Winter 2012 Parent Newsletter

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Winter 2012 Parent NewsletterFrom Your University Counselors

While this edition of our newsletter targets typical concerns voiced by our Year 12 and 13 parents, weknow that all of our secondary parents will find useful information here as well.

That said, we understand that no newsletter could possibly convey all there is to know about themany aspects of the university application process.

PLEASE feel free to email, call or set up a meeting with a university counselor to fully answer yourquestions and concerns.

Appointments can be made by contacting our fabulous admin assistant, Ms Brankie Wong at:[email protected]

Your suggestions for future articles are greatly appreciated as well. Just contact one of the universitycounselors below.

Your CIS University CounselorsSow Fun Dawson - [email protected] Mansueto - [email protected] Marier [email protected]

Whats inside

The dreaded denial letter: happens to the best of us (with additional

inspirational words from Mick Jagger) Page 2

Missing Documents Dept: what to do if the university asks, Wheres the

transcript? Page 3

Heads up to year 11, 12 and 13 parents: overview and listing of the winters

University Counselor events/initiatives Page 4 - 6

New UC initiative: successfully transitioning YOU and your baby to university

Page 6

FAQs: No need to mind the gap year Page 8

SATs: to prep or not to prep - that is the question Page 9

Food for thought: competition cant be bad...can it? Page 11
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Denial: you cant always get what you want

By mid-December, our early admission and early decision applicants as well as some of our UKapplicants will be receiving admission decisions and offers from their schools. Typically, EA and ED

applications are sent to some of the more competitive universities in America and often to some oftheir more competitive programs. Understandably, this is a time of high anxiety and anticipation forYear 13s and for their parents.

Parents often ask: what can we do to help them through this period or worse yet, through anapplication denial?

One of the qualities we most enjoy in working with teenagers is their high-spirited enthusiasm. Somecan really fall in love with their university of choice, and most have not had much experience indealing with major disappointments, let alone rejection. They generally havent learned or find itdifficult to adopt the adult perspective of not putting too many eggs in one basket. This perspectiveoften applies to how they view their dream college. Even when they tell us they dont, teenagers tendto see an acceptance as the ultimate validation of their self-esteem, and a denial, especially this earlyin the application process, can be internalized as a blow to their self worth.

As university counselors, we have a unique perspective on the admission process. We know thathighly competitive universities are receiving applications from top students the world over. Itsarguably the most competitive applicant pool on the planet where acceptance rates at some top-rateduniversities are now approaching five percent. Click here. And despite our best efforts to help

students understand the vagaries and apparent randomnessof the admission process from the university perspective, its

still difficult for some students to accept a denial. It feels likerejection or failure.

Realistically, parents cant eliminate the childs disappointmentat a denial. Resilience is a learned behavior and learning todeal with disappointment is an important life lesson.

Just as importantly, parents cant help with a denial if theyhavent yet come to terms with the possibility themselves. Its

helpful to remember that the behaviors you model as a parent when working through disappointmentsends a stronger message than any comforting words ever can. Cushioning the blow entails helping

the teenager understand the implications of an admission decision before the decision arrives. It alsomeans validating their feelings and reassuring them that youre willing to listen as they work throughthe inevitable highs and lows leading to the day of decision and its aftermath.

Teenagers typically recover from a denial quickly. Its a rather truncated grieving process, aided bythe fact that they soon realize they werent the only ones who received such a decision. The key isencouraging them to formulate a well-researched list of universities made up only of schools that theywant to attend but with a range of acceptance rates. They may not like all of the schools on their listto the same degree, but a denial wont hurt nearly as much if they understand there are other fish inthe sea.

Finally, reassure them that acceptances are coming. Thats the reason we insist on their creating abalanced list of desirable schools. We also tell them that we often have students who in retrospect

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Itshelpfultorememberthatthebehaviorsyoumodelasaparentwhenworkingthroughdisappointmentsendsastrongermessagethananycomfortingwordsevercan.
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were grateful for a first-choice school denial because they subsequently attended a university thatturned out to be much better-fitting.Seen in this light, denial need not be a soul-crushing experience. Or as that great philosopher SirMick put it:

You cant always get what you wantBut if you try sometimes, you just might find you get what you need.

Why hasnt my university received my documents?

Why is our daughters university telling us they havent received her transcript yet? Didnt you sendthem?

Well, as a matter of fact, we did.

Well, why are they telling us they dont have it? The deadline was weeks ago.

They have it. They just dont know they have it. Or they misplaced it. Or they havent updated theirrecords. (Or the person updating their records made a mistake. Or theyre understaffed. Or theyreoverburdened with more applications than they expected)

So youre sure you sent off the forms?

