College Counseling

Welcome to the College Counseling page. You will find information, resources, and advice regarding the application process from the College Counseling Team. If you wish to contact us to schedule a meeting please feel free to email us at [email protected]

General University Information

What support do students receive ?

Advice and guidance through the college entrance process
Extensive and regular meetings
Assistance in completion of support documents such as personal essays and CVs
Regular college visits from US, UK, and EU schools
Advice regarding summer programs, curricular and co-curricular choices
Information and tools to explore career goals and degree programs
Well-written and edited recommendations from ASM faculty and college counselors

What parents can do to Support their child ?

Discuss potential career paths
Research university and degree options with their child
Discuss coursework to be taken at school or independently (e.g., online courses or APs)
Encourage and support their child in extracurricular involvement, starting as early as middle school
Encourage and support their child in securing work placements relevant to their desired field of study
Encourage and support their child to apply to an academic or other summer program in 10th and/or 11th grade
Track and liaise regularly with the College Counseling Department on the progress their child is making the college application process

Getting ready for college: Expectation

- Discuss course options with parents, teachers and staff
- Enroll in courses appropriate to level and interests
- Begin to develop an organized running list (with relevant dates) of school and other activities, awards, and experiences that may be relevant to the college application process (e.g., athletics, arts and music, service learning, etc.)
- Acquire and document service learning hours yearly
- Undertake career exploration and discuss with college counselors and parents
- Create a College Board account
- Begin to prepare for the PSAT exam over the summer following Grade 9
- Attend summer programs (sports, academic or other) or engage in volunteer work or other work experience over the summer
- Research universities, university programs and entry requirements
- Ask for references from leaving teachers, if relevant
- Begin to prepare for the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, and ACT exams necessary for college applications
- Take SAT and/or ACT at least once during the second semester of Grade 11
- Take any necessary SAT Subject Tests in May and June of Grade 11
- Create Common App, UCAS and other necessary accounts and begin to populate general data

What is the SAT ?

- SAT tests are considered to be measures of college readiness
  - - - Tests should be taken starting in the second half of a student’s junior year
      - Students have the opportunity to retake the test to improve scores
      - Students can submit scores directly to universities that interest them
      - Exemplary test scores can guarantee scholarships
- SAT scores are used by some universities in U.S., UK, Canada and Singapore as a partial basis for admitting students
- ASM is an official testing center for the SAT suite of tests (SAT, SAT with Essay, SAT Subject Tests)
- Students take the PSAT in Grade 10 to gain experience taking this type of standardized test
- Test preparation materials are available in the library, on the College Board/Khan Academy website

For US Applications

Personal statements should tell a story about what has shaped the student as an individual (family experiences, failures, successes, beliefs, etc.). Students practice personal statement writing during advisory and are also assisted by the School’s College Office. A well-written statement is of crucial importance during the application process.

For UK Applications

For UK personal statement please read through the following resources (available from UCAS) on how to plan out your essay and what admissions officers seek:

Personal Statement Mindmap

Personal Statement Worksheet

For EU Applications

Most EU schools require a letter of motivation, similar to that required by schools in the UK. This letter should explain why you are choosing that particular university and degree program. It should explain:

- - Who you are and what motivates you.
  - Why you are applying to study at that university.
  - What you find interesting about the program and why.
  - What activities/experiences you have achieved that make you proud.
  - Your future goals/plans.

College Counseling