Copy
View this email in your browser

Dear Parents and Students

As the end of the academic year approaches, we bid a fond goodbye to our soon-to-be most recent graduates. The class of 2016 has every right to feel extremely proud of their many accomplishments be they academic, extra-curricular, athletic and/or personal. Well done to all of you and wishing you all great success and happiness in the future!

In this newsletter:

Year 13

To help prepare students for what lies ahead in the next part of their exciting journey, the HEO is organizing a Pre-Departure Workshop on Wednesday 1 June, immediately after their graduation rehearsals. The session will kick off with pizza and refreshments at midday in the DP Foyer. 

  • Intro/Overview
  • Practical Information:  What to pack, climate, visas etc
  • Cultural adjustment: what is it and how do I cope?
  • Academic Life
  • Student Life
  • Becoming a DC Alum
Sharing with Alumni  1.00pm

Year 12 - A Lecture on the Value of Arts and Social Sciences

Students and staff were very privileged to listen to Professor Richard Miles, from the University of Sydney explain how the arts and social sciences are now internationally recognised as an essential foundation for success and employability in the 21st Century.
 
Having had a wide range of admissions experience in the UK, US and Australia, Professor Miles was able to give a very clear and honest overview of the distinguishing strengths in each system. He also focused on the importance and value of transferable skills such as leadership, empathy, critical thinking, communication, ability to listen; and how the arts and social sciences are rapidly gaining recognition as the key component in equipping students with these essential skills. The feedback from students was extremely positive. 

For a copy of the presentation, please click here.   



 
Essay Writing Workshop
Year 12 had the opportunity of receiving valuable advice from admissions officers on how to write their university application essays. San Lee, from University of California Davis, and Matthew Virr from Liverpool Hope University gave some helpful tips on how to get started and what universities are looking for in their essays. Students also spent some time critiquing real essays and brainstorming ideas for their own.

Click on the link to view the presentation and the Essay Handbook.

For an excellent and informative short video on writing personal statements, click here.


What Lies Ahead in Year 13?
As Year 12 move into their final year at DC, it is important that both students and their parents are familiar with what lies ahead as regards timelines, deadlines, preparation and procedures for higher education. 
 
To give parents a clearer picture and to help them support their child through what can be a very busy, complicated and pressurized period, the HEO will hold a coffee morning on Thursday 16 June from 8.30 to 10am in the DP Centre, 4/F. We are excited to have several of our recently graduated Year 13 students, and a couple of our alum, take part in the presentation and share their experiences with you. Our School Counsellor, Yvonne Drakousis, will also be there to offer advice and answer any questions that may arise.  This is definitely an important session to attend and we look forward to seeing some of you there.  
 
To register for this workshop, please click here.
 

Years 9-10 - Interested in studying in the US? Then it’s time to register for the PSAT!

For students currently in Years 9 and 10, and progressing to Year 10 and 11 in August, and who are contemplating studying in a US university, it is strongly recommended that they register for the Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) which will take place in school on Wednesday 19 October 2016 from 8am to 12noon. 
 
The PSAT is the best practice for the SAT. It’s a standardized test made by the College Board, the same company that creates the SAT, and it tests the same three subjects as the SAT: critical reading, math, and writing. The kinds of questions and the directions are almost exactly the same as the SAT. Students also get to experience sitting down for a two to three-hour test with few breaks. For many, it’s an eye-opener. The real SAT is about an hour and a half longer than the PSAT.

PSAT scores indicate how a student might do on each section on the SAT. Using the test results, students can then focus their test review on the areas and types of questions they most need to improve. Students and parents can also use the scores as a gauge to see what kind of additional study aids or tutoring is needed. Consider poor results as an early warning signal that serious work may be needed before a student takes the real SAT.

By taking the PSAT, a student could become a National Merit Scholar. This is a highly prestigious recognition and to achieve this, a student needs to score above a certain percentile on the test.

An E-Notice to register for the PSAT testing will be sent at a later date to all parents of Year 9 and 10 students as well as for American passport holders in Year 11.

Introducing a New HE Counseling Platform – BridgeU

We are looking forward to introducing students to a new and exciting university preparation platform called BridgeU. This innovative system leverages data from courses and universities around the world and gives students access to a series of expert tools which assists them in the whole university process including university selection, research, strategy building, essay writing and more.
 
We will be introducing students and parents to this exciting platform in the coming weeks – so watch this space! 

Articles of the Month

A Stanford dean on adult skills every 18 year old should have
http://qz.com/644491/a-stanford-dean-on-adult-skills-every-18-year-old-should-have/
 
Do hiring managers care where applicants went to college?
https://www.themuse.com/advice/do-hiring-managers-care-where-you-went-to-college

Enjoy the busy festivities and events that the end of year brings, and we look forward to seeing some of you at our coffee morning on Thursday 16 June. 

Kind regards,
 
Ms Blomfield and Ms Yan
Higher Education Counsellors
Facebook
Twitter
DC Website
Email us
Copyright © 2016 Discovery College. All rights reserved.


You are receiving this email as you are a current parent or student of Discovery College. If you wish to no longer receive the Higher Education Office newsletter, please click below to update your subscription preferences. If you wish to unsubscribe from all DC emails, you may click to unsubscribe. Please be aware that if you elect to not receive these emails, it is your responsibility to visit the College website and the Explorer online to receive information.

Update Subscription Preferences | Unsubscribe from all DC Emails