College and university guidance for international schools students

Worldwide, college/university application numbers are up and the admissions process has become increasingly competitive. While most students tend to choose higher education destinations in the country where they received their secondary school diploma, international schools students routinely apply to colleges and universities outside the country where they graduated from high school. International schools students considering studying in a number of countries must deal with a myriad of application processes, and very different expectations from the universities. In the UK, for example, students can only make five applications which should focus on the subject choice, whereas in the US, institutions are generally looking more at the person and students can apply to as many universities as they wish.

International schools students make particularly attractive university applicants because their school programmes are often characterized by academic rigor. Additionally, the social environment of the typical international school is a diverse mosaic that embraces many cultures and various points of view. Tzu-Ying Chuang, who attended the International School of Brussels (ISB) and is now studying at Harvard University, alluded to the importance of both academic and social preparation for later success in university.

"My high school prepared me very well for university. The environment and the dynamics of the school, especially, helped me to make a successful transition: I developed the skills of reaching out to people and an innate interest in the diverse experiences of my classmates. Academically, I would say that ISB equips you with the skills needed to adapt to any academic environment, whether it focuses on writing, computing or just logic."

-ISB Graduate, Class of 2006

Faced with over two million bachelor's degrees worldwide, how do students choose where to apply? Most will turn to their school's guidance counsellor or an education consultant who helps identify universities best matched to a student's talents and interests. Students seeking an 'international' degree have a number of options. Obviously they can study abroad, or they can choose to remain 'at home', either at a university with a large number of international students (e.g., 50% of bachelor students at the London School of Economics are non-UK) or one which has an established study abroad programme.

In recent years, with the increase in the number of students participating in the EU's Erasmus student exchange programme, many European universities have begun using English as the language of instruction. According to the Times Higher Education Supplement (THES) World University Rankings, nearly half the Top 200 universities are located in the US, UK, Australia and New Zealand, with continental European institutions representing a further 28%. In growing numbers, international schools students populate the campuses of these leading institutions and offer much to student life. Their exposure to a more global perspective coupled with thorough academic preparation in secondary school makes them natural candidates for university study, both in their home countries and beyond.

Rick Cameron: Head of Guidance and Counselling Services, The International School of Brussels

Phil Moss: CEO of Phil Moss Consulting - www.pmc-uk.net - and formerly Student Recruitment Manager at the London School of Economics