posted on
Monday, September 6, 2010 at
11:10 PM
Visits on Campus (all at 12.50 in Science Lab 6 unless stated otherwise)
• Tuesday, 14 September – Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong
• Thursday, 16 September – University of Edinburgh, UK
• Monday, 27 September – Bentley University, USA
• Friday, 8 October – Nagoya University, Japan
• Monday, 11 October – University of Southern California (USC), USA
• Friday, 29 October – Temple University, Japan (8 – 8.30 AM)
• Friday, 12 November – Canadian University Fair (4 – 5.30PM – to be confirmed) - Univ. of Calgary, Carleton Univ., Trent Univ. and York Univ.
Hong Kong Polytechnic University (www.polyu.edu.hk)
Hong Kong Polytechnic University is one of the eight public universities in Hong Kong and offers over 170 undergraduate and postgraduate programs. They are the largest (in terms of student population) public university in Hong Kong.
Hong Kong Polytechnic University offers full scholarships to international students, covering both the tuition fee and other living expenses in Hong Kong (including accommodation and basic living costs).
The University of Edinburgh, UK (www.ed.ac.uk/studying/international)
The University of Edinburgh is one of the largest in the UK with over 27,000 students, 25% of whom are international students from over 130 different countries. It is regularly ranked amongst the top 20 universities. A wide range of degrees are available, including over 600 first degree programmes across 119 academic disciplines. Besides a presentation on the university, the representative will talk about writing personal statements.
All students planning to apply to the UK are strongly encouraged to attend, whether or not you are considering Edinburgh.
Bentley University, USA (http://www.bentley.edu/)
Monday, 27 September, 12.50 in Science Lab 6
Bentley is particularly known for its programmes in business and related professions, together with a strong foundation in liberal arts and integrated use of technology. They do have some merit scholarships for international students. These are typically either 1/2 tuition or $10,000 awards; renewable annually. International students are also eligible to be considered for their prestigious full tuition scholarships.
Events Off Campus
Planning for and Paying for College in the U.S.
Monday, September 13, 2010 from 7- 8.30pm at Hwa Chong Institution (College Section) LT2
Mr Barry W. McCarty, Dean of Enrolment Services Emeritus, University of Lafayette, will speak about the competitive admissions process, factors considered, influence of testing, implications for foreign nationals, how to apply for aid, forms used by different colleges still need blind, the likelihood of receiving aid to full need and how your expected family contribution be determined.
Any Grade 12 student interested in attending must email me at tannaz.daver@sji-international.com.sg today to register.
Apologies for the late notice – we only just got notification for this.
The University of Edinburgh, UK (www.ed.ac.uk/studying/international)
Friday, 17 September, 6 – 8 pm, British Council
See the description above. To attend the talk at the British Council registration is required. Register with the British Council or at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/uoe
*** The University of Edinburgh will be at school on Thursday, 16 September at 12.50. ***
AEO Tour, US
Saturday, 18 September, 12 – 4 pm, Pan Pacific Hotel, Marina Square
A variety of US universities and community colleges will be represented at the fair. Many of these are smaller institutions, some are Catholic universities and colleges, and some have more accessible entry requirements and a wide range of majors. Also represented are specialized art and design institutions. Many offer scholarships for international students. See the poster and the flyer on the noticeboard for more details.
Singapore Institute of Management (SIM) Open House
Saturday, 25 September, 11 am – 6 pm, SIM HQ, 461 Clementi Road
Student ambassadors and course coordinators will be available to advise students on the various undergraduate options available at SIM. There will also be programme briefings, a showcase of student activities, performances and tours of the three SIM campuses. For more details see the brochure on the bulletin board or go to www.sim.edu.sg/openhouse
Other notices
SAT Deadline
A reminder that the deadline to register for the October SAT test is this Friday, 10 September.
Studying Music
Anyone interested in pursuing further studies in music should look at www.usaschoolsofmusic.com for information on auditions to be held in Singapore on 22 October. Although you may not be applying this year the information on the auditions will be useful. Also see the noticeboard for information.
posted on
Tuesday, August 10, 2010 at
1:04 AM
Good luck to all our Grade 12 students in their mock exams!
NYUAD – Thursday, 19 August
New York University Abu Dhabi is planning an information evening for interested students and parents on Thursday, 19 August but details are yet to be finalised. I will get them out to you as soon as possible – please let me know if you would like me to email the details to you when they are finalised.
Visits at SJII
University of British Columbia (UBC), Canada
Friday, 3 September, 12.50 in Science Lab 6
UBC (http://www.ubc.ca/)is a very popular university, claims to have the largest IB student population in the world and offers both financial aid and scholarships.
See https://you.ubc.ca/ubc/vancouver/ib.ezc for information for IB students and https://you.ubc.ca/ubc/vancouver/intlscholarships.ez for international student scholarship information.
