Written by Lenard Murray
Executive Head of Schools

“Strategy is a pattern in a stream of decisions.” Henry Mintzberg

Having made it through your Primary and lower Secondary years, it’s time to look at upper Secondary, Junior College and beyond. Time moves quickly, so it is imperative for students to  figure out what they want to do and where they want to go. A student may say, “Wow, I am only in Sec 2, do I really have to think about University already?” They wouldn’t be alone and they are correct in asking. Do kids at 14 years of age really know what they want to do and what they want to become?  Some possibly, many others, probably not.

So then, what do we do? My advice would be to take an array of subjects in your 2 years of Cambridge IGCSE, unless you are 100 % certain about the pathway you wish to follow. By taking more subjects in these years it provides students with more options when choosing pathways in Junior College.

In 8 months or so, our Junior College 2 students will have completed their final exams. Time moves quickly and waits for no one, thus, they started their preparation long before today. Competition is fierce as there are more than 69’000 Indonesian students attending Universities abroad as of 2018-2019 and 16,500 – 24% are said to study in Australia.  You would think that the closest destinations to Indonesia would be the most popular because of logistics, but that isn’t really the case. The USA comes in second at 18.8%, followed by Malaysia at 15.9%, then Egypt 6.9, Japan 5.7%, UK 4.2 %, Germany 4% and Saudi Arabia at 3.1%. Now, just think about the further competitiveness that students from other countries place into the equation. Students need to be at their best.

How can students  improve their chances to get accepted into top universities in these countries or others? At SIS we use Bridge U – university placement software, it was founded to help young people around the world realise their potential, through empowering schools to provide smart, modern university and careers guidance, and at SIS we do.

Check out our best tips for a better chance at being accepted into the university of choice.

First of all,  students must start early. As mentioned, the best time to start thinking is in lower Secondary. Starting early allows students enough time to develop a strategic plan for choosing subjects and courses for Junior College. It also offers time for academic improvement and to get involved in leadership, clubs, organisations, sports teams or other WOW factors that will help add value to students’ applications and place them ahead of the rest.

Students need to meet regularly with their teachers and coordinators to discuss what they wish to do, teachers can be of great help by making sure that students are on track. Students should also seek out information from family, peers and alumni. Checklists should be created, so they don’t fall short on anything, by being well organised and setting deadlines, students will be better prepared.

Part of being prepared is students being ready to tell their story, they will need to market themselves to show what their goals and aspirations are, what separates them from the rest and solid reasons as to why they have chosen a certain university. Students need to research thoroughly and have answers to all questions they may be asked. The nucleus of their application must  include strengths, accomplishments and possibly areas they wish to develop further.

Almost every University will need an essay as part of the admissions process. A student’s essay is an opportunity to dazzle and open up doors that may have previously been closed. If students are able to display their personality and capabilities through an appealing and well written story, it is half the battle. This will be extremely important and students must have people in place to help them proofread, critique and revise.  For assistance in writing your UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service)  personal statement or essay, please click below.

https://www.savethestudent.org/extra-guides/freshers/top-tips-for-your-ucas-personal-statement.html

Students will need to create a way to keep track of applications, teacher recommendations, deadlines, transcripts, requests, test scores, reports and any information they have on each university of interest. Procrastination is the enemy, too many students wait too long to get started, then end up having to scamper to complete them in their final year. Don’t get left behind, start early! 

 By conducting research on the university they are applying to,  it will give them an advantage over others who don’t. This is similar to applying for a job, people who research a company before an interview will have a better understanding of what the company is all about and the type of people they are most likely looking for. Having the answer, before  even being asked is key. The more you know about a prospective school, the better you can exhibit to admissions officers that you are the perfect fit. Students can also use the information obtained to shortlist universities, ensuring that the university fits them rather than vice versa.

Students must take advantage of all that’s offered, They must read books, search websites and meet with admission officers or marketing personnel who visit their school. These are all great,  but even better would be to visit as many University fairs as possible. There, students and parents can meet a variety of admissions people and get a better perception about many universities with only one visit. It also opens up a great opportunity for students to make their own good first impressions. After visiting a fair, students can  create a short list that they can directly focus on.

Once they’ve narrowed down the list, they should sit down with parents, teachers or friends and thoroughly discuss all aspects. It is even a good idea  to create a pros and cons list for each school. Lists may include the sizes of the schools, reputation, choice of majors, expertise in certain areas, housing, safety, location, visa requirements and so on. Then a visit should be made, either virtually or better yet a physical visit to ensure compatibility, after all, 4 or more years is a very long time to spend in a place they are not comfortable with. It is best to be sure. A physical visit also opens up the opportunity to meet with admissions and participate in an interview, if possible. This combined with an amazing essay can override or enhance upon a student’s academic record. Marketing every quality and aspect of a student is key.

Good luck and may your University experience and degree help pave the way to an amazing future.