Absolutely.

Would you mind sending them off again?

Of course. Well be happy to.*******************

While the chances are good that this wont happen to your son/daughter, in the course of anapplication season, we handle enough of these calls in our UC office to feel its important that youunderstand what to do should it happen. Even if you decide not to read any further, the key is not topanic.

Why are application documents misplaced? During a typical school year, our students will apply to atotal of about 1,000 colleges and universities. While we are extremely careful on the CIS end to

make sure that all application materials are sent in a complete, timely and documented fashion, thesame cannot be said for what can happen at universities receiving thousands, even tens ofthousands of applications.

There are many reasons for application documents beingmisplaced. First, despite their best efforts, it would be impossible forany university to process all application documents perfectly. Evenin the age of digital submission, no system is perfect. Humans areimperfect, computers are only as good as the information theyreceive and the programs which drive them. US universities inparticular (unlike the UCAS system which is centralized anduniform) may process documents and account for them in anynumber of ways.

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In one notable instance a couple of years ago, CIS ended up sending electronically, then faxing, thene-mailing a document that a university claimed was missing. They had, in fact, received thedocument four times and STILL claimed they didnt have it.

Fortunately, as more and more universities transition to electronic submission of applicationdocuments, problems like these are occurring far less frequently. Universities are also improving intheir ability to update their databases in a more timely fashion as they much prefer not having theirphone lines jammed with panicked calls from students and parents.

And heres more good news, in fact, the most important news: no students application has ever beenrejected over missing school-furnished documentation.

The key point to remember is: if a university should contact you claiming theres a document missing,dont panic. Oftentimes, these messages are sent off electronically, and its simply a matter of theirdatabase not having been updated. Have your son/daughter call the university admissions office andtry to determine which documents are missing. In any conversation with a university admissionsofficer, get the persons name and contact information. Ask if the missing document can be sent viaemail or faxed directly to them.

If missing documents cannot be located, simply have your son/daughter contact our UniversityCounseling office with their concern. If they can furnish us with the name and contact information ofthe admission officer with whom he/she spoke, thats even more helpful. Well then check oursubmission records, and happily resubmit whichever form the university claims is missing.

Notice were recommending that its the applicantwho handles this matter, not the parent. While it

may be tempting or even more convenient for mom or dad to take charge, its important for Year 13sto learn that they can do it. If they dont now, theyll certainly have to in just a few months time!

Should a university contact you over the Xmas break claiming that theres a missing document, Ms.Wong will be in the office through December 21st as well as monitoring her emails throughout thebreak.

University Counselors Update for Year 11 Parents

Catherine Irvine, our Career Counselor met with a number of Year 11 parents during the InterQuest

Results Interpretation sessions in November. Hopefully these sessions helped parents betterunderstand the quantity of information within these reports. They are a great tool to begindiscussions about your childs academic future and possible career paths. Many students andparents have been booking individual meetings with Ms. Irvine to discuss the results in more depthand in relation to IBDP course selections. If you would like to make an appointment, please emailCatherine Irvine at [email protected] or call 2512 5991. She is available on Mondays, Wednesdaysand Fridays.

At a later date, students will be reminded of how to access Family Connections, which is part of theweb based program Naviance, that University counseling uses for the post-secondary applicationprocess. Family Connections is a great resource for students to begin researching further intouniversity and career possibilities. Although, Year 11 students will be busy with the Personal Projectover Christmas, when taking a break from this work, they are encouraged to begin looking into theseareas.

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Year 12 Parent Update

The formal part of the college process for Year 12 students begins in earnest after first term. OnTuesday, January 29th, university counselors will be conducting an evening meeting for all Year 12

students and parents during which the college search and application process will be outlined indetail. Refreshments will be available at 6:30 in the auditorium foyer with the presentation beginningat 7:00PM. Please make every effort to be in attendance as this meeting is critical to yourunderstanding of the college process.

Over the course of the second term, individual meetings with each Year 12 student will be held inorder to understand individual student interests, to assist each student in researching schools and tohelp each better define what he/she wants and needs in a quality university experience. This will bethe first opportunity the university counselors will have to get to know each student.

Throughout the spring term, simultaneous with individual meetings, university counselors will also beconducting compulsory workshops focusing on various aspects of the college process includingresearching tools, essay and personal statement writing, applying to the UK, US, HK, etc. (See ourcalendar page below for dates.)

During this spring term, counselors will also help Year 12 students formulate a plan for completingSAT/ACT exams (if necessary). Year 12 students will also write an initial essay or personalstatement. We will also discuss the option of formulating plans for visiting universities over thesummer.

