Over the next two months, WAB’s HS Counseling Department will be offering numerous opportunities for HS students and parents to learn more about the college admissions process, receive counseling on the application process and meet with representatives and admissions officers from various colleges and universities. These events are part of the HS Counseling Department’s ongoing commitment to providing guidance and support to all HS students and parents throughout their High School years.

Below, please find an outline of the most up to date information and upcoming opportunities available from WAB’s HS Counseling Department. Simply follow the accompanying links to read more about the opportunities available in each category.

I. Grade 12: College Applications & Offers

• Information on college application deadlines for the UK, US, Canada, Europe and Australia
• Updates on offers Grade 12 students have already received

II. Grade 9 – 11 Parent Information Sessions

• Parent Registration for Naviance at Parent Teacher Conferences
• Grade 10 Subject Selection Parent Meeting: March 12
• Grade 11 ‘One-on-One’ College Counseling Appointments

III. SAT Exam & Prep Course

• Registration deadlines
• Information on SAT Prep Course

IV. Upcoming Opportunities for Students Applying to US Colleges

• WAB hosts College Fair on Friday March 7
• College Admissions Forum hosted by Chapman and Vanderbilt Universities on March 17   

V. Summer School Programs in the UK and USA

• The HS Counseling Office has information on a broad range of Summer School Opportunities in both the UK and the USA.

For further information, feel free to contact the HS Counseling Department. 

Counselors:
Jo Loiterton, jloiterton@wab.edu
Greg Bishop, gbishop@wab.edu
Dr. Cheryl Travers, ctravers@wab.edu

HS Guidance Assistant:
Michelle Chow, mchow@wab.edu

I. Grade 12: College Applications & Offers

UK applicants
General applications for the UK are complete and many students are now receiving information about their offers. Route B students (Arts & Design) have a March deadline by which all application materials including portfolios need to be submitted. 

UK Offers to date:

• Bristol University
• Central St. Martin's (2)
• Goldsmith (University of London)
• London College of Fashion
• Metropolitan University
• Nottingham Trent University
• Oxford Brooks University
• University of Buckingham
• University of Birmingham (2)
• University of College London
• University of Edinburgh
• University of Exeter
• University of Leeds
• University of New Castle
• University of Nottingham (2)
• University of South Hampton
• University of Sussex
• University of York

USA applicants
Most students have completed their applications and are awaiting news. Best of luck! Students with Rolling Admissions or later Application deadlines should complete their applications as soon as possible.

US Offers to Date:

• University of Vermont
• University of Tampa
• Southern Illinois University
• Northeastern University
• Illinois State University
• Cloud County Community College
• Butler Community College

Canada applicants
Most university application deadlines are in March or April. Students applying to Canadian universities should apply as early as possible as universities are already assessing applications and making offers.

Canada offers to date:

• Carleton University
• Fairleigh Dickenson University
• Fraser International College (Simon Fraser University)

Australia applicants
Students who intend to apply for a mid-year enrollment (to start in August or September 2008) need to start preparing their applications. Different processes exist for International & Australian/NZ citizens. Please contact your counselor if you are intending to follow this path. Applications for the 2009 school year do not open until September or October 2008.

Europe
Many school deadlines are coming up. Please keep a close eye on your deadlines so you don’t miss any opportunities.

II. Grade 9 – 11 Parent Information Sessions

Grade 9 – 11 Parent Registration for Naviance at Parent Teacher Conferences
Monday February 4 – Tuesday February 5
During Parent Teacher Conferences on February 4 – 5, HS Counselors will be available in the HS between 3:30pm – 5:30pm to register parents for the Naviance College Search software. We strongly encourage all parents to take advantage of this opportunity to have a guided tour through this very useful college search and application tool.

Grade 10 Subject Selection Parent Evening
Wednesday March 12, 7:00pm, HS
This week Grade 10 students will be introduced to the course selection process for Grade 11 – 12. Students will learn more about the various academic pathways available at WAB, as well as the requirements for particular university systems. Academic staff and counselors will also be available to discuss students’ needs. In addition, Grade 10 students will have an individual meeting with their counselor to discuss their academic plan.

Grade 10 parents are invited to attend a parent information session about Grade 11 Subject Selection on March 12 at 7:00pm in the HS. In addition, parents are welcome to schedule an appointment with a HS Counselor at any time to discuss academic options or other plans.  

Grade 11
Grade 11 students are currently meeting individually with their counselors to discuss plans and steps towards university.

