I am one! and I can’t wait to start my IB Diploma or

Courses Programme!

ACS Egham International School

Grade 11 Parent Coffee MorningFocus: IB Diploma Programme

Tuesday 23rd September 2014

Who and WHAT!Introduction to the High School:

Richard Naylor, High School Principal

Managing Theory of Knowledge :

Mr. David Rea, TOK Coordinator

Creativity Action Service:

Ms. Lyndal Tonkies, CAS Coordinator (NEW)

Managing the Extended Essay :

Mrs. Keely Rogers, EE Coordinator

Managing College Applications and Career Aspirations:

Mrs. Tanya Coffey, College Counselor

Managing Anxieties:

Ms. Selma Zahirovic, Guidance Counselor

Managing Time Management / Study Skills and Student Services:

Mrs. Alicia Sonderman, HS Student Services

Teambuilding DAY…

… teamwork key to success…

Mindfulness and more…

There were also sessions on :-

• Mindfulness Sessions – ran by Veronika from Teen Yoga which

“Mindfulness involves learning to direct our attention to our experience as it unfolds, moment by moment, with open-minded curiosity and acceptance. Rather than worrying about what has happened or might happen, it trains us to respond skillfully to whatever is happening right now, be that good or bad.” Mindfulness in Schools Project

I am looking at providing a further 8 week block of sessions for students with Veronika if there is interest and the logistics work out.

• Health Session – first led by Mrs. Stanton on Alcohol awareness, letters andFurther communications to come

• CAS Reminder sessions

ACS Egham Diploma Success …• Pass rate worldwide 2013 = 78.54%• Pass rate for the ACS Egham IB Diploma students =

100%• Average DP score worldwide = 29.81• Average DP score at ACS Egham = 34.34

… by accident or by design?

IB Success – KPI Analysis…

… comparisons with our sister schools…

IB Success …

… comparisons with other schools…

IB Success – Analysis over Time…

IB Success – Analysis Over Time…

IB Success – Analysis over Time…

… 10 years…

IB Success – Analysis over Time …

IB University Success … Universities Love the IB?

IB University Success … Offer Rates and Acceptance rates UK Universities

IB University Success … 20 Most popular IB Universities 2012/2013

FACT:• LSE this year 25% of Law Entrants were IB students

FACT• Kings College London – about 20% of student intake in Undergraduate Year 1 were IB Students in 2014 (considering that IB students areOnly 2% of applicants.)

IB University Success … Offer Rates…

IB University Success … Oxbridge…

CEMIBE Standardised Test Spotlight…

… focused goals and expectations…

• Test takes place on - 7th October During Advisory• Measures Abilities in Vocabulary, Maths and Non-

Verbal Reasoning• Uses Statistical Analysis with IB students from

around the world taking the test and last years examinations to place a student of a specific ability against expected scores for different subject areas

CEMIBE Standardised Test Spotlight…

… focused goals and expectations…

CEMIBE – Analysis …

ACS Egham – Definitely by Design…• Support for Study Skills from Student Services• CEMIBE Standardised Tests – Chances Graphs• Focused Target setting (Google Forms) – and

individual progress meetings• Understanding of principles of “Fail Well”,

“Feedback” and “Marginal Gains”• Great Teachers • Departmental Data Analysis and Targets – have

led the way at ACS with Cobham and now Hillingdon following

• Excellent College Counselling – Right on their DOORSTEP!

• Focused Studying / Research and Relaxation area• And much more… … definitely by design…

DIPLOMA Student Expectations

• Attendance / Holidays / Signing In and Out

• Interim Reports / Email Communication

• Dress Code (modest / hats on the run?)

• No free periods…• Driving to School (Gr12

privilege although…)• And…

Academic Honesty Policy – Heads Up

Draft Deadline Timeline

(Handout)

BUT all on ManageBAC which can be placed into any

other calendar…

ORGANISATION is the Key…

• All research suggests the “most powerful single influence enhancing achievement is feedback.” John Hattiehttp://growthmindseteaz.org/Feedback.html

• Quality Feedback and students that elicit and ask and understand how to improve, how to “fail well” and how to set focused goals for improvement

• Our updated ASSESSMENT POLICY has addressed this – Published in next month

BE RESILIENT…”Fail Well” and Feedback…

ManageBAC for all courses this year…

• Read the IB Regulations and Parents Guide…on the wiki (I will send a link)

