College Counseling & Information

Applying for college can be an overwhelming activity. Where do you start? What does your student have to prepare? What are some of the deadlines?

Below is a guide to helping your children with college research and the application process.

Applying to a college or university? Here's how.

UK University Application Process

UCAS- apply to 300 UK Colleges - choose up to 5 choices for 23 pounds

http://www.ucas.com

UCAS is the organization that manages applications to higher education programs in the UK..

1)The counselor will ask for a reference letter by including paragraphs from all teachers. Let counselor know you are applying at least 3 weeks in advance.

2) IB Predicted Scores will be given to students from the Counseling office.

3) Write their personal statement

The personal statement is your opportunity to tell universities and colleges about your suitability for the course(s) that you hope to study. You need to demonstrate your enthusiasm and commitment, and above all, ensure that you stand out from the crowd. Use the worksheet for assistance on answering questions

4) Complete the application using APPLY. Make sure you ask me for the buzzword in order to have your application linked to our school (icsaddisababa)

5) Students pay for the application, then counselor reviews it before counselor submits it to UCAS.

Students: are you planning to apply to the UK? If you prefer to read blogs related to students' UCAS journey? then follow them here: www.ucasconnect.com/blogs or www.ucasevents.com

You can also find them on facebook at https://www.facebook.com/ucasonline

USA University Application Process

Common App – apply to 500 colleges in US, Austria, France, Germany, Italy, United Kingdom, and Switzerland - Pay per university at least $65 to $90

https://www.commonapp.org/Login

1) Individual universities will have specific requirements about the number of recommendations needed. The counselor will also write a counselor recommendation. Ask for this letter at least 3 weeks in advance. Give teachers a specific deadline.

2) IB Predicted Scores will be given to students from the Counseling office.

3) Write their personal essay – choose from the 5 prompts given

This is your opportunity to help the admissions office get to know you and to evaluate your writing

4) Complete the applications, pay and submit one at a time

Universal College Application – apply to 32 US colleges - Pay per university at least $65

https://www.universalcollegeapp.com/colleges

2) IB Predicted Scores will be given to students from the Counseling office.

3) Write their personal essay – choose from the 5 prompts given

This is your opportunity to help the admissions office get to know you and to evaluate your writing

4) Complete the applications, pay and submit one at a time

Some US universities will have their own application system so you must go to their website to apply:

An example of this is: http://uadmissions.georgetown.edu/first-year/application

College Entrance Exams

ICS School Code 560040

SAT

All students need to take the SAT's at least twice– once in May of their junior year and then in the fall of the senior year – October or November.

One or two SAT Subject tests (1 hour exams) may be required or strongly recommended fro the competitive universities. They cannot be taken on the same date as the regular SAT.

SAT Test is offered in October, November, December, January, May and June. Registration must be done through the website:

https://sat.collegeboard.org/register

International deadlines apply to anyone testing outside of the United States and U.S. territories. There is an international fee added to the cost of registration. The SAT is not offered in March outside of the United States and U.S. territories. The Language with Listening Tests are offered only in November.

ACT

ACT test is offered in October, December, February and April. Registration must be done through the website:

www.actstudent.org

TOEFL

The TOEFL is an online English language proficiency test that you can take during any month as long as there is availability. You can qualify for a waiver if you have attended a school where the language of instruction is English for more than 3 years.

Registration must be done through the website: http://www.ets.org/toefl

Canadian University Application Process

Ontario Universities Application Center OUAC 105 – application for 20 colleges in Ontario

- $165 Canadian dollars covers 3 choices then $50 per additional college. Supplemental fees are charged for some colleges

http://www.ouac.on.ca

Most universities in other areas in Canada have their own university application portal so please go to their websites to apply. Below are a couple of websites:

http://www.universitystudy.ca/canadian-universities/

https://www.ubc.ca/

https://www.mcgill.ca/

http://carleton.ca/

Getting Ready for the Application Process

Between August and December, seniors should be doing the following:

1. Sign up for the 12th grade Advisory moodle course - there are lots of resources listed on there

2. Research your university list and write down the deadlines and admissions/entry requirements

3. Add your list of 5 to 7 universities into your Naviance account

http://connection.naviance.com/ics

4.Choose recommenders and put together a recommendations packet for your teachers - resume, list of activities, and draft of your essay. Speak to teachers first and ask before sending a Naviance request

5. Sign up for the TOEFL, SAT or ACT

6. Start to write essay/personal statement

7. Sign up for account for applications

UCAS- can apply to 5 universities UK (buzzword is icsaddisababa) https://www.ucas.com/ucas/undergraduate/getting-started/when-apply
Common App - US, some limited choices in Canada and UK https://commonapp.org/Login
OUAC - Ontario universities http://www.ouac.on.ca/ouac-105/105-info/
Apply through individual university websites

8. Study for the SAT if you plan to take it again in October or November or December (below are some links you can use to practice)

ICS pays for Method Test Prep https://app.methodtestprep.com/InternationalCommunitySchoolofAddisAbaba/signup/tkn27937209
Khan Academy is also offering free SAT prep in collaboration with Collegeboard https://www.khanacademy.org/sat

IB recognition policy index for universities

Below is the link where you can check to see how the university you plan to apply views the IB diploma

http://www.ibo.org/university-admission/recognition-of-the-ib-diploma-by-countries-and-universities/

Always supplement your research by going to the individual university website

Websites to research Universities in other Countries

You may also apply to universities in other countries in Europe, Asia, Africa and other continents by either going to their websites or by going through the following websites and searching by the country:

http://www.topuniversities.com/where-to-study/home

Select a country and get list of universities

https://www.daad.de/deutschland/studienangebote/en/

Select international programmes in Germany

http://www.studyineurope.eu/

Select a country and then choose an universities

Select view study programs

http://www.studyinholland.co.uk/admissions_information.html

https://studyinsweden.se/how-to-apply/bachelors-level-how-to-apply/

http://www.studyinfinland.fi/

http://www.russellgroup.ac.uk/our-universities/