!

Winter 2015 Parent Newsletter !

From Your University and Career Advancement Counsellors!

Welcome to our second UC Newsletter of the 2014-15 school year. In an age where there
is too much pressure and misinformation around the college process, we feel its vital that
you have a reliable resource based on our years of experience. Thats really the core
purpose of our UC Newsletter. By the way, if youve missed past issues or want to refresh
your memory, simply click here: previous newsletters. !

Were hoping that you find these pages helpful and informative, and not overwhelming. As
always, it cant be stressed enough that no parent can possibly fulfill the role of be-all endall resource through this process. Of all the things parents can do, however, providing a
safe place for students to communicate is, by itself, a great achievement and the most
important goal you can set. !

And, as always, please feel free to email, call or set up a meeting with your University or
Career Advancement Counsellor to fully answer your questions and discuss your
concerns. Remember that your CIS University Counsellors and Career Counsellor are
here to serve you as well as our students. Appointments with your Counsellors can be
made by contacting our fabulous administrative assistant, Ms Brankie Wong, at:
bwong@cis.edu.hk!

Your CIS University Counsellors! !

!
Sow Fun Dawson - sfdawson@cis.edu.hk!
Robert Mansueto - mansueto@cis.edu.hk!
Marc Marier mmarier@cis.edu.hk!

Your CIS Career Advancement Counsellor!

Annie Yung - ayung@cis.edu.hk!

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!

Whats inside !
Interview with Doug Eu: CIS Board Chair Weighs in on the College
Process, University Prestige, and the Definition of Success Page 2 !
Why Sitting for the SAT Before Yr. 12 Doesnt Make Sense

Page 5

Rumor of the Month: Colleges Prefer IB Students Who Take AP

Courses, Right? WRONG! Page 7 !
Attention Yr.13 Parents: Senioritis Is Highly Contagious and Its
Coming to Your Home!!!!!! Page 8 !
Recommended Reading: Letting Go Page 9 !
The ACT Is Coming to CIS in June

Page 11

Career Corner: Advice and Resources for the Prospective University

Art Student Page 12 !
From Around the Web: Articles of Interest

Page 14

Calendar of Upcoming UC and Career Counselling Events

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Page 1 of 15

Page 14

Home

Interview with Doug Eu: CIS Board Chair Weighs in on the College
Process, University Prestige, and the Definition of Success!

As we sat down to conduct this interview, Doug Eu stressed that

he is not speaking on behalf of the CIS Board of Governors. He
readily acknowledges that CIS has a varied parent community
with differing views on what a college experience means and
what a successful college admission process entails.

Below are excerpts from our wide ranging conversation. For a

more complete version of the interview, click here.

In addition to serving as Chair of the CIS Board of Governors,

Doug Eu is the CEO of Asia PaciGic.

On his life path:

Im probably the opposite of the tiger mom in the sense that
my entire life experiences were for a lot of people completely
random choices but for me were very thoughtful.
That sort of taught me as a person to use my own gut
My philosophy has and my own criteria in deciding what is right for me.

come out of my life

experience. Im not
sure Im typical.
And what its
taught me is that
there isnt just one
way to make it in
this world. There
are hundreds.

My whole life I made decisions based on what some

might see as spur of the moment and irrational but
for me, they were deeply rational My philosophy
has come out of my life experience. Im not sure Im
typical. And what its taught me is that there isnt just
one way to make it in this world. There are
hundreds. Every experience along the way teaches
you something.there are lots and lots of ways to be
successful in life and you dont need to be following a
speciDic path. In fact, you need to follow the path
thats right for you.

I think that what my education did for me is that it taught me to think for myself. It
taught me to rephrase questions and it taught me to consider what the best
question might be.

On success:
Most people go through life in a sleepwalk where they havent thought about the
answer to lifes really important questions which is: what is success for you? And,
by the way, does my deDinition apply to my kids or do they have their own
deDinition? Im a believer, by the way, that its the latter. So they need to deDine their
own success. They need to be thoughtful about what that is. For me success is
happiness.

99.99% of people dont have a deDinition for success. If you push them, theyll give
you a standardized one. But when you ask them: what are them doing about it?

Page 2 of 15

they realize that theyre not doing anything about it because they just came up with
the glib answer. Most people go through life without thinking about it.

I think most parents havent deDined their idea of success so they take someone
elses deDinition and apply it to their kids without realizing the unintended
consequences of that process without realizing that you can become the CEO of a
leading company without a university degree. Some of the smartest people Ive ever
worked with never went to school. What does that tell you?

