9 November 2012 - Presentation to the PSA by Nicole Duhig Careers and College Counsellor at Prem Tinsulanonda International School in Chiang Mai, Thailand.

1. IB World Day and Boarding School
College and University
Preparation
Nicole Duhig
Careers and College Counsellor

2. Who influences career decisions?
•Parents
•Carers
•Teachers
•Peers

3. Careers Counsellor’s Role
•Specialist role created to help young people make appropriate and realistic
choices
•Effect correlation between individuals internal psychology and external
factors such as course choice and employability
•To be independent and impartial
•Provide up to date information to assist with future choices
•Advocate on behalf of students with external organisations (universities)
•Provide support to students with Resume or CV writing, personal statements
/ essay writing and interview practice

4. Preparing Young People
•Grade 8 - Start to think about career paths
•Psychometric profiling - highlights interests, attitudes and motivations thus providing
personally tailored careers and course choices
•Students complete questionnaire
•Students indicate chosen subjects and level of qualification targetted
•Higher education courses information available
•Target setting of personal goals
•Action plan to identify actions to be taken / completed – linked to counsellor
•School has oversight and can monitor students level of engagement
Website: www.fasttomato.com Password: PTIM

5. Choosing Higher Education Courses
•Psychometric profiling for university / college courses
•Allows students to gather information about specific courses they may enrol for
•Students log onto website and enrol using their email account and retrieve a password
•Complete questionnaire on study interests
•Questions are generated dependant upon how the student answers the first 8 questions
•Programme compiles bar graph illustrating possible areas of interest for study
•Brief description provided of each area of interest illustrated
www.ukcoursefinder.com

6. Visits to Universities / Colleges
•Many institutions have open days throughout the academic year
•Visit on an open day and meet existing students
•Some universities / colleges permit you to sit in on lectures
•Online virtual fairs available if unable to attend open days
•Access to admissions staff and students still available on virtual fairs
•Summer school programmes on offer
•Extra credits may be gained through attendance, looks good on personal statement
•Research English language requirements for accessing courses (i.e. TOEFL / SAT)
•Assist in gaining support for scholarship applications

7. Local Presentations
•Meet university / college representatives in school
•May not be university of students choice however will be able to provide insight into
composition of courses within a certain country
Attendance at PTIS or other College Fairs
•Access to wide range of institutions and guest speakers
•Prestigious universities not in attendance at such events, recruitment not an issue
•Wide a range of institutions represented as possible, economic climate is impacting
•

8. Work Experience / Internships
•Helpful / compulsory depending upon university and course
•Required for vocational degree programme such as medicine
Websites for Country Referencing
•UK www.ucas.com
•Canada www.aucc.ca
•Europe www.ec.europa.eu/education.study-in-europe/
•Australia www.australianuniversities.com.au
•Singapore www.singaporeedu.gov.sg/htm/stu/stu0107.htm
• USA www.usaeducationguides.com/
Generic courses abroad:
www.hotcourseabroad.com or www.topuniversities.com

9. Career Guidance Interviews
•Attended by students / parents (together or individually)
•Look closely at what student is interested in studying or would consider studying
•Identify students strengths, weaknesses, level of knowledge, chosen college / career
•Suggest strategies to engage student and get them involved
•Interview to be realistic and challenging where appropriate
•Identify alternative pathways / back up plan in case first choice not attained
•Take into account any psychometric profiling student has undertaken, discuss at
length with student

10. Timeline
•College choice and application process should be identified by end of grade 11
•Do not leave until the last minute
•Applications to be finalised in grade 12
•Majority of work completed prior to break up at end of grade 11 and before
commencement of grade 12
•Local agencies can assist in application process, exam preparation and coaching
•Services free of charge however agencies are affiliated with certain institutions
therefore not impartial
•Ensure students are not coerced into unsuitable institution or course

11. Any Questions?