Bentley University, USA
Monday, 27 September, 12.50 in Science Lab 6
Bentley (http://www.bentley.edu/)is particularly known for its programmes in business and related professions, together with a strong foundation in liberal arts and integrated use of technology. They do have some merit scholarships for international students. These are typically either 1/2 tuition or $10,000 awards; renewable annually. International students are also eligible to be considered for their prestigious full tuition scholarships.
University Fairs
Diploma to Degree Open Days, Australia
Saturday, 28 August and Sunday, 29 August, 11 am – 5 pm, Orchard Hotel
A number of Australian universities will be represented. See http://www.singapore.idp.com/ for more information and a list of the institutions represented.
AEO Tour, US
Saturday, 18 September, 12 – 4 pm, Pan Pacific Hotel, Marina Square
A variety of US universities and community colleges will be represented at the fair. Many of these are smaller institutions, some are Catholic universities and colleges, and some have more accessible entry requirements and a wide range of majors. Also represented are specialized art and design institutions. Many offer scholarships for international students. See the poster and the flyer on the noticeboard for more details.
The Royal Veterinary College, UK
This year, applicants to the Veterinary Medicine (BVetMed) programme from Singapore will NOT be required to take the Bio-Medical Admissions Test (BMAT) due to clashes with several Singapore examination dates. Note that this only applies to students applying by the 15 October 2010 UCAS deadline for entry in September 2011.
The RVC will examine any potential BMAT issues for future applicants during the next few months.
TestTakers SAT Class
The SAT preparation course offered by TestTakers at school will start on Saturday, 25 September. If you would like to enroll collect a registration form from Mrs. Middleton and send your form and payment directly to TestTakers. Remember that there are many ways to prepare for the SAT and this is only one option. The SAT is required by most US universities and SUTD in Singapore. It is optional for NUS, SMU and NTU but a good score on the SAT is seen favourably.
PSC Scholarships – Grade 12
The application process for PSC scholarships will open on 1 September. You do not need to apply right away but should start thinking about it. PSC scholarships are highly competitive and prestigious. They are open to Singaporeans and PRs who are planning on taking citizenship. You must be interested in working in public service (but this encompasses a wide range of ministries) and in general should have 40+ points with extensive CCA involvement. More information is at http://www.pscscholarships.gov.sg/
Anyone interested in applying is encouraged to read the following http://www.pscscholarships.gov.sg/An+Open+Letter+from+the+Chairman.htm. A copy is also on the bulletin board.
If you are thinking of applying for a PSC scholarship let me know by Friday, 13 August.
BrightSparks Magazine – Grade 12
BrightSparks has sent a copy of their new magazine for all Grade 12 students. It contains a lot of useful information on scholarships as well as information on applying to university in general and different types of courses. Please do not leave the magazine lying around but take it home and read it!
A reminder that I will be away during Grade 12 mocks but will be checking emails.
posted on
Tuesday, August 3, 2010 at
1:47 AM
Visits
We have two more very popular universities visiting us in the next two weeks. Please note the dates and make an effort to attend their talks. All presentations are in Science Lab 6 at 1pm.
• Friday, 6 August – University College London (www.ucl.ac.uk/international)
Penny Zorbas will speak about study in UCL and talk about writing personal statements. She gives very good advice. Anyone thinking of applying to the UK is strongly advised to attend and should be ready to take notes!
• Tuesday, 10 August – University of Chicago (www.uchicago.edu)
Current Singaporean undergraduate students studying at the University of Chicago will come in to introduce the University of Chicago as well as share their experiences of studying overseas and address any questions you may have concerning issues such as the application process, academics, expenses and school life.
On Friday, 3 September the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Canada will be here. This is after Grade 12 mocks and before Challenge Week. UBC is also a very popular university, claims to have the largest IB student population in the world and offers both financial aid and scholarships. Note this date in your planner.
UK Applications
• Our buzzword for 2011 applications is on the University Notices board (we are not allowed to publish it on our website). You will need to enter this in UCAS to link your application to the school.
• Let your parents know that UCAS has a section specifically for parents (www.ucas.com/parents) where they can get information on UK applications as well as download the UCAS Parent Guide.
• When doing your research use Unistats www.direct.gov.uk/unistats). This lets you compare courses at different universities and gives the results of the National Student Survey that was just completed this year so you get some idea of what students felt about the quality of teaching on their course. It is a reliable source.
• Grade 12 students planning on applying for medicine, dentistry, vet science or to Oxford or Cambridge must let me know by Tuesday, 10 August.