On the successful college process:

The college process should open up opportunities outside of the usual suspects in
terms of schools. The process for me opened up a bunch of options that Dit me as a
person.

On pushing for prestigious university acceptances:

I think that part of the problem is that it creates
unrealistic expectations in every one of our kids who
cant all get into those schoolswe have to be realistic
with what works for kids, and, frankly, best is one of
those words which have no deDinition. What is best?
For me, I would say best Dit is my deDinition of best,
not most highly rated. The deDinition for best Dit is a lot
more subjective. Its where does the child feel most
comfortable, where do they offer the kinds of things
she wants to study, where do they have enough backup
in the event that what she thinks she wants to study at
18 is different from what she really wants to study at
20.

we have to be realistic
with what works for kids,
and, frankly, best is one
of those words which have
no deDinition. What is
best? For me, I would say
best Dit is my deDinition of
best, not most highly
rated.

On the supposed advantages of graduating from an elite or prestigious

university:
There are some businesses whether in Hong Kong or some other country where
getting into an Oxbridge or Ivy League may give you some advantage in the business
market. The truth is, my company is not one of those businesses. On our board of
seven people, two of them do not have a university degree including my boss, the
Chief Executive. Our global CEO does not have a university degree. Now do I read
from that that if you dont have a college degree, youre better off? No, but I dont
think that you can make any assumption either way. Theres no correlation here.
Theres no informational value between where a person went to school and their
eventual success in life no matter how you deDine that. I dont believe that
university qualiDications guarantee success.

Will these elite universities give a kid a slightly higher percentage chance of getting
into a better company? Possibly, but theres a lot of random stuff that determines
success. Hiring (on the basis of university) is a product of lazy thinking.,,. I cant tell
you what university anybody Ive hired in the past eight years went to. Part of this
mindset is a simplistic heuristic (a self-taught perspective) that people employ
because they dont want to take the time to ask themselves the harder question:
what do you really want in an employee? Which selection criteria within

Page 3 of 15

!
Will these elite universities give
a kid a slightly higher percentage
chance of getting into a better
company? Possibly, but theres a
lot of random stuff that
determines success. Hiring (on
the basis of university) is a
product of lazy thinking I cant
tell you what university anybody
Ive hired in the past eight years
went to.

Princetons selection criteria is the

same as yours? Thats a much
harder question and the answer is
probably none.

I test lots of different deDinitions for

success. I look around at people
who are Dinancially successful or I
look at people who are achievers
but not necessarily Dinancially
successful. I look at people who are
happy. And I dont see a pattern.
Humans are really good at (Dinding)
patterns. I do not see a pattern
between success by any deDinition
and speciDic schools that they go to.

We once had a CIS parent ask, If my daughter doesnt get into a prestigious
school, will it bring shame to CIS? How would you respond to that parent?
My answer would be no, its not part of our mission statement that she gets into a
prestigious university. It is part of our mission statement that shes a lifelong
learner, that she enjoys school, that she interacts with our community. All of that
stuff is part of our mission statement.
Prestigious university? Not even in there.
My answer would be no, its not
And if we re-wrote the mission statement
part of our mission statement
today, it still wouldnt be in there.

How do we lower the temperature in our

community? We cant eliminate the
pressure, but we can limit its more
damaging effects. We do worry about
kids because we see the effects of this
relentless pressure on their mental
health, their educational experience.
I dont have a good answer for you. Its an
inner journey to try to discover those
answers. The truth is that for many of our
parents, its just way too difDicult.

that she gets into a prestigious

university. It is part of our
mission statement that shes a
lifelong learner, that she enjoys
school, that she interacts with our
community. All of that stuff is
part of our mission statement.
Prestigious university? Not even
in there. And if we re-wrote the
mission statement today, it still
wouldnt be in there.

How do you get parents to stop thinking

simplistically and to start questioning their
assumptions. I think that for most parents, thats just too much work. How can you
force people to really think about it? How do you make people think about whats
important?

As an idea to you, you should ask your parents to write a letter to their kids to them
explaining before the fact what a successful college selection process would be. You
should ask them if your child didnt get into the prestigious university, what would
you tell your kid at the end of that process. Would you tell your kid, you failed?
That exercise would make me think about these issues in a way that simply telling
me about them would never do. If you ask me, I think that would help them. Im
Page 4 of 15

thinking about how you get parents to think and do and not just sit and listen. If
you make people do, theres more of a chance for a change in their mentality.