For students who completed the PSAT, their results along with an explanation of the scoring will

occur in January. Well be sending a letter home to parents along with the results summarizing howCIS students performed, how the test was scored, and the role of the SAT in the admission process.

Another major Career related event that will have occurred by the time you read this is CIS first everCareer Fair for Year 12 students. Over thirty professionals from more than eleven different industriesshared their insight and industry experience with our students. This event was geared toward Year12 students, but Year 13s and Year 11 students were invited to attend during the beginning of theirlunch.

Year 12 students began their Activities Resumes during a CHOICES session Ms. Irvine on November28th. This summary of co-curricular activities and work experience is an important part of the US

Universities application, and it is required for all students when seeking letters of recommendationfrom their teachers. Students are encouraged to access the template through Family Connections inNaviance and work on the document over the Christmas holiday. A draft will be due to Ms. Irvineshortly after Chinese New Year.

What are the Year 13 students up to at this point?

As you read this, about 40% of our Year 13s will have submitted college applications and a few havealready received acceptances/offers. Many Year 13s are still in the process of researching schools,refining their prospective lists, requesting teacher recommendations (if needed) and writing andrevising essays and personal statements (again, if needed). January is typically a very busy month inthe UC department for submitting applications, especially to US and Canadian schools.

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Regardless of which country your Year 13 is applying to, January is typically the month when most ofour application materials are sent out. It never hurts to ask: when are your applications due?

University counselors will continue to meet with their Year 13 students on an as needed basis

throughout the school year to assist them with any of the application components. As previouslydiscussed, we focus on helping students understand and research college options as well ascomplete quality application components in a timely and healthy manner.

Regarding student appointments, our university counseling office is a beehive. When we set asidetime for a student who is a no-show, it unnecessarily displaces another student who needed to seeus. Please stress with your son/daughter that appointments with university counselors need to behonored, or if necessary, cancelled in a timely fashion.

By the time you read this, we will have already held our first transitioning workshop for Year 13swhere we shared results of a recently completed Class of 2012 transition survey (See quotes below).Following a review of the survey results, current Year 13s were themselves surveyed on whatinformation they feel they need in order to successfully transition to university. The survey alsoexplored how they feel their college process is coming along, and we sought feedback on the roll ofcompetition in their college process.

In January, we will be holding a panel discussion made up of 2012 alumni for current 13s to discussvarious aspects of the university transition. Additional workshop sessions based on Year 13 surveyresults will be held during the spring semester. Year 13s have indicated that they would appreciatemore information on adjusting to dorm life, handling money responsibly, and adjusting to a newculture as well as practical insights on food preparation and laundry.

Ms. Irvine met with Year 13 students at the beginning of November to present a workshop on theprofessional interview. This is a timely presentation as a number of students could be sittinginterviews for university admissions over the next few months. Although the university counselingoffice arranges mentors for institutional specific interviews, if there are any students who would likefurther consultation on the fundamentals of interviewing skills, they are welcome to make anappointment with Ms. Irvine at any time.

What can parents do to help their precious cargo (and themselves) through theuniversity transition process?

And speaking of transition, its never too soon to start thinking about the implications of the comingmove both for your Year 13 and for you. To help parents through this process, we will be holding aJanuary workshop where transitioning will be discussed from the psychological as well as from thepractical point of view. Well discuss such questions as: How do parents let go? What do you needand your Year 13s need for this process to go as smoothly as possible?

We will share the results of this alumni survey as well as the result of a recent survey of parents ofthe class of 2012 to help us better understand the transitioning challenges ahead, and how Year 13parents can prepare now. Well also hear from our Year 13s as to what they say they need from you

over the coming months. Hope to see you there. Well have plenty of Kleenex on hand!

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In March, well be inviting Year 13 parents to a panel discussion where you will be able to ask parentsof recent graduates about the emotional as well as logistical components to a successful transition.

UC Events and Activities for January - MarchThe list of events indicated below summarizes the main UC initiatives of the coming months withoutincluding dates as these in many cases have not yet been assigned. Please remember thatMoongate is THE resource for checking our university planning calendar.

January - March Events

Transitioning Your Year 13 Student to University: this January workshop for Year 13 parents will discusswhat parents can do now to assure a smooth university transition for their Year 13s, their families andthemselves.

Year 13 Panel Discussion on Transitioning with 2012 Alumni to be held in January.

PSATs returned and results explained.

University visits from : SOAS (School of Oriental and African Studies), Imperial College London, KingsCollege London, UCL, LSE, U of Edinburgh, Royal Veterinary College and more.

