This document summarizes information for the Class of 2019 from an international school including statistics on applications from the Class of 2018, popular majors and schools, and upcoming application deadlines. It provides guidance to students on the application process including components like essays, recommendations, and financial aid. Parents are encouraged to provide support to seniors in applying to university while also allowing them space to develop independence.

1. Classof 2019
Senior Application N ight

7. TWO NEWBIES

9. Class of 2018
# of Students 195
# of Applications
Submitted
1306
Acceptances / Offers 649
Applications Per Student 6.7
Countries 12

10. Class of 2018
1%1%2%2%
3%
3%
3%
4%
12%
18%
50%
USA
Canada
UK
Netherlands
Korea
Australia
Japan

11. Class of 2018 Top 5 Most Popular Schools
By Applications By Attendance

12. Class of 2018:
Majors/Courses
of Study
Engineering Comp Sci Science Math Design
Comm. I.R. Biz Humanities Econ
Film Arts

13. Class of 2019
# of Students 201
# of Applications
Submitted
?
Acceptances / Offers ?
Applications Per Student ?
Countries ?

15. STUDENTS
• Self-Discovery
• Self-Advocacy
• Responsibility

17. 1. Do Not Take Other People’s Prescriptions
2. Change The Channel Frequently
3. Take Care Of The People That Take Care Of
You
4. Do Not Be More Memorable Than Your
Student

18. • Honest Discussions
• Understanding & Listening
• Empower and Support, NOT micromanage
• Realistic Expectations
• Encourage Positive Well-Being

20. • Honest Discussions
• Understanding & Listening
• Empower and Support, NOT micromanage
• Realistic Expectations
• Ensure (or try) Positive Well-Being
• Help With Organization

21. UCAS
Common
Application
Univ. of California
Ontario
University
College
Application

22. • ASAP: Surveys for Recommenders
• 10/1: “Early” Application Notification Deadline
• 10/12: LAST DAY to add colleges to your Naviance
• 10/15: OxBridge + Medicine/Veterinary/Dentistry
• 11/1-11/15: Most “Early” Application Deadline
• First week of December: Finalized College List
– Signature Required
• January: Most USA , Canadian, UK, Ateneo
Application Deadlines

23. College Visits

25. Predicted Grades (PG’s)
• PG’s will be used – somehow – in the application
process across the world
• Full & Partial IB Students
• Factors (in order of importance):
1) Graded IB Internal Assessments
2) End of Sem. 2 Exams (G11)
3) Overall G11 grades and performance
4) Current G12 performance
5) Teacher’s professional judgement
• Rounds:
– 1st: first week of October
– 2nd: first week of December
– 3rd: March

26. NETHERLANDS

29. DEADLINE TO ADD
COLLEGES TO YOUR
LIST: October 12th

30. Common Application
(Online Submission)
UC App – Nothing to Submit
UCAS – Nothing to Submit
OUAS Application
(Online Submission)

31. =
Document Request
(In Counseling office) =
I.e. Korea, Japan, Hong Kong, some
Canada applications, etc.

33. Application Option Deadline Decision Time
UK: Oxbridge /
Med/Vet/Dental
10/15 3 – 5 months
UK: Rolling Thru 1/15 3 – 12 weeks
HK 11/1 – 2/1 1 – 3 months
Japan 10/1 – 3/1 4 – 8 weeks
Korea 1/1 – 5/1 1 – 3 months
Canada 1/10 – 3/1 1 – 4 months
Netherlands 1/15 – 4/1 1 – 3 months
Australia 9/1 – 12/1 2019 1 – 3 months

34. “FIT”

36. Entry Requirements & Academic Requirements
• Typical Entry Requirements
– Refers to previous year’s “typical” admitted students (and
minimums)
– Listed on websites, sometimes by faculty/course
• Minimum Entry Requirements
– Listed as the minimum IB scores to be considered by the
program
– Listed on websites, sometimes by faculty/course
• No Specific Entry Requirements
– Naviance can help you out!
– “Compare Me” screen to see avg. accepted GPA + Testing
– Scattergrams for more application result data

37. How to Build a Balanced College List
• Far Reach
– Very unlikely you’ll be admitted
• Reach (Aspirational)
– Typically has an acceptance rate under 15% - 20%
– Student falls below published entry requirements or
typical ISM admitted student
• Possible (Target)
– 50-50 Chance
– Student falls around the average ISM admitted student
• Likely (Insurance)
– Student is easily above the average admitted student

38. Likely Possible Reach
+/-10 4-7
2
2-3
1-2
2-3
4-5
2-4

39. What a Balanced List is NOT…
• …if you ONLY want to go to your reach schools.
• …if you have not researched each university on
your list.
• …if you have a country preference but have not
included any Likely schools in your list.
• …if you cannot afford your likely schools.
• …if you had to cajole 6 teachers to increase your
Predicted grades so that you meet the entry
requirements.

