Admission Seminar 2017 2017 College Admission Seminar

High School Counseling’s 8th Annual

Welcome to the SAS College Admission Seminar!

We hope you leave the program today well informed and confident that your child has the resources available to successfully navigate the college admission process. In most cases, the session title explains the information covered, but detailed descriptions are also provided in this booklet to help you decide which sessions to attend. Unless otherwise indicated, sessions are designed for both students and parents.

We are excited to offer this year’s program that has some new sessions and topics developed based upon parent and student feedback from last year. Most notably, we have several panel and Q&A type sessions that feature advice from those who have gone through the college application process. We understand that individual questions may arise after the presentations. We encourage you to contact the SAS counselors after today’s program with any further questions.

SAS High School Counselors SCHEDULE

OPENING 9:00 – 10:05 A.M. Auditorium Grade 10 Families: College Admission Overview Drama Theater Grade 11 Families: Mock Admissions

SESSION A 10:15 - 11:00 A.M. H301 Advice from the Experts! Drama Theater Finding Your Fit: How to Research Colleges MS Library Testing, Test-Prep, the Revised SAT, and ACT S203 Tips to Affording US Colleges iTheater Successful College Visits M301 Applying to University in the UK HS Library Holistic Admissions - What You Need to Know

SESSION B 11:10 - 11:55 a.m. H301 What’s It Really Like? The Real Take on College Drama Theater Writing an Effective College Essay MS Library Testing, Test-Prep, the Revised SAT, and ACT iTheater Applying to Canadian Universities S204 Taking a Break: Singapore National Service M301 Counselor Q&A HS Library College Rankings: What are they good for? 2017 College Admission Seminar

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...... OPENING SESSIONS

Grade 10 Families: College Admission Overview Auditorium

This “big picture” session is designed to give sophomores and their parents a broad overview of college admission. You will learn about high school courses and grades, APs and ATs, extracurriculars, involvement, admission testing, and all of the other elements that come together on a college application. You will be provided with practical advice on the topics of choosing, applying, and being admitted to colleges and universities.

Intended Audience: 10th grade students and parents Presenters: Tina Forbush and Trevor Sturgeon

Grade 11 Families: Mock Admissions Drama Theater

In this session participants will engage in an exercise where they take on the role of a college admissions officer. This eye-opening session will give families the opportunity to participate in the presentation of applications to an admissions selection committee, as well as to experience how application materials and institutional priorities allow you to decide which students are accepted or denied. Through this exercise participants will learn how many real world variables affect an admissions decision.

Intended Audience: 11th grade students and parents Presenters: Rich Modica and Steve Petraglia

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Page - 2 SESSION A DESCRIPTIONS

Advice from the Experts! A Chat with Seniors and Their Parents H301

Hear firsthand about the college admissions process from current SAS seniors and parents of seniors. What worked well? What would they do differently? How did it all really work? Come and listen to this year’s experts give tips about managing well and surviving the college application process.

Intended Audience: 10th/11th grade students and parents Moderator: Lisa Ball

Finding Your Fit: How to Research Colleges Drama Theater

There are thousands of colleges all over the world, and they all offer different experiences. How do you decide which ones might be right for you? This session will explore questions and provide research tools that will help juniors find colleges that will fit them academically, socially, geographically, and financially. It will focus on both self-reflection opportunities and practical tips for juniors, along with information about ways in which parents can assist and support their children through this part of the process.

Intended Audience: 11th grade students and parents Presenter: Tina Forbush

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Page - 4 Testing, Test-Prep, the Revised SAT, and the ACT MS Library

The SAT had a format and scoring change in 2016, reverting to the 400-1600 scale of old and looking much like an ACT in terms of format and type of question. Confused about it or other college testing requirements? Learn about the AP, PSAT, SAT, ACT, TOEFL, and IELTS. Which tests might you need to take? When should you take them? What are the best strategies for preparing for the tests?

Intended Audience: 10th grade students and parents Presenter: Jeremy Craig, TestTakers Singapore

Tips for Affording US Colleges S204

As we all know, college tuition in the U.S. is not cheap. This session will provide parents with several tips to make college more affordable. In addition, parents will learn about some reasonably priced college options along with other resources for families to research and consider as they search for ways to lower tuition costs.

Intended Audience: 10th/11th grade parents Presenter: Rich Modica

Successful College Visits iTheater

Not sure how to start planning your college visits? Afraid that you won’t know what questions to ask the college tour guide? Learn how to collaborate with your parents to plan successful college visits. This session will lay out how to organize your college visits and recommend what to ask and see before, during, and after the tour.

Intended Audience: 10th/11th grade students and parents Presenter: Sue Nesbitt

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Page - 6 Applying to University in the UK M301

Every year, a number of SAS students successfully apply to and attend UK universities. Since degrees in the UK are subject-focused (in contrast to the broader degrees offered in North America), students need to have decided on a clear interest. This session will explain how to investigate “courses” (majors), discuss other qualifications necessary for admission, and provide advice about writing the personal statement. It will also help you understand what is expected in terms of “demonstrated interest.” Finally, it will include a brief discussion of what it takes to be a successful applicant to Oxford or Cambridge Universities.