SAT Testing

Year 12 Parent/Student University Counseling Evening: where the entire college process will be reviewed.January 29th,

Year 12 University Group Seminars - To be held throughout the 2nd semester, these sessions will focus onUniversity Counseling, UCAS, writing personal statements and essays, how to research universities, etc.

Individual Counselling Sessions for Year 12s begin.

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Gap Year FAQs: Dont mind the gap!

What is a gap year?Also known as "year out", "deferring", or overseas experience" a gap year is the term given to a

period of time between a student's completion of secondary school and matriculation into college oruniversity. Generally, the gap year has enjoyed more popularity in Europe than in Asia or the US, buthere at CIS, we see a small but increasing number of students in our UC office who are exploring thepossibility.

We frequently see parents worriedly inquiring about the possibility of a gap year. Their concernsprimarily stem from the misconception that a gap year will adversely influence a studentsadmissibility, or the fear that once a student embarks on a gap year, he/she is likelier to forego acollege education. Providing the students gap year is a full and rich experience, both concerns areunwarranted.

What are typical gap year activities?Some students spend the time traveling, others work, and many combine the two into a kind ofworking holiday. Gappers often engage in international volunteering which can include teaching, orHabitat for Humanity-type projects. Others will earn money while overseas by working in thehospitality industry or by completing an internship in a job relating to a career interest or possiblecollege major. Often students will use a gap year experience to immerse themselves in a particularculture where they will learn or polish an additional language.

Who would be a likely candidate for a gap year?Any student who wants a productive year away before furthering education at the university level is a

potential candidate. Here at CIS, students who are very unsure about a college major are mostcommonly those students who see the gap year as an opportunity to better understand potentialcareer paths. Students who may be a bit younger than their year-level peers find the gap year optionattractive, as well as students who feel they need a year to re-energize before plunging intoundergraduate studies.

Is there a disadvantage to taking a gap year as far as colleges are concerned?No, in fact, quite the opposite: universities find that gappers are often more focused, mature andmotivated than students who go to college straight out of high school. Theres no disadvantage totelling a prospective university that a student is considering or planning on taking a gap year. In fact,for years, Harvard Universitys acceptance letter said something to the effect of: Congratulations!

Youre admitted! Now have you ever considered taking a gap year?

How does a gap year affect the application process?It doesnt. The senior year student planning on a gap year applies to colleges just like everyone else.The only difference is that the student will defer his/her matriculation for one year, something whichuniversities who have offered an acceptance decision will generally honor enthusiastically.

Which schools will hold an admission offer for a gap year experience?Again, generally, all of them, but it never hurts to check individual universities.

How does one formulate a quality gap year plan?A quality gap year plan starts with research. There are many online companies who create gap-yearexperiences and can help tailor a solid yearlong experience. Other students use family or otherconnections to create a more personalized plan. In either case, thorough and timely planning are

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critical to a quality gap year experience. Ideally, gap year plans should be finalized in time for springacceptance decisions.

Final words?

A gap year, realistically, is probably not for everyone. Some students are burning for a collegeexperience as soon as they graduate from high school, and thats fine. But if the student wants abreak from the rigors of a formal education, if he/she can thrive in a non-traditional learningenvironment, or if the student simply wants the experience of being more self-reliant before headingoff for a university degree, then an enriching gap-year is definitely worth investigating. As always,your CIS university counselor is happy to advise on all gap year related questions.

SAT Test Preparation: to prep or not to prep - that is the question!

Probably no topic raises more parent questions and angst than the Scholastic Aptitude Test. Below,we answer some of the more frequently asked questions regarding SAT test preparation:

1. Why doesnt CIS offer SAT Test Preparation?2. How effective is additional test preparation?3. If desired, when should additional test preparation be completed?4. Can you recommend a local, reputable SAT prep course?

5. What can I do as a parent to help my son/daughter with SATs?

Why doesnt CIS offer SAT Test Preparation?According to CollegeBoard, the non-profit which develops and scores the SAT as well as SAT SubjectTests, the very best preparation for the SAT occurs in the students classes. In other words, seat timein the classroom is the best preparation, and students are obviously receiving this on a daily basisthroughout their CIS education.

Secondly, students in Year 12 have the option of completing the PSAT which is devised byCollegeBoard to serve as a practice SAT. Administered in October, the PSAT simulates the SAT testexperience; questions are similar and results (released in January) include a review of each PSATquestion, a likely performance measure as well as tips on how to improve for the SAT.

How effective is additional test preparation?