• And…

Parent Expectations…

1. Be realistic

2. Look for ‘right fit’ – chemistry between your son and daughter and college

are critical

3. Be optimistic

4. Be supportive and caring. ‘Nagging’ helps no one

5. Celebrate your son/daughters’ accomplishments – accentuate the positive if

you can

6. Listen to what your son/daughter is saying

7. Listen to what your son/daughter is not saying and be a sounding board for

discussion

8. DO NOT DIRECT. Let your child take ownership of the process. You’ve had

your turn. (99% of the time the students make the right choice) Find a

comfortable place between running the college search process and remaining at

a comfortable distance.

A Wise Counsellor’s Words…Page 114

Applying to UniversityGrade 11 Parents

ACS Egham International School

Sample University Destinations: Past 3 years

Brighton & Sussex Medical SchoolImperial CollegeKing’s College LondonLondon School of EconomicsUniversity College LondonUniversity of BathUniversity of BristolUniverstiy of EdinburghUniversity of ManchesterUniversity of NottinghamUniversity of St Andrew’sUniversity of SouthamptonWarwick University

American UniversityBoston UniversityBerklee College of MusicCollege of William & MaryDuke UniversityElon UniversityFlorida Institute of TechnologyGeorgetown UniversityNortheastern UniversityPitzer CollegePurdue UniversitySwarthmore CollegeSyracuse UniversityUniversity of OregonUniversity of Rochester

McGill UniversityUniversity of Toronto

Erasmus University RotterdamUniversiteit Utrecht

IE UniversityUniversity of Vienna

Grade 11 College Counselling

October - December

Meet with students in Advisory Groups

Students attend college visits/university fairs, US-bound students take PSAT exam

January -February

COA Centigrade Evaluation, Individual student meetings begin (February onward)

March – April

Sign up for SAT 1 & SAT 2 tests (www.collegeboard.org) or ACT (www.act.org)

Research courses and universities in UK, US, Canada, Netherlands & rest of world

Begin to sign up for Open Days in UK

Workshop on UK Personal Statements/US College Essays/ Letters of Motivation

May-June

Take SAT & ACT exams, drafts of personal statements/essays, lists of universities

Career Guidance Tools• Naviance:

Software assisting in college and career research, preparation and guidance

Career Planning

Learning Style Inventory, Interest Inventory, Personality Inventory, Resume Building

College Planning

College Search, Application Process, College Major Exploration, Scholarship/Financial Aid Resources

Success Planning

Personalized Goals and Tasks, Journal Entries, Student Planner

Applying to the UK

What Top Universities are Looking For

• Passion for the subject (academic, work-experience, extra-curricular)

• A “well-rounded” student

• A student who has researched the course offered and isn’t simply applying to

the institution

• Academic achievement (high predicted grades, personalised outstanding

references)

Entry Requirements

• Most Selective Universities:

IB: 38-45 points

Often have HL requirements (6 6 6, minimum 19 points at HL, etc)

• Selective Universities:

IB: 34-38 points

• Others:

IB: 24-34 points

Components of the University Application

• A UCAS Application. Can be started in July

2015.

• Make 5 course choices. Look carefully at the

entry requirements and select:

1-2 long shots

2-3 good bets

1 safety/insurance school

• A personal statement

• A reference

www.ucas.ac.uk/students/apply/

Student Responsibilities

• Completing & sending UCAS application

• Writing a Personal Statement

• Identifying at least two teachers who know them well for achievements in

those subjects

• Choosing appropriate courses in agreement with parents and Mrs Coffey

• Requesting to the IB coordinator to register them and allowing to share

results with UCAS

University Advisor Responsibilities

• Writing a reference with student and teacher input

• Entering predicted grades

• Advising the student and family on the suitability of the choices

• Checking final application and sending to UCAS

Internal Dates & Deadlines

• Early May: First draft of Personal Statement due with Senior Portfolio

• July-Sept: Generate tentative list of UK universities/Open Days/visits

• September: Complete information section of application on UCAS, choose 5

targeted courses

• Early October: Application deadline for Medicine, Dentistry, Oxford and

Cambridge

• Early November: Final-personal statements

• Early November: Deadline for applications

• February: Extra starts (if no offers from 5 original

• choices)

