Considerations for the Next 2 Years

Parent Information Evening

Jen AbreuKathleen Schultz Barry SpenceJoachim (Kim) Ekström

High School Counselors Located on the 2nd floor of Secondary Building

Academic advising

Social and emotional support and short term counseling

Post- secondary planning

Other Support PeopleYear 12 Coordinator

Advisor

Deputy Head of Student Welfare & DP

After school Support in most academic subjects

The Year Ahead: First Semester

✓ First few months ✓ Get adjusted to IB Courses and focus on academics✓ Continue involvement in activities, service, and athletics they love✓ Help us get to know them!

✓ Year 12 University Kick-Off✓ August

✓ Other advisory sessions – 14 times with counselors✓ PSAT

✓ November 2✓ SAT/ACT

✓ December/January✓ Uniquest Assignment

✓ December 2

✓ Individual Meetings with CounselorJanuary-March after UniQuest and as needed

Their world right now

What’s on their plate

○ IB Diploma/Certificates○ Sports○ Plays/Choir○ Club/Service Activities○ Outside NIST Activities○ Family/Friends

○ The UNIVERSITY piece now as well.

WHEW!

How to help my student with stress○ The American Psychological Association says you can help

teens open up by:● Listening without interrupting● Providing thoughtful responses● Tempering your own emotions

○ Remember, regardless of how serious or trivial the concerns may seem to you, they are causing your child difficulty, so be thoughtful.

○ Also, set a good example. Parents who are unable to manage stress aren’t modeling healthy behaviors, so make an effort to practice what you preach. Combat your own stress by getting regular sleep, enjoying social and recreational activities, and exercising regularly.

BS

Besides managing their work/life balance what else are we helping

students focus on?

Factors in the Admission Decision USA

FactorConsiderable importance

Moderate importance

Limited importance

No importance

Grades in college prep courses 74.9% 15.7% 5.0% 4.4%Strength of curriculum 61.5 24.9 8.6 5.0Admission test scores (SAT, ACT) 54.3 30.6 10.7 4.5Grades in all courses 52.1 34.4 9.6 3.9Essay or writing sample 26.6 29.9 22.7 20.9Teacher recommendation 21.1 38.3 29.7 11.0Student’s demonstrated interest 20.9 28.7 27.2 23.3Counselor recommendation 20.4 41.9 26.5 11.2Class rank 19.2 33.1 32.2 15.4Interview 11.0 22.4 30.4 36.1Subject test scores (AP, IB) 7.8 27.0 32.7 32.4Extracurricular activities 7.4 36.6 37.5 18.5SAT II scores 6.7 8.2 24.4 60.7Portfolio 6.7 7.9 34.7 50.8State graduation exam scores 3.9 14.2 29.3 52.6Work 1.8 16.9 41.3 40.1

Factors in the Admission Decision UK/Europe/Australia/NZ/Canada○ Predicted exam scores and academic

achievement (transcript)○ Motivation, relevant experience, writing ability

(personal statement)○ School letter of reference○ English language competency –

IELTS/TOEFL○ Portfolio, if required

List of University Criteria:Major/programAdmission requirementsLocationSize of citySize/type of campusWeather/climateRatio of international studentsFamily/friends nearbyAirports/accessibility

How does your criteria match with your student’s criteria?

Standardized TestingSAT, SAT Subjects, ACT with Writing

IELTS, TOEFL

Standardized Testing (SAT/ACT)

IB Diploma Student○ US Colleges/Universities

○ Needed for most ○ Unless SAT/ACT optional school○ www.fairtest.org

○ Canadian Universities○ Not needed

○ UK Universities○ Not needed

EuropeNot needed

IB Courses Student

○ US Colleges/Universities○ Needed for most ○ Unless SAT/ACT optional school○ www.fairtest.org

○ Canadian Universities○ Needed

○ UK Universities○ SAT Subject tests can help!

Europe - not needed

Other countries? : May need individual meeting with counselor

Standardized Testing (SAT/ACT) SAT

○ Needed by U.S. colleges/universities unless it is SAT/ACT optional

○ The more competitive the college/universities, the more likely they will require SAT subject tests (typically 2)

○ Sometimes any two subjects is fine and sometimes certain subject(s) are required

ACT (with Writing)○ Needed by U.S. colleges/universities unless

it is SAT/ACT optional

○ Sometimes ACT with Writing can be a substitute for SAT Subject scores

○ The more competitive the college/universities, the more likely they will require SAT subject tests (typically 2)

○ Sometimes any two subjects is fine and sometimes certain subject(s) are required

SAT Subjects (1 hour subject specific tests)

SAT Subjects (1 hour subject specific tests)

Testing Dates 2016/2017SAT ACT

December 3, 2016 December 10, 2016

January 21, 2017 April 8, 2017

May 6, 2017 June 10, 2017

June 3, 2017

Both test centers are at NIST

What is the PSAT?○ The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship

Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a standardized test administered by the College Board.

