I am one today – and I can’t wait to start my IB

Diploma Programme!

I am one today – and I can’t wait to start my IB

Diploma Programme!

ACS Egham International School

Grade 12 Parent MeetingFocus: IB Diploma Programme

Thursday 11th September 2014

Who and WHAT!

Introduction to the High School:

Richard Naylor, High School Principal

Managing Theory of Knowledge :

Mr. David Rea, TOK Coordinator

Creativity Action Service:

Ms. Lyndal Tonkies, CAS Coordinator

Managing the Extended Essay :

Mrs. Keely Rogers, EE Coordinator

Managing College Applications and Career Aspirations:

Mrs. Tanya Coffey, College Counselor (around for any questions)

Managing Anxieties:

Ms. Selma Zahirovic, Guidance Counselor

Managing Time Management / Study Skills and Student Services:

Mrs. Alicia Sonderman, HS Student Services

Teambuilding DAY…

… teamwork key to success…

Mindfulness and more…

There were also sessions on :-

•Mindfulness Sessions – ran by Veronika from Teen Yoga which

“Mindfulness involves learning to direct our attention to our experience as it unfolds, moment by moment, with open-minded curiosity and acceptance. Rather than worrying about what has happened or might happen, it trains us to respond skillfully to whatever is happening right now, be that good or bad.” Mindfulness in Schools Project

I am looking an 8 week block of sessions for students with Veronika if there isInterest and the logistics work out.

•Health Session – first led by Mrs. Stanton on Alcohol awareness

•CAS Reminder sessions

ACS Egham Diploma Success …• Pass rate worldwide 2013 = 78.54%• Pass rate for the ACS Egham IB Diploma students =

100%• Average DP score worldwide = 29.81• Average DP score at ACS Egham =

– 34.34 all students entered

… by accident or by design?

IB Success – KPI Analysis…

… comparisons with our sister schools…

IB Success …

… comparisons with other schools…

IB Success – Analysis over Time…

IB Success – Analysis Over Time…

IB Success – Analysis over Time…

… year by year, gives us data to improve support…

IB Success – Analysis over Time…

… 10 years…

This/Last Cohort – Analysis …

• This cohort average between 32 – 33 in Quarter or Semester Grades in Grade 11

• CEMIBE average expected 32.3 (does not include bonus points)

• Last year Bonus Point Average 1.6 last year • Last year final grades were 1.09 grades lower than

UCAS predicted grades• Last year final grades were 0.34 lower than CEMIBE

expected average grades• Last year on average a student improved 1.72 grades

from Mocks to final Grades

This/Last Cohort – Analysis …

This/Last Cohort – Analysis …

This/Last Cohort – Analysis …

ACS Egham – Definitely by Design…

• Support for Study Skills from Student Services• CEMIBE Standardised Tests – Chances Graphs• Focused Target setting (Google Forms) – and

individual progress meetings• Understanding of principles of “Fail Well”,

“Feedback” and “Marginal Gains”• Great Teachers • Focused Studying / Research and Relaxation area• And much more…

… definitely by design…

Wiki While We Work…http://ibegham.wikispaces.com/

… please use the WIKI…

Academic Honesty Policy – Continued Focus

… IB Regulations and Parents Guide…

DIPLOMA Student Expectations

• Attendance / Holidays / Signing In and Out

• Interim Reports / Email Communication

• Dress Code (modest / hats?)• No free periods…• Driving to School (Gr12

privilege)

IB ACS Egham Learner Profile …

IB ACS Egham LP Additions…

ORGANISATION is the Key…

Draft Deadline Timeline

(Handout)

BUT all will be on ManageBAC…

Seems like a lot but…

19 School Weeks till Mock exams

+5 Weeks to Study Leave!!!

• IB Exam Registration happens early November (triple check process) – must be up to date with EE deadlines

• Note no exams at end of Semester in December

• IB Mock Exams – 23rd February after half term

• Study Leave – 22nd April, Senior Assembly day before –and IB Exams start from 4th May

• Graduation – 29th May

…time flies…

EE / TOK

• All research suggests the “most powerful single influence enhancing achievement is feedback.” John Hattiehttp://growthmindseteaz.org/Feedback.html

• Quality Feedback and students that elicit and ask and understand how to improve, how to “fail well” and how to set focused goals for improvement

• Our ASSESSMENT POLICY updated last year has addressed this in detail

BE RESILIENT…”Fail Well” and Feedback…

ManageBAC for all courses this year…

CAS

How many ways to fail the IB?

7 ways to fail…

Here are the 7 ways!!!From the May 2015 session the following failing conditions and associated

codes will replace those in current use.

1. CAS requirements have not been met.

2. Candidate’s total points are fewer than 24.

3. An N has been given for theory of knowledge, extended essay or for a

contributing subject.

4. A grade E has been awarded for one or both of theory of knowledge and the

extended essay.