On his own daughters college process:

My daughter got into Scripps She didnt get into Princeton. What does that say
about me? But then I sit back and say Doug, well you didnt apply to Princeton
either. Why am I holding her to a
different standard? I shouldnt, I
So Ive had a deep gut-check on
dont and Im not going to. Im glad
this one. Thats maybe why Im so that as an 18-year old, she has a
clear idea of where she wants to
strong on my views. But it
go. And I dont care what the
wouldnt have happened if
surveys (rankings) say. And what
someone had lectured this to me. she does in college is one part of
You have to go and think about
an entire life that will be judged in
the end not by me it will be
this for yourself.
judged by her and her maker. So
Ive had a deep gut-check on this
one. Thats maybe why Im so strong on my views. But it wouldnt have happened if
someone had lectured this to me. You have to go and think about this for yourself.

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Why Sitting for the SAT Before Yr 12 Doesnt Make Sense!
!

From working with hundreds of families over the years, your CIS University
Counsellors have learned that the SAT is a great source of stress to parents and
students. And with a new version of the SAT looming in the fall of 2016, its easy to
understand why theres even more anxiety with regard to this piece of the US
college admissions process.

Weve long been aware of the fact that some parents think its a good idea to have
students sit for the SAT before Year 12. Your CIS University Counsellors are at a loss
to understand how students might beneDit from this plan in fact, we strongly
recommend that our pre-Year 12 students focus on their academic performance and
co-curriculars rather than take on the added distraction and stress of completing
SATs at this point in their academic careers.

There are very good reasons for this recommendation:

1. CollegeBoard does not recommend that pre-Year 12 students take the SAT
for the simple fact that its not designed for them. Waiting for Year 12 gives
students an edge since they will have spent more time in their math and
English-language courses which are, after all, the best preparation for taking
the SAT.

2. Its the extremely rare pre-Year 12 student who compiles an SAT score that
makes any subsequent re-testing unnecessary. The vast majority of students
who take an SAT prior to Year 12 will take it again at least once in Year 12
and/or Year 13 because they universally believe they can do better.

Page 5 of 15

3. Studying for or completing an SAT test prep course takes away time from
academics. Remember that colleges place more weight on academic
performance than SAT scores when evaluating applications. Compromising
academic performance for SAT scores makes no logical sense. If a student
wants to complete SAT prep prior to Year 12, it should be completed at a
time when it will not interfere with their academic program such as during
the summer.

4. Additionally, students with an unsatisfactory score on a pre-Year 12 SAT will

sometimes feel an extra burden of stress and anxiety over a subsequent re-
test. Research shows that some degree of pre-test anxiety is normal, even
helpful; too much is deDinitely harmful often resulting in adversely affected
scores.

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!

5. Students who wait until Year 12 to sit for the SAT will have the advantage of
having completed the PSAT in the fall of Year 12. Designed by the same
people who create the SAT, the PSAT exposes students to the same types of
questions and testing environment they will experience when sitting for the
SAT.

Your University Counsellors see this issue of when to take standardized tests in a
larger context. Were well aware that students and parents keenly feel the effects of
what is a growing amount of pressure regarding the university admission process,
the need for outstanding grades, the feeling that only the most elite universities can
provide our students with the edge they need to succeed in an increasingly
competitive world.

We worry when we see our students falling victim to that pressure and suffering
emotionally and academically as a result. Too many are already burdened by
overloaded schedules, sleep deprivation, profound feelings of inadequacy and sky
high levels of competition and
stress. Further burdening students
with standardized testing at an
We worry when we see our
inappropriately early age is yet
students falling victim to that
another symptom of what is a
pressure and suffering
growing problem not just at CIS or
emotionally and academically as
in Hong Kong, but globally.

a result. Too many are already

burdened by overloaded
schedules, sleep deprivation,
profound feelings of inadequacy
and sky high levels of
competition and stress.

In this climate, we often see that

hype, rumors, and misinformation
can be very damaging as it easily
leads to hyper-competitiveness, a
race mentality where student
wellbeing is all too frequently being
compromised. Rather than simply
giving in to this pressure by doing
what some overly anxious parents do, we want to encourage you to place your son/
daughters health as the Dirst priority in any decision where the university process is
being considered. Remember that healthy students and healthy parents make
healthy decisions.

