1. WELCOME TO
JUNIOR PARENT
UNIVERSITY NIGHT
OR…LET THE RESEARCH BEGIN!

2. INTRODUCTIONS
Ms. Tammy Gordon
HS/University Counselor
Last names A-L
Mrs. Sonia Martínez S.
Administrative Assistant
Mr. Jim Barekman
HS/University Counselor
Last names M-Z + new
students
Mr. Dennis Harter
HS Principal

3. OUR GUIDING PRINCIPLE
University is a match to be made, not a trophy
to be won.
The goal should be to find the best fit– a place
where your child can be successful both
academically and personally.

4. OUR ROLE IN THE PROCESS
(FOR PARENTS)

5. OUR ROLE IN THE PROCESS
(FOR STUDENTS)

6. CURRENT OVERVIEW CLASS OF 2014
There are 66 seniors in this year’s graduating class
There are 70 juniors (Class of 2015)
 IB Diploma – 49 (Class of 2015 - 61)
 Austrian Matura - 4 (Class of 2015 - 8)
 UK early – 7
 UK regular – 18
 US early (Early Decision/Early Action) – 13
 US regular decision – 16
 Canada – 9
 Europe (non-UK) – 22
 Other countries – 5

7. CURRENT OVERVIEW CLASS OF 2014
APPLICATION STATISTICS:
 33 applied to 1 country
 16 applied to 2 countries
 7 applied to 3 countries
 1 applied to 4 countries
 1 applied to 5 countries
 12 planning a Gap Year (6 have applied this year)
 2 undecided
 363 applications submitted (so far!) to 179 universities
Each country has dif ferent application policies, procedures and
deadlines.
Every AIS class is unique.

8. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
FIRST SEMESTER
FIRST QUARTER
 Provided Junior Year Top 10 List for Success
 Discussed importance of junior year grades
 Administered PSAT to Grade 11 students
 Introduced students to Naviance
 Linked Grade 11 parents to their child’s Naviance account
SECOND QUARTER
 Completed three career inventories in Naviance
 Discussed overview of various university systems
 Gathered initial data from students about
country/countries being considered as well as
majors/subjects
 Reviewed PSAT results
 Created a testing plan for this semester

9. LAYING THE GROUNDWORK
SECOND SEMESTER
THIRD QUARTER
 Assist students with setting up standardized testing
accounts (if required) February 11 & 12
 Advise and register students for senior year courses
 Assist students with researching university options
 Ask students to complete the Junior Questionnaire
FOURTH QUARTER
 Provide essay/personal statement workshops through IB
English
 Conduct Junior Conferences – develop a personalized
timeline/plan of action and receive initial IB predicted
grades (late April/May)

10. LET THE RESEARCH BEGIN!

11. SELF-ASSESSMENT
A realistic, thoughtful and thorough self -evaluation helps students
to clarify the types of universities where they will be most happy
and successful.
UNITED STATES:
How does my academic program, grades, predicted IB grades, test
scores and extra-curricular activities compare to currently enrolled
first year students?
UNITED KINGDOM:
How does my IB program compare to the requirements (both overall
and subject specific) for the universities/subjects in which I am
interested?
It’s not about finding the “BEST” university, it’s about finding the
university BEST SUITED to your child’s individual talents, interests,
abilities and goals.

12. FACTORS TO CONSIDER
LOCATION
 What country or countries?
 Setting of university (urban, rural, suburban)
SIZE OF UNIVERSIT Y

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Small (under 5k)
Medium (5k-15k)
Large (15k-30k)
Extra large (over 30k)
T YPES OF SCHOOLS

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Co-ed vs. single sex
Public vs. private
Religiously affiliated
Specialized (e.g. art, music, liberal arts, business, co-op, engineering)
COST/FEES

13. FACTORS TO CONSIDER
THE LEARNING ENVIRONMENT
Degree of competitiveness/selectivity
Strength of program/major/subject
Specialized programs (e.g. internships, co-op,
sandwich, community service, self-designed
major, study abroad)
Class sizes
Faculty/student ratio
Teaching quality (professor or grad assistant)
Rankings (use with caution)

14. FACTORS TO CONSIDER
QUALIT Y OF LIFE
Diversity of the student body
Extra-curricular offerings (e.g. sports, clubs)
Campus “culture”
Social life on and around campus
Housing availability and quality
Quality of facilities (e.g. classrooms, labs, library)
Safety
 US- www.ope.ed.gov/security
 UK- www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/crimein-university-cities/
Relatives nearby