5. There is a grade 1 awarded in a subject/level.

6. Grade 2 has been awarded three or more times (HL or SL).

7. Grade 3 or below has been awarded four or more times (HL or SL).

8. Candidate has gained fewer than 12 points on HL subjects (for candidates who

register for four HL subjects, the three highest grades count).

9. Candidate has gained fewer than 9 points on SL subjects (candidates who

register for two SL subjects must gain at least 5 points at SL).

Questions so far …

College Counselling…

… Use all 124 pages of the TOME…

1. Be realistic

2. Look for ‘right fit’ – chemistry between your son and daughter and college

are critical

3. Be optimistic

4. Be supportive and caring. ‘Nagging’ helps no one

5. Celebrate your son/daughters’ accomplishments – accentuate the positive if

you can

6. Listen to what your son/daughter is saying

7. Listen to what your son/daughter is not saying and be a sounding board for

discussion

8. DO NOT DIRECT. Let your child take ownership of the process. You’ve had

your turn. (99% of the time the students make the right choice) Find a

comfortable place between running the college search process and remaining at

a comfortable distance.

A Wise Counsellor’s Words…Page 114

9. Check many sources – go beyond the usual UCAS of CollegeBoard websites.

Check the accuracy of information upon which you will be relying

10. Set limits at the beginning that are important to you e.g. cost, distance from

home

– as there can be nothing more heart breaking than your son/daughter setting their heart on a college that does not fit within these limits

11. Drive your child to visit campuses

12. Fill out the financial aid forms and read about financial aid as these are

complex

and need to be correct

13. Press to get straight answers from admission and financial aid officers to

minimise surprises

14. Encourage your child to take control. This builds responsible decision

making

15. Help your son/daughter to think about who he/she really is, what are their

values, how has he /she changed during the high school years?

16. Communicate. It is a family decision on several levels

17. Be honest about your aims and aspirations to your son/daughter. Agree to disagree

18. Recognise that your child will have his or her own timetable for considering college options, filling out applications etc. It is not your timetable…

19. Keep a perspective on the process as well as a sense of humour

20. Don’t bypass the high school counselling office – the school and the

counsellor have a huge amount of experience and advice to share and want the

best for your son/daughter. By all means look for other advice but remember that

advice does not know your son/daughter quite as well as we do?

Sample University Destinations: Past 3 years

Brighton & Sussex Medical School

Imperial CollegeKing’s College LondonLondon School of

EconomicsUniversity College LondonUniversity of BathUniversity of BristolUniverstiy of EdinburghUniversity of ManchesterUniversity of NottinghamUniversity of St Andrew’sUniversity of SouthamptonWarwick University

American UniversityBoston UniversityBerklee College of MusicCollege of William & MaryDuke UniversityElon UniversityFlorida Institute of TechnologyGeorgetown UniversityNortheastern UniversityPitzer CollegePurdue UniversitySwarthmore CollegeSyracuse UniversityUniversity of OregonUniversity of Rochester

McGill UniversityUniversity of Toronto

Erasmus University RotterdamUniversiteit Utrecht

IE UniversityUniversity of Vienna

“Remember you will be applying to UK universities on the back of your predicted grades from teachers.

Teachers are professional and will take into account your progress and grades from last year – alongside your

performance in this first quarter. Teachers are predicting your final grade if you work to the best of your ability.

They will be optimistic but realistic and use the data before them as the evidence for their decision

All PG’s will go to Mrs. Coffey who will bring together the grades including EE/TOK for a final predicted grade”

Predicted Grades – Around the Corner…

Predicted Grades – Analysis…

Predicted Grades – Analysis…(Page 37)Our process for producing predicted grades has improved in accuracy over the last two years which has involved a great deal of effort to educate and explain to students and parents the reasons for optimistic but realistic

predicted grades (See Table 5.) The Dean of Admissions at Oxford University recently suggested that one of the most difficult issues facing the IB Diploma and its’students applying was poor or over inflated predicted grades – with

their analysis showing 25% being over inflated. Dr. Richard Harvey from the University of East Anglia quotes that IB Diploma Grades were statistically 47%

over optimistic, and only 9% too pessimistic and that this was extremely difficult for his University in terms of making offers and so he appreciated

schools that could show their accuracy of predicted grades. Further data and analysis over 5 years shows that compared to IB scores around the world

we have a higher correlation and accuracy that is considered statistically significant compared to other IB World Schools. This will now as an action

be placed into our college counselling recommendations and also onto our ACS Egham School Profile including the statistically significant correlation

compared to all IB schools.

Predicted Grades

• Students will be given a total number of points

(including TOK & EE)

• For UK Early Applicants (Medicine, Oxbridge):

22nd September

• For US Early Decision/Early Action Applicants:

6th October

• For Regular US, UK and Canadian Applicants:

13th October

Applying to the UK

Components of the UK University Application

• Application

Log on to UCAS and register. Fill in basic

information.

www.ucas.ac.uk/students/apply/

Buzz word: batman

• Make 5 university course choices. Look carefully at

the entry requirements and select:

1-2 long shots

2-3 good bets

1-2 insurance/safety schools

• Personal statement

• Reference

• IELTS/TOEFL exam scores

What Should Students Be Doing Now?

