ø  AustraliannationalsapplythroughTAC(TertiaryAdmissionsCentre)

Ø  Non-Australiansapplydirectly;upto3coursechoicesperuniversity

Ø  Decisionusuallywithin3weeks

Ø  AEC(www.aecl.com.hk):officialeducationalagencyrepresentingAustralianuniversitiesinHK–alsohelpwithvisa/accommodation