Page 6 of 15

In addition to making good use of your CIS University Counsellors, there are
excellent online resources to help parents and students make informed (and hype-
free) standardized test decisions:

Our University Counselling website is an excellent resource for sound advice

on SAT/ACT related matters including test prep, ACT vs. SAT, as well as a

recommended timeline for their completion.

Also, our Winter 2012 and Summer 2013, and UC newsletters include
articles of interest on standardized testing.

By the way, did you know that a growing number of outstanding US
universities no longer require standardized tests or are test optional? Click
here for a look.

And from our Fall 2013 Newsletter, advice on what parents of
underclassmen can be doing (and not be doing!) now.

Again, we strongly encourage you not to let your son/daughter fall victim to rumor,
hype and pressure. PLEASE contact your CIS university counsellors whenever
questions/concerns arise.

!
Colleges Prefer IB Students Who Take AP Courses, Right? WRONG!!!!
!
When it comes to the college process, the rumour mill never sleeps or as a pundit
once put it: A rumor without a leg to stand on will get around some other way.
We recently came across a lulu suggesting that IB students will be more attractive to
elite universities if theyve completed an AP course or two in addition to their IB
coursework. Rather than de-bunking the rumour ourselves, we thought it might be
interesting to ask a few university admissions ofDicers from highly competitive US
universities to weigh in.

Their responses:
There are parents in other countries falling
victim to the same message, likely prompted by
agents who claim expertise. Taking an AP or two
would NOT change our review. We have
tremendous respect for the preparation the IB
program provides for university/college-level
work. We especially know that students are
well-prepared for interdisciplinary work and
generally have sharpened analytical and critical
thinking skills.
Carolyn Middleton
Director, OfGice of Admissions
Barnard College

I really appreciate you reaching out about this

issue. We (my colleagues at Columbia, Duke,
Georgetown, Princeton and Vanderbilt) have
been talking about this in presentations
throughout Asia, Europe and India. We
(Northwestern University Admissions)

Submitting AP scores in
addition to the IB diploma
does not heighten our
assessment of an applicants
curricular rigor and does not
put an IB student in a more
competitive position in the
selection process. In fact,
taking the time to study AP
coursework and take AP tests
could even diminish a
student's chances of standing
out in the selection process if it
negatively impacts the
student's ability to pursue
meaningful activities outside
the classroom.
Page 7 of 15

absolutely DO NOT expect an IB student to take additional AP courses or tests.

Submitting AP scores in addition to the IB diploma does not heighten our
assessment of an applicants curricular rigor and does not put an IB student in a
more competitive position in the selection process. In fact, taking the time to study
AP coursework and take AP tests could even diminish a student's
chances of standing out in the selection process if it negatively impacts the student's
ability to pursue meaningful activities outside the classroom.
Aaron Zdawczyk
Associate Director, OfGice of Undergraduate Admission
Northwestern University

I would never encourage students to take AP exams outside of the IB because that
equates to time taken away somewhere else in their development. Case in point
would be if they are preparing for AP exams, this might mean showcasing less
leadership in an activity or club that is of signiDicance to the student. As you know in
our evaluation process, extracurricular involvement and leadership make a
substantial impression on the committee. Further if the predicted IB score is
modest and it is seen that the AP scores are strong, we do not link the two curricula
together; it would have been better if they focused on one area rather than trying to
spread themselves thin amongst the variety of testing systems out there.
David Lazo
Senior Admissions Counselor
Vanderbilt University

We regard the IB diploma as one of the strongest curricula that we see on our
applications. If a student was taking the IB diploma as well as an AP or two, it's
unlikely that that would change the way that we evaluated the applicant. We
generally only look at AP when it's a part of the curriculum (i.e. it is taught at their
school), and not for the exam result. For the most part, I think it's unnecessary for
students in an IB curriculum to be taking AP courses in addition to their school
coursework. We would prefer that they focus on their schoolwork and excel in those
classes and on those exams!
Swati Shrestha '10
Assistant Dean of Admission
Reed College

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!

Attention Yr. 13 Parents: Senioritis Is Highly Contagious and Its Coming

to Your Home!!!!

Be forewarned that senioritis will generally afDlict the vast majority of our Year 13s
at some point during their Dinal semester!!!! Epidemiologists point to the Year 13
Common Room as the likeliest source for this highly contagious virus!!!! Sadly, the
disease resists treatment and has no known cure!!!! Even more sadly, weve run out
of exclamation points.