15. RESEARCH! RESEARCH! RESEARCH!
(WHERE TO START)
 Your child’s counselor 
 Naviance (March 3 Parent Workshop after school)
 Internet (e.g. UCAS, College Board, AUCC, Nuffic)
 Individual university websites
 Resources available in the counseling office
 University representatives visiting AIS & VIS
 Former AIS students
 Read information provided by counselors via AIS
Scoops and emails
 Open days (UK- www.opendays.com), university fairs,
virtual fairs (US- www.collegeweeklive.com) and
campus visits (if possible)

16. UPCOMING UNIVERSIT Y VISITS/TOURS
MARCH 28: Embry -Riddle Aeronautical University
APRIL 3: UK University Fair at Vienna International School
 East Anglia
 Goldsmiths
 Kent
 Shef field Hallam
 School of Oriental and African Studies
 Surrey
 Arts University Bournemouth
*Participants subject to change
MAY 14: US University Fair at Vienna International School
(details to follow)

17. CAMPUS VISITS
If at all possible, visit universities on your
child’s list
Nothing can replace a “first hand” view
Make an appointment with the admissions
office (demonstrated interest)
Tour the campus
Check out the housing/accommodations
Visit the department you are interested in
Attend a class
Talk with currently enrolled students

18. UNIVERSIT Y ADMISSION TESTS
(SAT)
SAT - (May 3 or June 7) please note both are holiday weekends
 Required by most universities in the US and some European
universities
 Measures critical reading, math, and writing skills
 Scores range from 200 (low) to 800 (top score)
SAT SUBJECT TESTS - (June 7)
 Required for more selective universities in the US
 One hour tests measuring knowledge in specific subject areas
 Students may take up to three tests in one sitting
 Not all tests are of fered on all test dates
 Cannot be taken on the same day as the SAT
 Scores range from 200 (low) to 800 (top score)
Students will have the opportunity to retake the SAT in October,
November and December of their senior year.

19. SAT SUBJECT TEST DATES

20. UNIVERSIT Y ADMISSION TESTS
(SAT PREPARATION)
 Free test preparation available
through Naviance (PrepMe)
 On-site SAT test preparation classes
available through through Academic
Services International- March 15/16
& 22/23. Cost $800. Registration
forms available in the counseling
Of fice.
 Small group tutoring
 Summer test preparation programs

21. UNIVERSIT Y ADMISSION TESTS
(ACT)
ACT – *April 12 (offered at ICS Vienna)
 Alternative standardized admission test
 Four sections: English, math, reading, science
and a writing sample
 Scores range from 1 (low) – 36 (high)
 Seniors will have an opportunity to retake the
ACT in September, October and December of their
senior year (dates and locations to be confirmed)
*Please note this is the first day of Spring break

22. UNIVERSIT Y ADMISSION TESTS
(TOEFL)
TOEFL – (offered regularly in Vienna)
 For students whose first language is not English
 Recommended for students if Critical Reading
section of SAT is lower than 500
 May be required even if your son/daughter has
studied in English for an extended period of time
 Students should check the testing policies of
each university to which they are applying
 Generally recommended that international
students take this test

23. UNIVERSIT Y ADMISSION TESTS
POINTS TO PONDER
 Which test to take – ACT vs. SAT? Take both!
 SAT/ACT comparison chart in Naviance
 SAT Score Choice – how it works

24. TEACHER RECOMMENDATIONS
 Not required by all universities
 Students should discuss with their counselor
which teachers to ask
 In general references should be written by
academic/core subject teachers from junior or
senior year (but always follow guidelines set by
each university)
 Students are expected to provide each teacher
with information by completing an online
questionnaire
 We encourage students to write thank you notes
and share their good news

25. TEACHER EVALUATION FORM
COMMON APPLICATION

26. TEACHER EVALUATION FORM
COMMON APPLICATION

27. US UNIVERSITIES

28. US UNIVERSITIES
OVERVIEW
 There are 4,495 degree-granting institutions
 Bachelor degrees typically 4 years - may be shorter time
frame due to IB “credit”
 Greater flexibility with changing majors. Can apply
“undecided”
 Common Application:
 Over 500 US universities including some universities in
Europe
 Common format and one main essay
 Allows documents to be sent and tracked electronically
 Requirements are listed on Common App. Grid (link in
Naviance)

29. COMPARING UNIVERSITIES
( H T T P S : / / B I G F U T U R E . C O L L E G E B O A R D . O R G / C O M PA R E - C O L L E G E S )

30. DEVELOPING THE INITIAL LIST
NORTH AMERICAN UNIVERSITIES
In the fall, students will be asked to narrow down their
initial list of universities to create a final list that
should include a range of schools:
 Reach: highly selective, few students accepted
 Target (50/50): half or more of the students with a
similar profile are admitted
 Likely/Safety: most students with a similar profile
are admitted
Number of applications will vary. We recommend two
to three universities per category.