Intended Audience: Students and parents considering the UK Presenter: Malissa Takacs

Holistic Admissions: What You Need to Know HS Library

Many colleges in the US rely on a holistic admission process. What is holistic review and what are the factors that colleges consider when they review applications? What role do demonstrated interest, yield rate, and “hooks” play? This session strives to demystify the admissions process and give the audience a better understanding of how admission decisions are made.

Intended Audience: 10th grade students and parents considering the US Presenter: Kristen Kurowski

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Page - 8 SESSION B DESCRIPTIONS

What’s It Really Like? The Real Take on College H301

Recent SAS graduates currently in university will share their thoughts and experiences about life after SAS. They will talk about the transition to college, how to handle tricky roommate issues, finding friends, and getting involved. Learn strategies for making the most of the college experience from these SAS alums.

Intended Audience: 11th grade students and parents Moderator: Lisa Ball

Writing Your College Essays Drama Theater

You’ve mastered the essentials of academic writing for your classes, but unless you’re accustomed to writing personal narratives, many aspects of the college essay may seem counter intuitive and contradict some of what you’ve learned about “the rules” of formal writing. We will discuss how to choose a topic, find your voice, and showcase your individuality. Your best essay can only be written by you! We will also discuss common pitfalls and where you should go for help when you get stuck.

Intended Audience: 11th grade students Presenter: Steve Petraglia

Testing, Test-Prep, the Revised SAT, and the ACT MS Library

Intended Audience: 10th grade students and parents Presenter: Jeremy Craig, TestTakers Singapore Page - 9 2017 College Admission Seminar

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Page - 10 Applying to Canadian Universities iTheater

This session will cover the key steps to how one can successfully apply to a Canadian university. While applying to Canadian universities is straightforward and the entire application process can take only an hour; there are institutions and programs that vary in process. Come learn more about the elements of the application process.

Intended Audience: Students and parents considering Canada Presenter: Sue Nesbitt

Taking a Break: Singapore National Service S204

Male Singaporean citizens and most Permanent Residents must complete two years of National Service before beginning college. How does this impact the college application process? When will NS begin? When should students apply to college? Is it possible to apply and defer? Learn about this topic and—assuming their military schedules will allow it—get some first hand comments from recent SAS graduates currently serving NS.

Intended Audience: Students who will be doing NS and their parents Presenter: Malissa Takacs

Counselor Q&A M301

This session provides a wonderful opportunity to ask any questions about navigating the college search and application process as a student and as a parent. Come with your questions, we’ll provide the answers.

Intended Audience: Everyone Presenter: Kristen Kurowski and Rich Modica

College Rankings: What are they good for? HS Library

No matter where you look, it seems every college and university is ranked #1 in something. From US News, to The Daily Beast, to Forbes, to even Rolling Stone, there are so many ranking systems. So what do these rankings mean? And what should they mean to you? This session will open eyes to the world of college rankings--what they are measuring, how they are compiled, the flaws in their systems, and who the people are that publish them. All this will help students and parents understand how to use the rankings when deciding on your college options.

Intended Audience: Everyone Presenter: Sean McAuley Page - 11 2017 College Admission Seminar COUNSELOR BIOS

Lisa Ball

Lisa has worked as a school counselor for 21 years, including 17 years with international students in Manila, Argentina, Abu Dhabi, and Cyprus, before joining the SAS counseling team in 2014. Lisa has served the International Association for College Admission Counseling as President-Elect, and represented counselors in Texas and international schools as a delegate to the National Association for College Admission Counseling Assembly. Lisa is a frequent presenter at US and international conferences on topics related to college admission and the transition to higher education. She has been an application reader for a selective US university, visited the campuses of more than 175 universities, and has served on the advisory board of Texas Tech University.

Tina Forbush

Tina Forbush was honored to join the counseling team at Singapore American School in July. In her previous role as the Co-Director of College Counseling at The Park School of Baltimore, she worked with families from a wide range of backgrounds, presented at conferences across the US, and served as the Chair of the College Counselors division of the Association of Independent Maryland & DC Schools. Tina has worked as a college counselor for 13 years and as a history teacher, both at Park School and at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii, for 20 years. She coached multiple state-winning mock trial teams in Maryland and is now heading up SAS’s inaugural team.

Page - 12 Kristen Kurowski

Kristen Kurowski is an experienced counselor who joined SAS in August 2016. Kristen has a M.Ed. in School Counseling and has been an educator for over 19 years, including two years as an admission counselor at James Madison University. She was a high school and college counselor at the International School of Kuala Lumpur (ISKL) for five years, where she also served as the Head of the Student Services Department. During her time at ISKL, Kristen represented the school at regional, national, and international conferences. In addition to her international school experience, Kristen has experience working in both public and independent US high schools. Kristen has visited the campuses of more than 150 universities in North America, Australia, and the UK.

