Selecting the appropriate college or university is one of the most important decisions one will make in one's academic career.  This is a complex and involved process.  Our experienced and dedicated counseling staff can help students through this process but students are expected to take the lead in researching and planning for the application and decision making process.

Tips for Seniors in the Weeks and Months Ahead

Q: What should a Senior understand about university admission?

A: IMPORTANT FACTORS IN COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY ADMISSION

• -University preparatory courses (IB courses/grade 12-level courses)
• -Overall grades in all subjects - especially at the end of 2nd semester in grade 11 and 1st semester in grade 12; performing well consistently
• -Results on Standardized test scores (SAT I, ACT, SAT II subject tests)
• -Counselor and teacher recommendations *especially in University Preparatory courses* that align with university programs
• -College Essay (USA)/Personal Statements(UK)/Supplemental Essays(Canada)
• -Leadership/Club Memberships
• -Extracurricular activities/community service and athletics
• -Employment/summer activities/internships/volunteer work
• -Aligning university choices appropriately with admission criteria
• -Balancing a selection of university applications:  we recommend 8 to 10 reach, target and safety schools
• -Applying punctually/meeting all university deadlines; university deadlines are inflexible

Q: What can I do to stay on top of the university application process throughout the first semester of my Senior Year?

A: CREATE A LIST OF ALL DUE DATES THAT AFFECT COLLEGE APPLICATIONS

Be prepared by knowing all admission criteria

• -Required for university choices
• -Understanding all due dates for university applications:  all application requirements must arrive at universities by these deadlines; late documents will not be processed
• -Ensuring SAT scores Adhere to University Admissions Criteria; all SAT scores must be sent ONLINE by the applicant to the university (these must be sent from institution to institution) by the due date
• -Ensuring that all the applications meet all required courses needed for specific programs - especially required courses in Math and Science at the Grade 12 Level
• -Ensuring that all supplements needed to support an online application are understood and completed - especially supplements for international students on the Common Application
• -Ensuring the TOFEL scores Adhere to University Admissions Criteria; all scores must be sent ONLINE by the applicant to the university (these must be sent from institution to institution)

Q:  What can I do to budget my time effectively in my Senior Year to accommodate the College Application process?

A:  BE PREPARED BY USING TIME EFFECTIVELY TO PROMOTE BALANCE IN ALL AREAS OF STUDENT LIFE

• -Do Your Research: understand how university application due dates will affect your due dates at AIS-R; first and foremost, we want Seniors to maintain grades and perform well throughout their entire year; therefore, review all of your IB due dates for all Internal Assessments and all extracurricular clubs, trips, etc.
• -Be Selective about the Universities You Choose for your Final List - applications are time-consuming and require hours to complete thoroughly and effectively; therefore we discourage any student from completing applications at the last minute; ensure every application is an appropriate fit for the courses you have taken; the grades you have earned; the SAT scores you have received, and so forth; print hard copies of electronic applications and organize them
• -Be Prepared to Write Meaningful Essays and Personal Statements: these items also take time and make a real difference in the admissions process when they are well written and clearly adhere to instructions; students must build in time to brainstorm topics, write responses and edit their work; essays can tip the balance of the selection process
• -Be Thoughtful about the Letters of Recommendation from Teachers - Seniors must remember that Teacher Recommendations Letters highlight a student's knowledge, skills and potential in a given subject area for university; moreover, they give universities a glimpse into a student's character, work ethic and discipline - all of which can be a good predictor for how a student will transition to university; Seniors can earn strong letters by performing well and consistently over time; moreover, students can also earn strong letters by persevering in courses where one has encountered a difficulty and worked hard to overcome it - (as perseverance is absolutely required for all university programs) - especially in a core class that is needed for a specific university program
• -Maintain Excellent Health and Avoid Missing School: the crucial factor of success in the Senior Year is to avoid missing regularly scheduled classes due to illness, extended vacations, or additional commitments that can impact one's ability to complete major assignments, perform well on tests or exams; the 1st Semester Exams will take place from December 11th to 15th - ensure you prepare effectively for exams as 1st semester results in Grade 12 are extremely important to the admissions process

Q: How can we support Seniors once accepted into universities to stay focused on course work?

A: BY ENCOURAGING SENIORS TO STAY ON TASK ALL YEAR LONG

• -Once Grade 12 students are admitted to universities it is very important to MAINTAIN grades throughout the 2nd Semester
• -"Senioritis" is a term used to describe some Seniors with a noticeably diminished work ethic in classes once acceptances are received from universities - it is very important for Seniors to maintain focus throughout the 2nd Semester and avoid "taking it easy"
• -All offers of acceptance at universities are conditional; increasingly, college admissions officers are focusing on the performance of students throughout their entire Senior Year, every year universities rescind offers of admissions, or place students entering first year on probation due to a weak final performance in the second semester of grade12; in some cases, universities will send out letters asking students to explain their poor second semester performance - admission to the university may depend on the written explanation received
• -We can prevent "Senioritis" by encouraging strong study habits, test and exam preparation (especially in IB Higher Level Courses); also, by ensuring students miss as few classes as possible in their Senior Year
• -By encouraging students to PLAN AHEAD for effective timing of major assignments, tests, extracurricular activities as they complete the college application process and complete their second semester of course work
• -By helping students to avoid being over-scheduled in their Senior Year (effective test and exam preparation must remain the focus) as students complete applications, Service Learning obligations, CAS and much more; write every due date down and keep track of these items
• -Students can lose sight of the importance of academic success if they obsess or overwork the application process; students should complete applications in a timely manner so as not to spend the 1st semester neglecting their core academic subjects - especially any IB Higher Level Course

Q: What are my ethical responsibilities in the application process?

A: READING & UNDERSTANDING ALL ETHICAL OBLIGATIONS WITHIN THE APPLICATION PROCESS

• -Students are required to report activities honestly
• -Students must write their own essays
• -Students must disclose discipline infractions if directly asked
• -Tell only ONE university that it is your first choice
• -Once you accept an offer to a university, you are required to decline other offers of acceptance
• -Avoid "double depositing" at two universities as it is against the rules at most colleges; some colleges reserve the right to rescind an offer of admission if they discover "double depositing"

Keys to Success in Grade 12

• Enjoy Senior Year Responsibly

• Keep a Calendar of Activities and Deadlines

• Work Diligently through to the "Finish Line"

(Some information is adapted from "Senioritis" at http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applications/senioritis and "Application Ethics" at http://professionals.collegeboard.com/guidance/applications/ethics)

For more information, please contact:

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