31. DECIDING WHEN & HOW TO APPLY
 Early Decision – submit from November 1 -30. Decision
binding, if accepted the student is making a commitment to
enroll.
 Early Action – submit from November 1 -30. Non-binding,
students may also apply to regular decision schools.
 Regular Decision – submit from November-February. Decisions
are typically made by 1 April.
 Rolling Admissions – applications reviewed as submitted until
the class is full. Decisions typically made in 6 -8 weeks .

32. WHAT ADMISSION COUNSELORS
ARE LOOKING FOR IN THE US

33. THEY ARE ALSO LOOKING FOR…
 Intellectual curiosity
 Initiative/motivation
 Self-discipline
 Ability to overcome challenges
 Leadership skills
 Community service contributions
 Creativity
 Special talents (e.g. music, dance, art, athletics)
 Legacy status
 Demonstrated interest

34. COST FACTORS - US CITIZENS
 Cost of attending university varies from school to school
and includes: tuition and fees, housing/dining fees, books
and supplies, transportation and miscellaneous expenses.
Most students attending university today receive some
financial aid.
 US citizens/permanent residents are eligible for federal
aid. Parents complete the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid (FAFSA) - www.fafsa.ed.gov. Filed after January
1, 2015.
 Many private universities also require the College
Scholarship Service’s PROFILE form
(http://student.collegeboard.org/css-financial-aid-profile)
and/or their own financial aid form to award non-federal
student aid. Available from October 1.

35. COST FACTORS - INTERNATIONAL
 Limited funds available for international students. Some
schools have a clear and upfront policy stating whether
or not they offer aid for international students.
 http://collegeprepcentral.com/wpcontent/uploads/2013/07/Doug-Thompson-Scholarshipslist-2013.pdf
 For those schools that do provide aid, most will ask
students to submit the College Board’s International
Student Financial Aid Application.
 Certification of Finances Form required for international
students as part of the study visa application. Should be
started in November.

36. OR….

37. OH CANADA!

38. CANADIAN UNIVERSITIES
OVERVIEW
 Applications deadlines vary, but tend to be later than in
the US; typically from January to March
 Students should aim to get Canadian applications done
before the December break (McGill University must be
done by then)
 Typically no school documents will be sent until January
once the first semester grades are available
 Recommendations typically not required
 Two paths for consideration - IB or non-IB

39. CANADIAN UNIVERSIT Y SEARCH
There are 98 universities and colleges with
membership in the Association of Universities
& Colleges of Canada: www.aucc.ca
Canadian university IB recognition policies:
www.ibo.org/country/CA/index.cfm
Ontario Universities’ Application Centre:
www.ouac.on.ca

40. COST FACTORS - CANADA
 Fees vary from school to school.
 Limited scholarships and financial aid available for
international students.
 A recent study by HSBC Canada found that the average tuition
cost for international students, at the the top 10 colleges and
universities in Canada is $18,474 (USD). That compares to
$25,375 (USD) in Australia and $19,291 (USD) in the U.K.
 Tuition fees by university: http://www.aucc.ca/canadianuniversities/facts-and-stats/tuition-fees-by -university/

41. UK UNIVERSITIES

42. UK UNIVERSITIES
OVERVIEW
 3-year degrees in England/4 year s in Scotland.
 Sandwich cour ses combine study with a period of time spent working in
industr y. Usually extends the length of a cour se by up to a year.
 In the UK, students apply for direct entr y for a specific subject and
students begin studying that subject from year 1 .
 Once a student has star ted their studies, changing subjects in the UK
can be dif ficult.
 More flexibility in Scotland. The fir st one or two year s are designed for
more broad-based studies with specialization in year s 3 and 4.
 Unlike the US where applications are reviewed based on achievements
(e.g. grades, test scores, essays, recommendations, extra -curricular) in
the UK, decisions based primarily on what a student is predicted to
achieve (IB).