○ Approximately 3.5 million students take the PSAT/NMSQT each year.

○ Shortened Version of the SAT

PSAT Testing – November 2Why Should You Take the PSAT?

● Preparation for the SAT● Scholarship and Recognition opportunities:

only Year 12 and US citizens are eligible for the National Merit Scholarship

● Admissions and Financial Aid Information from colleges (if you choose)

● Feedback on academic and testing skills

Naviance: Family Connection

KS

Naviance: Family Connection

Please email counselor if you need a login code

College visits at NIST

College visits at NISTCome!

Opportunity to ask questionsOpportunity to learn about schools and

programmesOpportunity to meet admissions officers

and alumni

College visits at NISTInformation on dates and times for

visits can be found:Veracross

Naviance / Family Connection

**Most visits, whenever possible,are during lunch or after school in the

Counseling Library.

What’s ahead..

➢ October : PSAT Tips and Strategies Workshop➢ Ongoing Advisory : Year 12 University Research Workshop/Introduce

UniQuest assignment➢ November 2: PSAT at NIST➢ November: Lunch hour workshops on university research for various

national systems ➢ December 2: Deadline for the UniQuest Assignment➢ January- April: Individual one-hour Post-UniQuest Meetings with

Year 12 Students➢ April-May: 3-Way College Conferences between student, parent and

counselor ➢ Continuously: University visits @ NIST (approximately 300

universities per year)

Advisory: UniQuest Assignment

○ Students will perform self-assessment exercises and use the data to research three universities.

○ Students will make arguments for and against each choice

○ Students learn important skills to research university choices

○ Due December 2

VIA Character Strengths

www.viacharacter.org - try it yourself!

What are the top strengths?

*Perseverance, Curiosity, Self-control, Social intelligence, Zest, Optimism, Gratitude --- seven traits that are key to success.

University Fairs 2016Saturday September 17:

AEO Tour (US Universities) @ Plaza Athenee Hotel 1-4pmThursday September 29:

CIS University Fair @ NIST 7:45-8:30Thursday September 29:

Dutch University Fair @ NIST 2:30-4:00Saturday October 1:

CIS US College Fair (150 Universities) @ Shangri-La Hotel 3:45-5:45pmWednesday October 5:

Study in Australia Info Session @ NIST 2.30-3.30 pmWednesday October 12:

Thai University Fair @ NIST 2.30-3.30 pmSaturday/Sunday November 12-13:

OCSC University Fair (200+ worldwide Universities) at Siam Paragonhttp://www.ocscexpo.org/list-of-university

Your Role

ConsultantGuide

CounsellorSupporter

Encourager

NOT the Do-er

JA

What can YOU do during Year 12?Encourage time management and organization

Help get ready for the SAT/ACT

Begin looking at universities and plan visits

Encourage students to attend university visits at NIST

Make summer plans (internships, jobs, enriching experiences, college visits)

Ways to Support

Help them organize the information

Initiate open, honest conversations

Teach financial independence

Visit colleges

Stay informed – be part of the process

Ask questions that show you are interested in what they think

Open-ended questions that allow sharing of thoughts and opinions -Instead of “what” and “when,” try “Tell me about…” and more open prompts with empathetic statements

No right or wrong answers

Find out what they are thinking and feeling and what is important to them

Listening

• Active and reflective

• Judgment-free

• Wait- time

• No need to “fix” problem

Open, Honest Conversations

What are your non-negotiables?

Financial constraints

Criteria for school

Be realistic

BUT….Don’t always talk about college!!

Help them organize

Calendar for all deadlines in this year

Encourage sleep! ...and fun!

Manage extra curricular activities both in school and out of school

Teach Financial Independence and Life Skills

BudgetingCreditLaundryBasic cookingSew a button

What else do you want them to know before they go?

A Few Pitfalls to Avoid● Doing the work for your child● Changing your mind at the last minute● Nagging● Letting your world revolve around school/university

search● Competing with your friends and co-workers

And this…

Think of going to school as a hero’s journey, and your kid is the hero of his story. He comes up against a dragon he’s got to fight.

If you come to school and lob a hand-grenade at the dragon, your kid’s not going to learn anything.

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Questions?

Thank you for coming!