At onset, senioritis symptoms can include: general lassitude, complaints of fatigue,

and a marked decrease in academic motivation. These symptoms are considered
normal - not dangerous or life-threatening.

Page 8 of 15

In more severe cases, however, senioritis sufferers will boldly proclaim, Colleges
dont look at second semester grades! Such a pronouncement indicates the onset
of the most severe strain of senioritis where the afDliction has clearly progressed to
the dreaded delusional stage.

If your Year 13 makes this pronouncement, immediate emergency treatment is

prescribed. Research has shown that liberally offering the following reminders to
your delusional stage senioritis sufferer will help ease the diseases worst
symptoms:

1. An acceptance offer is just that - its an offer,

not a contract. Universities routinely state in
their acceptance letters that the admission
offer is contingent on continued strong
academic performance through the
remainder of their Dinal school year.

2. US universities most certainly do look at

second semester transcripts in order to
assure that a prospective student continued
to perform at a level commensurate with the
applicants previous performance.

In more severe cases,

senioritis sufferers will
boldly proclaim, Colleges
dont look at second
semester grades! This
alarming pronouncement
clearly indicates the
afDliction has progressed to
the dreaded delusional
stage.

3. UK, HK conDirm offers only upon satisfactory

IB exam scores. A growing number of US
unis also look at IB exam scores.

!
!

4. And yes, we have had students in the past who jeopardized acceptance offers
because of poor second semester performance.

Its further recommended that parents offer these reminders as frequently as

possible until symptoms abate. Thankfully, senioritis symptoms largely disappear
upon graduation.

In the meantime, please contact your University Counsellor at the Dirst sign that the
disease has reached the dreaded delusional stage. Your CIS University Counsellors
have received special training in its identiDication and treatment.

!
!
Recommended Reading: Letting Go !
!

As we enter the Dinal semester for our Year 13s, the subject of successfully
transitioning to university in the fall looms larger in the minds of both students and
parents.

If theres a bible on this topic, Letting Go: A Parents Guide to Understanding the
College Years by Karen Levin Coburn and Madge Lawrence Treeger would certainly
qualify. In its Difth re-printing, Letting Go offers practical insights while discussing
the college experience from both the student as well as parent perspectives.

Page 9 of 15

While current Year 13 Parents will Dind it more immediate to their circumstances,
Theres plenty of wisdom here for all parents who want to gain insight on the
upcoming changes your student will experience and
how parents and the family unit are likely to be
affected. Your University Counsellors highly
recommend it.

The following sample quotes from Letting Go provide

a good indication of the range of topics covered:

As our sons and daughters enter these college years,

we have to come to terms with their strengths and
their limitations. At the same time we realize that we
too are at a watershed, entering into a new phase of
our lives - growing older. We may Dind ourselves taking
a new look at our marriage or career-obligations. And
so as they struggle with a turmoil conDlicting emotions
about leaving, we often are Dlooded with conDlicting
feelings of our own about being left.

Fraternities and sororities vary dramatically from campus to campus and chapter
to chapter. Students were trying to decide whether
or not to join a Greek
Students who were
organization might ask: does the University
provide an advisor? Is the chapter local or
overwhelmed and homesick
national? Have any chapters closed recently; if so,
at Dirst will Dind comfort in the
why? When is rush - Dirst
familiarity they are beginning
semester or second semester? Is there housing
to feel with people and places
available? What is the culture of this chapter?

College students have much to tell us about

themselves, their generation. The challenge for
parents to listen to what they have to say; to
encourage advise; and without resorting to
stereotyping of labels, try to understand that
within the context of today's college experience.

in the day-to-day rhythms of

life in college. They have
taken the Dirst of many steps
in the year-long freshman
task of Dinding a niche.

For many students the stress continues throughout April, as they struggle with the
decision about which of their acceptances to choose. This is a time of waiting
deDinite offers against indeDinite waiting list status. Is it worth staying on the wait
list, or is it better to just get the whole thing over with? What about acceptance as a
January student-an offer of admission it doesn't go into effect until the spring
semester? What about a gap year?

Wanting these last weeks at home to be quality time, parents try to restrain
themselves from commenting as their children sleep late into the morning or party
away nights. Time becomes the most precious of commodities.