43. ABOUT UCAS
 Website: www.ucas.com
 Students must meet or exceed the minimum overall and
subject specific IB course requirements for the chosen
subject.
 Student can choose up to 5 courses (choices may be at
the same university).
 For Medicine/Vet Med/Dentistry 4 choices allowed plus
one additional non-medical.
 Can apply to Oxford or Cambridge, but not both.
 Everything is done online…nothing is sent.
 Parents can register to receive email newsletters at:
www.ucas.com/parents/register

44. APPLICATIONS TO THE UK
THE PROCESS:
• Students apply online through the Universities
and Colleges Admission Service (UCAS).
• In September students create a UCAS account
and begin working on their application.
• IB predicted updates will be provided in the fall.
• Personal statement required (link to sample
statements in Naviance).
• Internal deadline - by December 1 st .

45. WHAT ADMISSION TUTORS ARE LOOKING
FOR IN THE UK
Has the student met the IB prerequisite
requirements (overall & subject specific)
Exams/test results already achieved
Personal statement
Extra-curricular involvement
Work experience
School reference
Interview

46. UK SUBJECT-SPECIFIC ADMISSION TESTS
If required, admission tutors consider the results of
standardized admission tests :
 Medicine/Dentistry/Vet Med: Biomedical Admissions Test
(BMAT) and/or UK Clinical Aptitude Test (UKCAT)
 Law: National Law Admissions Test (LNAT)
 Cambridge: MML for Modern & Medieval Languages. The Sixth
Term Examination Papers (STEP) for Mathematics. Students
applying for Computer Science, Natural Sciences, Engineering
and Economics must take the Thinking Skills Assessment
(TSA).
 Oxford: Students applying for Modern History must take the
History Aptitude Test (HAT). The Philosophy, Politics &
Economics Course requires the Thinking Skills Assessment
(TSA) and students applying for English must take the English
Literature Admissions Test (ELAT)

47. SAMPLE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS UCAS
LSE: ECONOMICS (L101)

48. SAMPLE ENTRY REQUIREMENTS UCAS
LANCASTER: ECONOMICS (L101)

49. HIGHER EDUCATION FEES – UK
 Two types of fee status: Home/EU and Over seas . Government regulations
applied to assess the rate at which a student should be charged.
 Home students (UK or EU residents) can be charged up to £9,000 per year.
Amounts charged var y between cour ses and schools.
 No up-front fees for EU students. Students take out a loans to cover and
pay back those loans post graduation and earning £21 ,000+.
 Over seas students pay higher tuition fees (£14k -£25K/average £1 2k -15K).
Fees set by individual univer sities. For fur ther information visit UK Council
for Internati onal Student Af fair s: www.ukcisa.org.uk .
 Depar tment for Education and Skills: www.education.gov.uk
 Scotland – no tuition fees for EU students. Fees paid through the Student
Awards A gency for Scotland ( SAAS) – www.saas.gov.uk .

50. SUMMER SUGGESTIONS
FOR RISING SENIORS
 If at all possible, visit universities.
 Gain work experience, either paid or internship – continue to
explore an area or investigate a new path.
 Relate the Extended Essay topic/subject to the area you wish
to study at university.
 Practice for any required standardized testing (e.g. SAT, ACT,
TOEFL, BMAT, UKCAT, LNAT)
 Enroll in a mid-IB preparation course.
 Participate in a community service/volunteer project.
 Attend a summer program or take classes in the
subject/major of interest.
 Continue to research university options.
 Go beyond the curriculum – read books in the chosen
subject/major area of interest.

51. A SNEAK PEAK AT THE SENIOR YEAR
 SEPTEMBER: Senior Parent University Night
 SEPTEMBER: Individual meetings with counselor (ongoing) –
Senior Questionnaire
 SEPTEMBER: Confirm who will write references and review
transcripts for accuracy.
 SEPTEMBER: Set up Common Application account and/or UCAS
accounts if required
 SEPTEMBER: Parent Questionnaire (optional)
 OCT/NOV/DEC: Take standardized tests (if needed)

52. A SNEAK PEAK AT THE SENIOR YEAR
 OCTOBER 15: Deadline for Oxford and Cambridge and courses
in Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Medicine and Vet Science
 OCTOBER 31: Application summary due
 NOVEMBER: Early Action/Early Decision applications
deadlines typically November 1-30
 NOVEMBER: All teacher recommendations should be
completed
 NOVEMBER/DECEMBER: US applications with a deadline
before January 15 th should be completed and submitted. This
ideally includes UCAS and Ontario universities.

53. TIPS FOR PARENTS
•Be there to guide and assist, but let your child be
responsible for the process.
•Discuss any restrictions up front.
•Remind your child of deadlines.
•The selectivity level of the university your child
attends is not a report card on the quality of your
parenting.
•Don’t believe everything you hear from well -meaning
friends about the admissions process.
•Read your AIS “counselor spam.” 
•Encourage and celebrate!

54. QUESTIONS?