Students are assigned counselors based on the first letter of their surname, per the following:

Surnames - A-H – Cheryl Travers
Surnames – I-Q – Greg Bishop
Surnames – R-Z – Jo Loiterton

In addition, Grade 11 students are focusing on learning more about the college search and preparation process in Pastoral Care. In the coming weeks they’ll be learning about possible study options worldwide, utilizing Naviance and completing the Senior Profile.

Grade 11 parents are welcome to schedule an appointment with a HS Counselor at any time to discuss academic options or other plans.  

III. SAT Exam & Prep Course

Any student considering attending university in the US should sit the SAT Exam. Students must register for the exam with Michelle Chow in the HS Counselors Office. WAB will be offering the SAT twice over the coming months, according to the following schedule.

• Test Date: May 3
• Registration deadline: March 21

• Test Date: June 7
• Registration deadline: April 24

(WAB will pay the testing fee for any Grade 11 who wishes to sit the SAT Reasoning exam on June 7).

SAT Prep Course: HS Parent Information Meeting
Thursday January 30, 10:00am – 11:00am, HS Amphitheater
Instructors from Academic Services International (USA) will be giving a short presentation on the SAT Preparation Courses that will commence in April 2008. All parents interested in finding more information on this course are strongly encouraged to attend on January 30.

Academic Services International will offer a 4-day SAT Prep class on the weekends of April 5th, 6th and April 12th and 13th from 8am – 3pm. Instructors will also be available for a one-on-one tutoring session during the week of Monday April 7th – Friday April 11th; times/dates to be arranged by students and instructors.

Registrations forms are available in the Guidance office. For more info, please see Michelle at the HS Guidance Office.

IV. Upcoming Opportunities for Students Applying to US Colleges

US College Fair
Friday March 7, 11:00am – 1:00pm, Koi Garden (HS)
All students considering applying for US schools are encouraged to attend this College Fair, which will bring together around 20 colleges and universities. Students and their parents will have the opportunity to attend workshops on various topics, as well as meet with university representatives. 

Participating schools include:

• Adelphi University
• Augsburg College
• Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
• Fairly Dickinson University
• James Madison University
• Lawrence Technological University
• Mills College
• The Ohio State University
• Pace University
• St. John's University
• University of Colorado at Boulder
• University of Connecticut
• University of Hartford
• University of Michigan - Flint
• University of Missouri - Kansas City
• University of Oregon
• University of the Pacific
• University of St. Thomas

College Admissions Forum hosted by Chapman and Vanderbilt Universities on March 17 
Monday March 17, 12:00pm – 2:00pm, HS Amphitheater
What do American Universities look for when it comes to applicants? Is it the best SAT scores? GPA? extra-curricular activities or leadership?

On March 17, the admissions directors from two American universities, Chapman and Vanderbilt, will take WAB students and parents through the process of applying to US colleges. In this hands-on workshop, participants will have the opportunity to review actual college applications, and decide, as a group, who should be admitted, based on established criteria used by the universities.

Seaby Rodriguez from Chapman and Mike Drish from Vanderbilt will be your coaches and will fill you in on what to look for in prospective applicants. Both have many years of experience as international admissions officers in US Universities.

This is a chance to receive first hand information and experience from actual admissions officers who make the decisions. It’s a difficult process, as you can see and will change the way you look at college admissions. You will walk away with knowledge and information of the whole process and just how colleges sift through as many as 20,000 applicants per year in their quest for good students.

This is on a sign up basis only. Please contact Michelle Chow in HS Guidance 8456 4155 ext 7117 to sign up for the workshop. We need to provide the case studies to individuals signed up a week before the workshop so you can familiarize yourself with the applicants. We guarantee you will be amazed at how the whole process works.

How to Win the Heart of the College Admissions Dean, with Joyce Mitchell
Monday March 17, 10:00am, HS Amphitheater
HS students and parents are invited to join special guest Joyce Slayton Mitchell, an accomplished author and college advisor, for an information session regarding the college admissions process for American universities.

Joyce is the College Advisor at Nightingale Bamford School in New York City and serves on the Educational Advisory Board for the College Board Review as well as the school committee of U.S. News and World Reports special college issue. She’s authored numerous books on college admissions, including “Winning the Heart of the College Admissions Dean”, “I Can be Anything: Careers for Young Women”, and “The Guide to Canadian Universities.”

In short, Joyce knows American colleges!

V. Summer School Programs in the UK and USA

The HS Counseling Office has information on a broad range of Summer School Opportunities in both the UK and the USA. Summer Schools are a great way to experience a university and its learning culture and atmosphere.

• IB Revision at Oxford University UK
• USA Summer Schools are available at many high quality universities for students from Gr 9 and up.  These schools and camps can be either subject specific, SAT related, IB revision or sport camps.  Inquiries can be made with any member of the HS Counseling Team.