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According to CollegeBoard data which is US based, the average students gain from completing anoutside SAT prep course is on average only about 20 points not enough increase, in other words, tomake any difference in a university admission decision.

While the CB has no comparable data for international students, we suspect that they typically see alarger boost from SAT test prep, but how much more and whether or not its significant enough tomake a difference in an admission decision will depend on many variables: the courseseffectiveness, the students receptiveness and effort, etc.

Anecdotally, our students tell us that they find SAT Subject Test preparation to be more effective thanSAT Reasoning Test courses, but we have no data to support this.

A conversation with a CIS university counselor can help clarify whether or not additional test prep is agood idea for individual students.

If desired, when should additional test preparation be completed?While there is admittedly no perfect time, the sacrosanct rule of thumb here: if a student opts for SATprep, it should be completed at a time when it is least likely to interfere with the students regularacademic program.

It cannot be overstated that the students academic performance in challenging classes weighs morein an admission decision than any SAT result. Students who sacrifice academic performance forSAT prep are putting the cart way before the horse and thereby unnecessarily hurting theiradmissibility.

Prep courses completed over student vacation periods are the best bet. The summer between Year12 and Year 13 is probably an optimal time for many students. We also strongly feel that SAT prepprior to Year 12 is developmentally inappropriate and runs the risk of further distorting orpressurizing the SATs significance.

Can you recommend a local, reputable SAT prep course?CIS, as a matter of policy, does not endorse for-profit businesses. That said, Caveat Emptorapplieshere. The SAT test prep industry is unregulated - anyone can hang a shingle and offer a course.Unethical practitioners who charge exorbitant fees and make outlandish promises are unfortunatelynot uncommon. Comparison shopping is strongly advised; word of mouth is probably the best guide.

Additionally, we do have a file of Hong Kong-based SAT prep providers. Again, we offer this as aservice, NOT as an endorsement.

A final word on SAT prepWhile we have no data on what percentage of our CIS students complete prep courses outside ofschool, we do know that among international schools, CIS students score exceptionally well on SATsand SAT Subject Tests. We strongly believe that their outstanding performance has much more to dowith the high quality caliber of instruction they receive here than with any outside preparation.

And in case we havent said it enough, your university counselor is best qualified to answer your SAT-related questions.

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Food for Thought: competition is a goodthing...isnt it?

The great majority of media references to the word competition, indeed how most of us view it,tends to be unquestioningly positive. Successful businesses, we are told, thrive on competition.Sports, games, and any contest one would care to mention could not possibly exist without it.Competition allows us to assess our own skills and abilities and compare them to others, therebyfueling motivation. Hearts flutter when we say competitive college. From the classroom to thearena to the boardroom, competition is pervasive. What could possibly be wrong with any of it?

A growing body of evidence, however, is suggesting that healthy competition can, in fact beunhealthy, even damaging to young minds. The NY Times article Click here is worth a carefulreading for parents and educators.

Here in the University Counseling office, weve become increasingly aware of the corrosive effectsthat unbridled competition among students can have on their college process. Its especiallyapparent when, as often happens, several of our students find themselves applying to the samehighly competitive university. In the past, weve seen misunderstanding and even acrimony not onlyamong students, but also, sadly, even among their parents.

Your university counselors strongly feel that the college process is already fraught with more thanenough stress without turning it into a competition. We do not subscribe to the belief that some CISstudents are better than others simply on the basis of their university acceptances. In fact, there areonly a very few studies establishing any credible link between a particular schools graduates andenhanced lifelong happiness and success, and these findings are at best tenuous.
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How well the student takes advantage of his/her educational opportunity is a far stronger predictor ofsuccess than the name of the college on ones diploma. An oft repeated truism is that two of themost successful businessmen of the past generation, Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, were, in fact,college dropouts. It should be noted, however, that theirs was not the typical path to success, and

they were without question highly talented and motivated individuals.

Its important to note that motivation isnt created by the colleges reputation; its fed, at least in part,by the quality of the quality of the education and the relationships a student forms with teachers andpeers. It cant be stated enough that these motivating bonds and connections are not exclusive tothe worlds most competitive or name brand universities.

The last thing we want our students to feel is that they are winners or losers based on their collegechoices. They especially dont need to start the next phase of their young lives with the false notionthat they are advantaged or disadvantaged simply on the basis of which schools accepted anddenied them.

Weve recently surveyed and spoken to our Year 13 students about this issue of competition in theircollege process. Your university counselors are firmly committed to the philosophy that the bestschools for our students are the ones that best meet their academic and personal needs. We hopewe are all agreed that our students university process is one place where competition has no place.