Students who were overwhelmed and homesick at Dirst will Dind comfort in the
familiarity they are beginning to feel with people and places in the day-to-day
Page 10 of 15

rhythms of life in college. They have taken the Dirst of many steps in the year-long
freshman task of Dinding a niche. When students are feeling down, parents often
react too quickly; they have difDiculty assessing from afar how much this depressed
message reDlects the totality of their child's life.

!
The ACT Is Coming to CIS in June!
!

CIS students planning to sit for the ACT will be able to do so at CIS starting in June
of 2015. CIS will be a closed test center for the exam - only CIS students will be
allowed to sit for it.

ACTs will be offered on the following dates:

June 13, 2015

September 12, 2015

October 24, 2015

December 12, 2015

June 11, 2016

The ACT along with the SAT are standardized exams required by US universities.
Both exams are equally respected by US institutions, and except for a relatively few
mid-Western universities which exclusively recognize the ACT, all schools accepting
the ACT will also recognize the SAT.

The major differences between the ACT and SAT are that the ACT includes a science
component and its writing section is optional. Please note that CIS will be requiring
students to sit for the writing component as well.

While scoring scales are markedly different (ACT scores its exams on a 1-36 scale;
SAT on a 200-800 scale), students will generally score equivalently on both.
Occasionally some students might score somewhat better on one than the other, but
for most students, the difference in scores is usually insigniDicant.

Your CIS University Counsellors do not recommend or encourage students to sit for
both except in unusual circumstances. Please consult with your University
Counsellor if you or your son/daughter is considering sitting for both standardized
tests.

For general information on both the SAT and ACT exams, click here.
For a more in-depth discussion of the differences between the ACT and SAT, click
here.
For a recommended timeline for completing the ACT or SAT as well as subject tests,
click here.
To better understand how ACTs are scored, click here.
A growing number of US institutions are becoming standardized test-optional. For a
complete list, click here.

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!
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Page 11 of 15

!
Career Corner: Advice and Resources for the Prospective University Art
Student!

From the gadgets we use to help us function on a daily basis to the layout of our
favorite website, the Dield of art and design inDluences our lives in ways we might not
even realize. There are two distinctive Dields within Art and Design; art, largely focusing
on painting and sculpture; and design, which could be called applied art, covers design
for industrial and commercial application and industrial engineering.

Characteristics and Skills

Having the ability to think outside the box and bring an idea to life is one of the key
elements in this industry. SpeciDic skills differ according to the discipline, but the
following transferrable skills are common to all subject areas:
- strong observational, research, and analytical skills
- interpersonal and social skills
- teamworking
- the ability to work independently
- oral and written communication
- visual presentation
- information and research
- self-motivation and self-management
- organization and planning
- IT, particularly using creative software

Prospects
Aside from opportunities in the creative industry, there are also creative roles available
in various commercial sectors including media and publishing, teaching and education,
marketing, advertising and public relations. Out of all the art and design careers, job
growth for web developers and designers is expected to grow faster than the average
for all careers through 2020.

Art and design salaries vary widely across all professions. Area, experience, talent, and
exposure can all have an impact. According to The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the
average yearly income for the Art and Design industry in 2012 was US $53,000. For
professionals with experience and contacts, self-employment is also a common option.

Helpful links::
- Big Future at Collegeboard.com: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/careers/arts-
visualand-performing-graphic-designers
- U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics: http://www.bls.gov/ooh/arts-
and-design/home.htm

Academic Requirements
Besides talent, creativity and innovation, many art and design professionals
focus on a speciDic Dield, such as art history, advertising design, animation, architecture,
cinema studies, photography, fashion, Dilm and television, graphic design, illustration,
industrial design, interactive design or game development. Academic requirements for
art and design programs in the UK range from 24 to 38 IB points with no particular
subject requirements. Many schools do not allow formal entry into a bachelor's degree

Page 12 of 15

program until a student has successfully completed one year of art basics and design
courses, also known as a foundation year.

When applying for art and design courses at university, a strong portfolio is typically
required for an applicant to be considered for an interview. The purpose of a portfolio
is to give the admission ofDicer an overview of your ideas, concepts, practices and
potential. In order to start building up a portfolio of work in secondary school, students
typically enroll in one of the arts course as part of their IB curriculum. Alongside
coursework, students can also gain Dirst hand experience in working as a team and
meeting project deadlines by being a part of the design or production team for school
magazines and yearbook. Although not required by most universities, gaining work
experience in the related Dield can also provide students with a more realistic picture of
what their future working life will be.