Rich Modica

Rich joined SAS in 2013. Originally from Massachusetts, Rich was a teacher for 13 years having worked in California, Guinea, South Carolina, and New Hampshire. He also served as a counselor in Oman and at Korea International School where he was the department head. In addition to coordinating all aspects of the counseling program at KIS, he oversaw the development of the school’s first K-12 comprehensive guidance program including a college counseling program. Rich has visited a large number of colleges and universities in the US, Canada, and the Middle East. He is a frequent speaker at international college admission conferences.

Sue Nesbitt

Sue has been an SAS counselor since 2009 and has worked in international schools in Asia for the past 22 years. Sue works exclusively with SAS grade nine students. Before SAS, Sue was a counselor at the American Embassy School in New Delhi, the American International School in Dhaka, Bangladesh, and at the International School of Bangalore in India. She holds a Masters in Educational Counseling and her special interest areas include technology and teens, multicultural counseling, and transition. Sue is currently the co-coordinator for the high school advisory program. She has three children: two of whom graduated from SAS and are now attending university in Canada, and an SAS seventh grader.

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Steve Petraglia

Steve joined SAS in 2013-14 after having worked in both the US and internationally at the secondary and post-secondary levels. Steve worked as a counselor at an international school in Qatar, where he created the college counseling program. Steve was also a counselor at Munich International School where he was a high school counselor providing a full range of services including teaching a college preparation class and assisting students with the college selection and application process at universities around the world. In addition to his knowledge of US admissions, Steve has significant experience in UK university admission.

Trevor Sturgeon

Trevor joined SAS in 2008 and has counseled international school students for the past 16 years. He was formerly head of counseling at the International School Manila and previous to moving overseas, was a school principal in Canada. Trevor has been actively involved with the International Association for College Admission Counseling where he has served terms as VP for Communications and Technology, and VP for Finance. Trevor has two graduate levels degrees - a M. Ed in Counseling and a Masters in Educational Administration. He enjoys working with all types of students, helping them find colleges that are the right fit, and guiding them through the application process. Trevor has a freshman daughter and a sixth grade son.

Malissa Takacs

Malissa is in her second year as a counselor at SAS. Previously, she had worked for eight years in a private boarding school as Director of College Counseling, giving oversight to all aspects of the college counseling process. Malissa’s other professional experience includes working for three years in college admissions at a small university in the United States and working as a licensed therapist with children and families in public schools. While earning her Masters in Higher Education, she assisted with various aspects of the admissions process for prospective students.

Page - 14 NEW COUNSELORS 2017-2018! Andrea Hendrickson

Andrea Hendrickson, currently Director of Admission at Cascades Academy in Bend, Oregon, comes to SAS with over 12 years experience in selective college admission and college consulting. Andrea has worked for Pacific University, Lawrence University, and Reed College, and spent two application seasons with Rice University as a application reader. In addition to her current role, Andrea works as a college essay reviewer for Delehoy College Counseling. Andrea has recruited internationally, presented at regional and national conferences, and conducted college application workshops at independent schools around the Pacific Northwest. She earned her B.A. in English and Philosophy from Lawrence University and her M.F.A. in Creative Writing from Carlow University.

Emily Hopwood

Emily Hopwood has been committed to helping students navigate the college admission process for over 16 years. Emily spent the last seven years as a school guidance counselor and currently leads the counseling department at Lincoln Sudbury Regional High School near Boston, Massachusetts. She also served as Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admission at Bentley University and Northeastern University for seven years, including three years in international admission. Emily is committed to professional development and has participated and presented at regional, national, and international conferences, and enjoys touring college campuses both in the US and abroad. She earned her B.A. in English from Skidmore College, her M.S. in Organizational and Corporate Communication from Northeastern University, and her M.Ed in School Counseling from University of Massachusetts - Boston. She is looking forward to joining the SAS community this summer!

Sean McAuley

Sean McAuley will be joining SAS with 20 years of experience in education as a teacher, academic advisor, and college counselor. For the past six years, he has been a college counselor and history teacher at United World College South East Asia in Singapore, advising students applying to universities in the US, Canada, Europe, Australia, and Asia. Having presented at and attended conferences for the Council of International Schools and International Association for College Admission Counseling for many years, he then co-founded the Global University Counsellor Conference in Singapore in 2015. Originally from Arkansas, he earned his B.A. in History from Hendrix College and his M.Ed. in Secondary Education from the University of Arkansas. Page - 15 2017 College Admission Seminar NON-SAS PRESENTERS

Jeremy Craig

Jeremy has lived in Singapore since 2000 and started teaching test prep to earn “lunch money” while an undergraduate at Columbia University where he studied Chinese history and international economics. A career in test prep seemed a natural fit after stints on Wall Street, international trade, e-commerce, and event management. Testtakers works closely with many of the leading schools in the region and focuses exclusively on test preparation, leaving university guidance to the professionals.

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Page - 18 Page - 19 40 WOODLANDS STREET 41 SINGAPORE 738547 PHONE: (65) 6363 3403 WEB: WWW.SAS.EDU.SG CPE Registration Number: 196400340R Registration Period: 22 June 2011 to 21 June 2017 Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC)