By Flora Lepage, Year 12
As school has begun in full speed, numerous students are beginning their search for the different universities that will welcome them in their new life following graduation. Multiple Year 13 students have already begun the application process and Year 12 students are starting to discover the opportunities proposed by universities around the world. Universities have different requirements and courses, making it very hard for students to understand what is best suited for them following their interests and subjects. It is for this reason that our school has a hard working and passionate team of guidance counsellors to help students through this complicated process.
This past week, LGB’s guidance counsellors gave an online presentation for parents and students. Some data provided from the graduation classes of 2022-2024 showed that the country receiving most LGB students for university was the UK (182 students), followed by the US (80 students) and Switzerland (77 students). Being an international school also means that students move all around the world to pursue their studies in countries ranging from Canada, France, the Netherlands, Italy, Lithuania, Sweden, Iceland, and many more. The Guidance department also provided a list of universities in each country, and the courses, where these students went on to study. The statistics showed that students were not only extremely diverse with their choice of universities but also their decisions in courses covering almost all areas of study such as engineering and sciences, business, management, social sciences, humanities, medicine, and arts.
The guidance counsellors emphasised the importance of students communicating with them: Ms Oshima for the US and Canada, Mr Rowlands for the UK, Ms Casanova for Switzerland and France, and Ms Oshima and Mr Rowlands for all other countries. In addition to working with students who already know which countries they aim for, mentor classes will be assigned counsellors to ensure that no students are left without help. Ms Oshima highlighted that many US universities have reinstated the requirement of SATs and encouraged students in Year 12 to take their SATs as soon as possible in order to have it done before the hectic year that is Year 13 begins. It is therefore important to check the universities that may be of interest and see whether they require SATs and create an efficient study plan. It is equally important to verify which other standardised tests are required specifically by universities or even by course and begin to prepare for them.
For students that are only beginning their search in universities, it is encouraged to pass the Morrisby Assessment which is a test that helps identify a student’s strengths, weaknesses, and potential career paths as well as fitting university degrees. It is a great way to begin easing one’s way into the process of looking into universities and to discover all the different options offered.
Getting a head start on the long process to find what is best for a student’s next steps will always have a positive outcome. Even though it all looks overwhelming and intimidating, students must use all of the available resources that the school offers, especially the guidance counsellors. They help students every step of the way through their last two years in LGB and ensure that each student continues into a further education that is the most fulfilling for them.
See the Guidance Newsletter in the weekly Secondary School Newsletter for information from the Guidance Department.
