joachim (kim) ekström considerations for barry spence...
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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
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.