• Personal Statement second draft

Oxbridge/Medicine, Vet Medicine, Dentistry 29th

September

Regular Applications

27th October

• Complete & send application on UCAS

Oxbridge/Medicine, Vet Medicine, Dentistry 8th

October

Regular Applications

11th November

• Choose appropriate courses/universities in agreement with

parents/Mrs Coffey

• Complete UCAS Teacher Reference Form and hand to at least

2 teachers

What Will Mrs Coffey Be Doing Now?

• Reference – based on student and teacher input

• Giving feedback on personal statements

• Entering predicted grades

• Checking final application and sending to UCAS

Dates & Deadlines

• September : Register on UCAS (buzzword batman), complete basic

information, education, choose 5 targeted courses

• 29th September : Personal Statement drafts due for Medicine, Vet Medicine,

Dentistry, Oxford & Cambridge

• 8th October: Application deadline for Medicine, Vet Medicine, Dentistry,

Oxford & Cambridge

• 27th October : Personal Statement drafts due for regular UCAS applications

• 11th November: Application deadline for regular UCAS applications

• February: Extra starts (if no offers)

• April : Accept 1 Firm and 1 Insurance

• July : Provide exam results to universities

• August 16 : Clearing and Adjustment start

Applying to the US & Canada

Components of the US University Application

• Application form (Common Application for US)

www.commonapp.org

• College Essay/Supplemental Essays

• Two teacher recommendations

• One counsellor recommendation

• Transcripts from the last 4 years of high school

• SAT/ACT/TOEFL exam scores

US Early Decision/Early Action Applications

• Difference between Early Decision/Early

Action

• Internal deadline for all Early Decision/Early

Actions applications is 27th October

• Early Decision applications:

Parent, student and counsellor must all sign

the Early Decision Agreement

What Should Students Be Doing Now?• College Essay Second Draft

Early Decision/Early Action Applicants 14th October

Regular Decision Applicants 27th October

• Complete & send application (through Common

App/individual online app system)

Early Decision/Early Action Applicants 27th October

Regular Decison Applicants 12th December

• Request two teacher letters of recommendation (complete

Information for Teachers sheet)

• Complete Colleges I’m Applying To section on Naviance

• Complete financial paperwork

• Send SAT/ACT & TOEFL scores to universities (through

CollegeBoard/ACT/ETS accounts)d

What Will Mrs Coffey Be Doing Now?

• Writing counsellor letter of recommendation (with student

data sheets & teacher input)

• Giving feedback on College Essays

• Sending transcripts for the last 4 years of high school

• Sending predicted grades

• Sending teacher recommendations

How Many University Applications?

• 6 University applications:

2 long shots

2-3 good bets

1-2 safety schools

** Based on student’s academic profile/SAT/ACT/TOEFL scores

Dates & Deadlines

• September - December:

• Students register and take SAT I, SAT II/ACT & TOEFL exams

and Request teacher recommendations

• 14th October: College Essay drafts due for Early Decision/Early

Action Applicants

• 27th October: Application deadline for Early Decision/Early

Action

• 27th October: College Essay drafts due for Regular Decision

Applicants

• 12th December: Application deadline for Regular Decision

Applicants

• April: Notification of university decisions

• May 1: Students must deposit at US University if planning to

attend

• July: Final transcripts sent to attending university

Components of the Canadian University Application

• Application form (online)

• Motivation letter/Personal Profile

• High School transcripts

• Letters of recommendation – optional

• Predicted grades

• Most Canadian Universities do not require SAT scores if student is

completing full IB Diploma

What Should Students Be Doing Now?

• Completing application form

• Researching universities (www.aucc.ca)

• Writing first draft of Motivation Letter

Due 27th October

• External application deadlines from 15th January (McGill) until Feb/March

What Will Mrs Coffey Be Doing Now?

• Obtaining predicted grades from teachers

• Giving feedback on letters of motivation

• Sending last four years of transcripts

• Sending teacher recommendations (if applicable)

Applying to Universities in Europe & Around the World

• Many English-speaking programs

• Deadlines tend to be later than UK/US/Canada

• American-style programs:

Usually require two teacher recommendations

Essay/letter of motivation

Transcripts/predicted grades

** SAT exam generally not required/Proof of language proficiency may be required

Applying to the Netherlands• Admission opens in September/October for 2015 start

• Students create Studielink account (www.app.studielink.nl) to apply to most

Dutch universities

• Centralised admissions service

• Deadline for application – 15th May

• Apply to 4 courses (only one may be subject to lottery)

• Conditional offers made through Studielink (subject to passing IB Diploma)

• Student must produce original copy of IB Diploma during 1st term

• Letter of Motivation for some universities