110 universities from around the world all in one place.
Western Academy of Beijing’s high school gym was a buzz Tuesday, as nearly 500 students and parents spoke face-to-face with university representatives. An annual event in collaboration with six other Beijing international schools, the University Fair is one of many platforms for soon-to-be high school graduates in Beijing to begin their search for the program that best fits their future goals.
“The team of international school counselors hosts this event to best serve our entire community – both the students at WAB and beyond,” said Michelle Chow-Liu, WAB’s Head of High School Counseling. “Our goal at WAB is to offer a comprehensive, personalized program for the college application process, focused on using students’ strengths and interests to identify the university that best fit their profile for success.”
University guidance begins in the second half of Grade 10, as counselors advise students on choosing their final two years of high school classes. The process is based on the areas or industries students may be interested in pursuing after graduation. As students enter Grade 11, there is a more direct focus on students and parents researching university programs, exploring options, and finalizing specific destinations.
But it’s not all strictly academic: There is a social-emotional aspect to the process, as well, which is an integral part of the counselor’s work with each student to ensure they are receiving the best possible guidance.
This year, WAB counselors began using a program which helps students map their character strengths. Using principles of positive psychology, counselors can help students identify what makes them unique and be more specific about the qualities to look for when narrowing down their top school choices. Even when a student has chosen a certain subject area like the arts, WAB Counselor Ben O’Brien says, there are still so many different options.
“The journey to choosing the best-fit university can be overwhelming, and we want students and parents to be as informed as possible when making these decisions,” he said. “Building relationships with students allows counselors to offer better advice and recommendations, and it increases students’ self-awareness in the application process.”
University fairs, regional application workshops, and online research are great ways for students to begin the college application process. WAB has always aimed at putting the decision-making process into the hands of the students. The Class of 2021 will be the first at WAB to be required at the end of Grade 11 to make a formal presentation to their counselor and parents, explaining their short list of desired universities and why they feel those programs are their best fit.
“For students to be able to discover programs, have conversations, and explain why certain programs fit their goals gives them more ownership,” O’Brien said. “Students are at the center of this process, and they are the ones driving their own success.”
Working with parents is a necessary component of the application process. WAB offers workshops to educate and inform parents about the best approaches to university applications and acceptances. Ensuring that the student, the parent, and the counselor, all share similar definitions of success is paramount.
“As WAB high school counselors, we have built relationships with our students, and we have the resources, knowledge, and intentions to guide and advise them,” Chow-Liu said. “We are invested in each student’s individual success and serve as the “GPS navigator” with an objective, informed voice.”
To learn more about the WAB High School program and pathways to graduation, visit our High School Learning page.