Helpful links:
- UCAS: http://search.ucas.com/
- The Guardian: http://www.theguardian.com/education/mortarboard/2013/aug/28/
how-to-prepare-an-arts-portfolio-for-university

United States
Though many countries offer programs in art and design, the most popular
destinations for CIS students to study is the United States followed by the United
Kingdom. In the US, the Dirst-year curriculum is generally designed to accommodate a
variety of study paths with classes focusing on broadly relevant design concepts, tools,
and methods. One of the advantages to studying in the US is the possibility of pursuing
a second area of interest as a minor. Some colleges may offer a broader Dirst-year
curriculum than others, please refer to each individual college for information.

Helpful link to studying art and design in the US:

- Big Future at Collegeboard.com: https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/sitesearch?
artanddesign

United Kingdom
In the UK, students who apply to art schools will typically complete a foundation year
program before applying for Dirst-year entry into a Bachelors program. For students
who are not completely sure which area theyd like to pursue their undergraduate
degree in, there are options of taking a general foundation year. For students who have
a clear direction, they may choose the foundation pathway most Ditting to their area of
interest.

Useful links to Dind out more information about studying Art and Design in the UK:
- UCAS: http://search.ucas.com/search/artanddesign
- The complete university guide: http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/
league-tables/rankings?s=Art%20%26%20Design

Researching and Internships

For students who are interested in the art and design Dield, it is important to spend
time researching on the different types of programs available while gaining a more
realistic picture of the profession.
Finding work experience opportunities may seem challenging for students, but the best
way to start gaining a realistic insight in the art and design profession is by speaking
Page 13 of 15

with someone they know in the Dield. Whether they are parents friends, friends
parents, or a member of the CIS community. For students interested in art, they can
consider contacting the public art museum, cultural centers as well as private galleries.
Those interested in design can start with their favorite magazines, advertising or
marketing agencies, to contacting one of the many design agencies in Hong Kong. A full
list of design agencies can be found on the Hong Kong Design website: http://
www.designdirectory.hk/index/

!
!

From Around the Web: Articles of Interest!

!
Is there a glass ceiling at Harvard for Asian Americans?
!

!
!

Rule 1 for institutions trying to move up in those infamous college rankings:

increase the pool of applicants. Find out what happened when Swarthmore
violated Rule 1.

Unis arent consistent in granting credits for IB course completion

Why should college be reserved for teenagers and young adults?

!
It takes the Gaokao to make the SAT seem reasonable by comparison.
!
How to improve US university admissions from a Chinese perspective
!

What are the worlds top 10 cities to be a student? The Guardian weighs in with
its choices based on affordability, desirability, academic standards and job
prospects. Does HK make the list? Try your hand at guessing!

!
!
!
!

Tips for cutting back the cost of living at college

Calendar of Upcoming UC and Career Counselling Events!

DATE

Table

Tues. Jan 20th

Introduction to U Counselling for Yr 12s!

University of St. Andrews!
Cardiff University

Weds. Jan 21st

Goldsmiths, University of London!

University of Sydney

Thurs. Jan. 22nd

University of Manchester!
Yale-NUS College!
St. Georges, University of London!
Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland

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DATE

Table

Fri. Jan. 23rd

University of London!
University of Bath!
University of Aberdeen

Sat. January 24th

SAT I or SAT II (Subject tests)

Mon. Jan. 26th

University of East Anglia

Tues. Jan. 27th

University of Leeds!
University of Bristol

Weds. Jan. 28th

Queens University Belfast & INTO Queens

Mon. Feb. 2nd

Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences in Germany

Thurs. Feb. 5th

UK Admission Process for Yr 12s!

Parent/Student University information Session

Weds. Feb 11th

Internships

Fri. Feb. 13th

Submit completed UC Agreement Form

Tues. Feb. 17th

Individual UC Counselling Sessions Begin

Thurs. Feb. 26th

1st Oxbridge Meeting

Mon. Mar. 2nd

Submit completed: !
General Information Form!
Extended Essay Subject/Title!
Self Evaluation & Parent Observation Reports!
Transition Workshop for Yr 13s

Weds. Mar 4th

UCAS Personal Statement Writing!

Transition Workshop for Yr. 13s

Fri. Mar. 6th

Oxbridge Meeting II

Sat. Mar. 7th

ACT Registration deadline for Apr. 12th ACT w/writing

Mon. Mar. 9th

Dr. Madeline Levine speaks on the Price of Privilege

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