NYU Abu Dhabi - Information Webinar about NYUAD, Wednesday 4 August and Thursday, 5 August
NYU Abu Dhabi is holding a webinar to give students the opportunity to learn about the NYU Abu Dhabi campus, admissions, financial support, faculty and student life. See the notice on the bulletin board for details on timings and to register. Anyone thinking of applying to NYUAD should try to participate.
US Applications
The Common Application for 2011 entry is now on line. Go to www.commonapp.com . You can register and start filling in basic details.
PSC Scholarships – Grade 12
The application process for PSC scholarships will open on 1 September. You do not need to apply right away but should start thinking about it. PSC scholarships are highly competitive and prestigious. They are open to Singaporeans and PRs who are planning on taking citizenship. You must be interested in working in public service (but this encompasses a wide range of ministries) and in general should have 40+ points with extensive CCA involvement. More information is at http://www.pscscholarships.gov.sg/
If you are thinking of applying for a PSC scholarship let me know by Friday, 13 August.
Please note that I will be away during Grade 12 mocks but will be checking emails. Students who need to see me please do so before.
posted on
Tuesday, June 8, 2010 at
12:32 AM
Moodle
The University Notices, along with a number of other documents, are now on line on Moodle.
In particular, the following are now on Moodle –
• copies of the handouts from the country specific meetings
• a list of useful websites you can use for your research
• questions you can ask university representatives
• questions you can ask students currently at university
• things to think about when reflecting on work experience or internships
• guidelines for medical school personal statements and interviews
I will keep adding information to Moodle so please check it regularly.
Ranking University Rankings!
See the article from The Straits Times last Saturday (5 June) on ranking university rankings on the noticeboard.
University of Glasgow
Tuesday, 15 June, 6.30 – 8 pm, British Council
Students and parents are invited to attend a presentation by The University of Glasgow. There will be a general talk about the university followed by an opportunity to ask questions and meet staff from the International Office, and the Schools of Biomedical and Life Sciences and Engineering (Electrical & Electronic Engineering). Topics to be discussed include advice on applications and entry requirements, as well as scholarship opportunities from Singapore. Registration is required – see the British Council website for more details (under Events).
Advance Notice
After the holidays we have three very popular universities visiting us. Please note the dates and make a strong effort to attend their talks. All presentations are in Science Lab 6 at 1pm.
Tuesday, 3 August – Hong Kong University (www.hku.hk.) HKU offers a wide range of programmes as well as scholarships specifically for IB students. They also have a number of exchange programmes and joint degrees.
Friday, 6 August – University College London (www.ucl.ac.uk/international). Penny Zorbas will speak about study in UCL and talk about writing personal statements. She gives very good advice. Anyone thinking of applying to the UK is strongly advised to attend and should be ready to take notes!
Tuesday, 10 August – University of Chicago (www.uchicago.edu). Current Singaporean undergraduate students studying at the University of Chicago will come in to introduce the University of Chicago as well as share their experiences of studying overseas and address any questions you may have concerning issues such as the application process, academics, expenses and school life. If you have any specific questions you would like them to address please email me by the end of this month at tannaz.daver@sji-international.com.sg
posted on
Tuesday, June 1, 2010 at
1:00 AM
Grade 12
Australia Applicants Meeting
There will be a compulsory meeting on THURSDAY, 3 June, at 12.50 in Science Lab 6 to go through the application process. My apologies for the late notice of this meeting but I was waiting for confirmation from IDP, who will attend and present at the meeting. Remember to bring a pen and something to take notes on.
US Applicants
The Common Application will be launched on line on 1 August. However a preview is already available on the Common Application website (www.commonapp.com) so you can start working on your applications.
UK Applicants
Oxford/Cambridge Applicants - A reminder that you need to let me know if you want to apply to either Oxford or Cambridge by the end of this term.
UCAS Apply 2011 – UCAS will go live in the week of 14 June but applications can only be submitted from mid-September. You will be given our new buzzword when we come back to school in August.
Dentistry/Medicine applicants – The UKCAT entrance test is required by 26 medical/dental schools. For 2011 entry you must register by 27 September 2010 and the test must be taken before 8 October 2010. Go to www.ukcat.ac.uk for more information and to register. Remember that the UCAS deadline for dentistry/medicine is 15 October.
Law applicants – registration for the LNAT is expected to open on 1 August. Go to www.lnat.ac.uk for more information (note the website has not been updated for 2011 applications yet).
Grades 11 and 12
TestTakers SAT Reasoning Test Course
Information and application forms for the course offered by TestTakers is available from Ms. Middleton in the Grade Centre. Registration forms should be sent directly to TestTakers at the address specified on the form. Remember that this is only one option and you can prepare for the SAT test in any way you feel most comfortable.
Moodle
The University Notices, along with a number of other documents, are now on line on Moodle. Please check that you can access them before the end of term in case you need help! I will keep adding information to Moodle so check it regularly.
