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Welcome back to school from the University Counselling Office

We are excited to support all our upper school students this year!

Year 12s, we are here to guide you through your college and university applications. Year 11s, we will assist with your post-secondary planning for your 2026 graduation, and for Year 10s, we are ready to help you with your IB course selections for September 2025. 

Remember, the experiences you create and embrace over the coming months and years are crucial to shaping your unique story. We are here to help you every step of the way.

Here is to a fantastic year ahead!

The University Counselling Team

Mr. Hanna — Jackson’s

Ms. Isaacs — Orr’s, Scadding’s and Martland’s(A-K)

Ms. Rose — McHugh’s, Mowbray’s and Martland’s (L-Z)

Mr. Turner — Seaton’s, Wedd’s

Ms. Champ — Howard’s, Bremner’s

Year 12 | U.S. College Application Workshops hosted by John Hopkins University

These webinars are available to anyone whether or not you are applying to JHU. You will learn how to craft your strongest application from the admissions counsellors who read them. Check out the workshops below and enrol in the one best suited for you.

Application Workshop: Personal Statement

Through analyzing and comparing example personal statement excerpts, a member of the JHU admissions committee will provide an inside view on the role of the essay within the college application and tips on how to start writing or improve your first draft.

Full Details | Wednesday, Aug. 28 at 7 p.m. or Wednesday, Sept. 11 at 7 p.m.

Application Workshop: Telling Your Story

Admission committees are looking to know the real you through different parts of the application. In this workshop, you will analyze and compare example essay excerpts and an activities list to learn how to tell your most authentic story. 

Full Details | Wednesday, Sept. 25 at 7 p.m.

Year 12 | Your U.S. Application College Essay

How to present a 3-D version of yourself and avoid some common mistakes. Read more here about some of the realities you should keep in mind when writing the Common Application College essay/personal statement.

Year 12 | Why supplemental essays matter

When applying to top U.S. colleges, the importance of supplemental essays cannot be overstated. 

While your GPA, test scores, and extracurricular activities offer a glimpse into your academic and social accomplishments, supplemental essays provide a platform for expressing your individuality. Admissions officers utilize these essays to gain insight into your identity, motivations, and potential contributions to their campus community.

Your responses to these essays present an opportunity for you to showcase your writing abilities, critical thinking, and genuine interest in the institutions to which you are applying. A well-crafted supplemental essay has the potential to sway the decision in your favour, offering contextual depth to your application and leaving a lasting impression.

 In response to the ongoing repercussions of last year’s Supreme Court decision regarding race-conscious admissions, many colleges are introducing school-specific supplements to allow students to share their lived experiences, including their backgrounds.

To help you get started, we've compiled a small selection of this year’s supplemental essay prompts from three top-tier institutions, along with some suggestions on how to approach them: read more here.

Year 12 | A Selection of Supplemental College Application Essay Prompts 

As you approach your supplements, we suggest categorizing the prompts based on theme. You will quickly notice some patterns emerge. For example, many schools will ask a version of the “Why Essay.” In other words, be prepared to explain what it is you like about their specific scholarly community and how you would contribute to campus life, both in the classroom and elsewhere.

Here you will find a list of the popular schools our students apply to. The 2024–25 supplement questions are provided. As always, work with your counsellor when writing your responses.  

Year 12 | University of Bristol | Veterinary Science Applicant Briefing 

Date: Sept. 4, 2024

Time: 8–9 a.m. EST

Find out more about studying at one of the top vet schools in the world!
The University of Bristol is holding a webinar for international students interested in pursuing undergraduate or graduate Veterinary Medicine in 2025. The webinar will cover information about studying in the U.K., admissions into our vet school and life as an international student at Bristol. It's open to prospective international students, parents, and student advisors/counsellors, and a recording of the webinar will be made available to all registrants.

Click here to register.

Register | Year 10 PSAT/NMSQT exam

The PSAT/NMSQT exam will be digitally administered on Saturday, Oct. 26, 2024, at 9 a.m. in the Student Centre for students who wish to write it (not mandatory).   

Why would I take the PSAT exam?

The PSAT is a great way for students to get an idea of what it's like to write timed, standardized tests such as the SAT/ACT. It's a diagnostic test and is not used for admissions purposes, but to help you understand the style of questions that are used on standardized tests. Additionally, for some students who are being recruited as an athlete, this can give coaches an early “preview” of a possible test score during the recruiting process. American citizens can use their PSAT results as the qualifying exam used by the National Merit Scholarship Program. 

Registration: Space is limited. Students who wish to write this exam, are required to register here by Monday, Oct. 14, 2024.

Accommodations: Any students taking the PSAT who require accommodations must receive approval from College Board's Services for Students with Disabilities (SSD). Families should check with the school’s SSD coordinator and our CFL to make sure accommodations are in place well in advance of the test date (4 weeks). Any student testing with accommodations should remember to bring their SSD eligibility letter on test day. 

Under standard conditions, the test takes 2 hours and 14 minutes with one break.