Year 10: Skills and Strength Analysis
Students receive guidance regarding the importance of grades and extracurricular involvement. The Careers Counseling Team focuses on creating smaller groups within the cohort to address how to build good study habits and learn the IB learner attributes. Within the groups, Year 10 mentors help students understand “how to build a student profile’ for future university applications.
Year 11: Careers Exploration and Discovery
Students attend Careers Exploration session and Career Talks to determine their potential pathway. Students continue to grow academically and via tailored sessions they understand the importance of academic progress for universities. They complete their ‘Skills and Strengths Questionnaires’ on Unifrog and read further on their match careers via The Careers Library. Accordingly, with the guidance of the University Counselor, they choose their IB subjects taking into consideration country specific application requirements. During the second term, students work on their High School CV and continue to add to their accomplishments via personalized guidance on work experience, internships and online course opportunities. Having completed their CV, students work on their motivational letters/cover letters to apply for the Al Futtaim Work Placement in summer. During Year 11 Transition week, students attend the university applications session to delve into country specific application requirements and learn about their next steps.
Year 12: University Readiness and Preparation
During Year 12, students attend the “University Readiness” sessions which run weekly during a designated time. All students are required to attend these sessions which cover topics such as Oxbridge and Ivy League Applications, The Russel Group, How to Demonstrate Interest, Creating a Student Profile, UCAS Applications, Commonapp Applications, Scholarships and Financial Aid, Liberal Arts Colleges, The College Essay vs The Personal Statement to name a few. Students become engaged learners and learn how to take full responsibility of their individualized pathways. Students are also able to meet the counselor via booking one-on-one meetings from Calendly and must attend their ‘higher education planning’ meeting in the second term of their junior year. Students will be informed of deadlines to take standardized tests and will have tailored prep events offered to them by our partners. By the end of year 12, students will have completed their first draft of the personal statement and handed it over to the University Counselor for feedback. Additionally, students will start filling out their brag-sheets with the counselor’s assistance and have requested their subject reference letters by end of year. The counselor will help them devise a list of shortlisted universities which students will continue to research during summer break.
Year 13: Applications Season
Students have fully prepared for their applications and once IB predictions are released students are able to request their transcripts from the counseling office to complete their applications. Students complete personal statements and college essays and upload all required materials on their application portals with the help of the counselor. Applications are completed during November to January according to deadlines. Students receive offers starting in December and will pay their deposit fees for enrollment by May. Students will receive guidance and support throughout the whole process of applications and the counselor will keep track of applications via Unifrog.