Good luck to all students taking the SAT this Saturday!
Remember to take
• Your Admission Ticket (Sign in to My SAT and click "Print Admission Ticket" if necessary)
• Two No. 2 (HB-2) pencils and a soft eraser. No pens, highlighters
• Photo identification (IC or current passport)
• Calculators (you are allowed to take extra batteries too)
• Watch if you like (with no alarm of any sort. Timers are not allowed)
• Snack for the breaks (it is a long test!)
Do not take –
• Rulers, protractors, etc
• Any kind of timer
• Any kind of photographic equipment
• Mobile phones, MP3 Players, IPODS etc. These are strictly not allowed and the use of them at test centres at any time is grounds for dismissal. Do not take them with you to the test!
But make sure you get a good night’s sleep on Friday night, eat a good breakfast and get to the test centre by 7.45 am.
See http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/sat/testday.html for more information.
posted on
Monday, May 24, 2010 at
11:00 PM
Study in Australia Open Day
Saturday, 29 May and Sunday, 30 May, 11 am – 5 pm, Orchard Hotel Grand Ballroom Level 3
A number of Australian universities will be represented at this fair and will also run seminars relating to specific programmes and courses of study. More details will be available next week and at http://www.singapore.idp.com/.
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
Tuesday, 1 June, 6pm, Glass Hall
If you plan to attend the talk please sign up with Ms. Middleton or email her at lynda.middleton@sji-international.com.sg.
About SUTD
SUTD is the fourth autonomous university in Singapore and is being established in collaboration with MIT in the US and Zhejiang University in China.
SUTD will admit its first intake of students in April 2012. The university’s programmes are based on four focus areas leading to separate degree programmes, with design as an academic discipline cutting across all programmes.
Architecture and Sustainable Design – leading to positions in architectural design, construction, and real-estate management and development.
Engineering Product Design – leading to industrial positions in engineering and product development.
Engineering Systems and System Design - preparing you for positions as system analysts or project leaders in a wide range of private and public sectors, careers in consulting.
Information Engineering and Design - preparing you for positions in software development and as IT engineers, careers in consulting.
Students will not be required to choose their focus area until after 1.5 years of a common curriculum.
posted on
Tuesday, May 18, 2010 at
2:31 AM
NUS Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences Open House
Saturday, 22 May, 11am – 6pm, Shaw Foundation Building, Blk AS7, 5 Arts Link.
The Open House will give you an opportunity to learn about what the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at NUS has to offer. The day includes a series of socially relevant talks as well as exhibits that showcase the departments and programmes. Faculty members, students and alumni will also be present to answer questions. For more information see the posters on the noticeboard or go to www.fas.nus.edu.sg/prospective.
Study in Australia Open Day
Saturday, 29 May and Sunday, 30 May, 11 am – 5 pm, Orchard Hotel Grand Ballroom Level 3
A number of Australian universities will be represented at this fair and will also run seminars relating to specific programmes and courses of study. More details will be available next week and at http://www.singapore.idp.com/.
Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
Tuesday, 1 June, 6pm, Glass Hall
SUTD will admit its first intake of students in April 2012. The university’s programmes are based on four pillars leading to separate degree programmes: Architecture and Sustainable Design, Engineering Product Design, Engineering Systems and System Design, and Information Engineering and Design. Design as an academic discipline cuts across all programmes. Associate Provost, Professor Pey Kin Leong, from SUTD (www.sutd.edu.sg) will speak about SUTD’s objectives, curriculum and admissions criteria. This is open to students and parents in Grades 9 – 12.
SUTD has requested approximate numbers they can expect. If you and/or your parents plan to attend please let Ms. Middleton know or email her at lynda.middleton@sji-international.com.sg, with your name, grade and number attending.
Grade 12 – US/UK Applicants
If you were absent for the meetings last week, did not get a handout or did not sign the attendance list please see Ms. Middleton as soon as possible.
Grade 11 and 12 - Jakarta Medicine Internship
All students interested in finding out about the Jakarta medicine internship programme initiated by a group of our students last year please meet in my office in the Grade Centre on Friday, 21 May at 1:15.
www.i-studentenquiry.com
The i-student group that run the useful i-student advisor website (http://www.i-studentadvisor.com/) have launched a new free search service to help students find institutions and courses for further study.
Go to www.i-studentenquiry.com, select “undergraduate”. You are required to fill out a registration form detailing your academic results, the countries you would like to study in and the courses that interest you. i-studentequiry will then begin a search and the institutions that match your requirements will contact you directly. That means you must be prepared to get a lot of emails from the institutions.
This is a new service and there is no way of knowing the quality of the service until you try it. Please give me any feedback. Many students have found their other website (i-studentadvisor.com) useful.