42. Application Components and Requirements
***

44. Recommendations
• Some regions that require recommendations:
– USA, UK, Netherlands, HK, Singapore, Japan,
Korea, Philippines
• How many are required? (Depends)
• Format: Letter or Form
• Differences between recommendations
– Spotlight vs. Floodlight

45. Recommendations
• What makes a good recommendation, and
how do I get one?
– Giving teachers and counselors plenty of TIME!
Plenty of NOTICE!
– Naviance Surveys: Completing your teacher
recommendation and Senior Profile surveys
– Engage with teachers (in and out of the
classroom) and counselors

46. Testing

47. Testing
• SAT & ACT (Please see the handout for dates)
– Subject Tests
• IELTS or TOEFL
• UK Tests
– BMAT, UKCAT, OxBridge (other Unis may require),
LNAT
• Partial IB students
– Do I have to test if I am partial-IB student?
• Institution-Specific Tests

49. Other Materials to Prepare
• Admission Interviews to Course Interviews
– ISM Interview Workshop: November 7th!
• Auditions: Musical majors, Theatre majors
• Portfolios: Visual Art majors

51. “Heal the sick, but it cannot raise the dead!”

52. Essays - All Regions
• Canada: May ask short
answer questions for
scholarships or program
supplements
• USA: Reflective essay,
supplements
• Asia: Focused essay
• UK: Focused essay
• Netherlands: Focused essay,
CV
• Australia: None, but may
need a focused essay for
residence halls
• Some regions might ask for a
video essay
Blame it on Montaigne! He
popularized the essay as a
literary genre

53. Examples
• Reflective Essay
– USA (UChicago) Prompt: “You’re on a voyage in the
13th century, sailing across the tempestuous seas.
What if, suddenly, you fell off the edge of the Earth?”
• Focused Essay
– Hong Kong (HKU) Prompt: “Please indicate your
reasons for applying to the University, the chosen
curricula, extracurricular activities, etc. This personal
statement should be authentic and inform the
university committee of your fit with the programme
in which you are applying.

54. Examples Continued…
• Supplemental Essay
– Canada (UBC): The Personal Profile asks you four
to seven questions about challenges you have
overcome, significant achievements in your life,
your academic pursuits, and what you have
learned form these experiences. The questions are
based on the degree to which you have applied,
so starting your application will allow you to
access your specific questions.

56. Paying for University:
It’s All About the Benjamins
• Determining tuition rates
– Domestic vs. International, In-state
– Passport and/or Residency
• Merit vs Need-based scholarships
• What documents are needed?
– Tax forms
– Certification of Finances
• Are scholarship deadlines different?
– Be aware of early deadlines for scholarship programs
• Inquire with the institution

60. You are all parents of seniors
trying to deal with this the best
way we can
Be mindful that this paradox can hijack our feelings
and impact how we interact with our son/daughter

62. I’m an adult now: Please
pass my blankie.
Empathy
Defining adult self
More independent from family (control
issues, conflict)
Want to make you proud

63. I can do this on my own...but
can you help me?
What does support look like?
When is it appropriate?
How much help is too much?
Maintaining emotional stability.

67. Contact Information
Eric Swan: swane@ismanila.org
Kim Cheah: cheahk@ismanila.org
Alexandra Berry: berryal@ismanila.org
Karen Sagall: sagallk@ismanila.org
Stephanie Tao: taos@ismanila.org

68. Application Option Deadline Decision Time
USA: ED, EA, REA 11/1 – 11/15 12/15 – 2/1
USA: ED2 1/1 – 1/15 2/15
USA: Regular Decision 1/1 – 1/15 By 4/1
UK: Oxbridge /
Med/Vet/Dental
10/15 3 – 5 months
UK: Rolling Thru 1/15 3 – 12 weeks
HK: 11/1 – 2/1 1 – 3 months