• April: Accept 1 firm offer and 1 insurance

• August: Clearing and Adjustment start

Research/ Finding Information

• Courses available and entry requirements:

www.ucas.com

• University Ranking:

www.guardian.co.uk/education/universityguide

www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/education/gooduniversityguide

• Campus facilities and accommodation:

www.unionview.com

Applying to the US & Canada

What Top Universities are Looking For

• Talent (academic, intellectual, athletic, artistic, creative)

• Engagement (academic/community sense)

• A student who would take advantage of their environment

• Straightforward academic transition

- Christoph Guttentag

Director of Admissions

Duke University

Components of the University Application

• Student application form (Common App or other,

done online)

• Student’s Essay (US)/ Letter of Motivation (CA)

• Two teacher recommendations (US only)

• One counselor recommendation (US only)

• Transcripts from the last 4 years of high school

• SAT/ACT exam scores (US only)

Student Responsibilities

• Completing application online

• Writing essays/letter of motivation

• Approaching teachers for letters of recommendation & supplying them with

required information (US only)

• Completing financial paperwork

• Sending SAT/ACT scores (US only)

University Advisor Responsibilities

• Writing letter of recommendation (with student & teacher input) – US only

• Sending transcripts for the last 4 years of high school

• Sending teacher recommendations – US only

How Many University Applications?

• 6 University applications:

1-2 long shots

2-3 good bets

1-2 safety schools

** Based on student’s academic profile/SAT/ACT scores

Admissions Statistics

• Most selective Universities:

6/7’s (IB)

SAT 650-750 per section

• Selective Universities:

5/6’s (IB)

SAT 540-620 per section

• Others:

4/5’s (IB)

SAT minimum 500 in each section

Suggested testing scheduleSAT I Exam & SAT II Subject Tests/ or ACT+writing

• Winter/Spring 2015

Grade 11

• Fall 2016

Grade 12

(SAT Preparation courses available at ACS in Spring)

**Most US Universities require at least two SAT II subject tests

***Canadian universities do not require SAT/ACT scores if applying with the IB

Exam Requirements for US Universities

SAT I Exam & Subject Tests ACT + Writing Exam Dates

Oct 11 Sep 13

Nov 8 Oct 25

Dec 6 Dec 13

Jan 24

April 18

May 2 June 13

June 6

To register, go to: To register, go to:

www.collegeboard.org www.act.org

Early Decision vs Early Action – what’s the difference?

Early Decision

• Deadline November 1st

• Choose one university above all others

• Binding contract

• Replies before Christmas break

• If accepted, you MUST attend and cancel all other applications

Early Action

• Deadline November 1st

• Choose as many universities as you like

• Replies before Christmas break

• Can decide by May 1st

Internal Dates & Deadlines

• First draft of College Essay/Letter of Motivation May 2015

• Early Decision/Early Action US

October 2015

• University of California

November 30 2015

• Most US Universities

Mid-December 2015

• Most Canadian Universities

January – March 2016

Research/ Finding Information

Academic qualifications and programme

offerings:

www.collegedata.com (US)

www.collegeboard.com (US)

www.aucc.ca (Canada)University Rankings

www.usnewsandworldreport.com (US)

www.mcleans.ca (Canada)

www.qstopuniversities.com (worldwide)

Applying to Universities in Europe & Around the World

• Many English-speaking programs

• Deadlines tend to be later than UK/US/Canada

• American-style programs:

Usually require two teacher recommendations

Essay/letter of motivation

Transcripts/predicted grades

** SAT exam generally not required/Proof of language proficiency may be

required

Applying to the Netherlands• Admission opens in September/October 2015 for Fall 2016 start

• Students create Studielink account (www.app.studielink.nl) to apply to most

Dutch universities

• Centralised admissions service

• Deadline for application – 15th May

• Apply to 4 courses (only one may be subject to lottery)

• Conditional offers made through Studielink (subject to passing IB Diploma)

• Student must produce original copy of IB Diploma during 1st term

• Letter of Motivation for some universities

University Visits to ACS Egham

Opportunity for students to:

Learn about individual programs, university

selection and application process.

Create relationship with University

Representatives

Be remembered

Get advice

Summer Plans

• College visits/tours

• Summer jobs/Internships

• College level courses

• Community Service projects

• Rest & Relaxation!

Wiki While We Work…http://ibegham.wikispaces.com/

… please use the WIKI…

Questions and Feedback…