College and Career Readiness
Preparing for life after secondary school takes time, exposure, and a willingness to engage in a series of activities that lead to self-discovery. This work happens throughout a young person’s academic career, but starts to become more focused in high school. Our M4 students are gaining skills that will be critical for their success throughout high school, and the D2 students are finalizing their applications for the next chapter in their lives. The December break was a perfect opportunity to reflect and explore options that will help create a clearer vision of what the future could hold.
Here is a list of grade level specific ideas to ponder as we begin the new year:
M4 and M5
● Reflect on the first semester: What went well? What can be improved?
● What new skills have been developed that have helped you succeed?
● What would you like to learn more about?
● What ideas do you have for what you want life to look like after high school?
D1
● What have you learned about yourself, and how will you use this new insight to begin a successful second semester?
● What activities will you start, stop, or continue?
● Consider summer and specialty programs that you may want to enroll, or start seeking volunteer/internship opportunities that could enhance your skills
● Continue to learn about colleges and universities that interest you and the programs that they offer (Also, are visits possible for you and your family?)
● Learn about college testing and consider your plan https://www.uwcea.org/tests (we will have a presentation on this in January)
● Work on your Post-Secondary Plan
D2
● Finalize applications/post-secondary plan (Review the Application Checklist)
● Celebrate submitted applications and check your portals or organize all materials needed to submit
● Update the outcome from any early application(s)
● Self-assess and prepare to make the most of this last semester
Additional college and career readiness tips for each of these grade levels can be found on this website: https://sites.google.com/tvrop.org/collegecareerplanning/grade-level-planning-guides?authuser=0
Also, please take a look at this recent blog by Georgia Tech’s Dean of Admissions where he explains how to increase your college choices based on recommendations for students in grades M4-D2:
https://sites.gatech.edu/admission-blog/2022/12/02/choices-and-options-a-blueprint-for-college-admission/
Thank you to the D1 families who were able to participate in the College and Career Readiness presentation last month, or watched the recording that was shared on Tuesday. If you have not received the recording, please feel free to email me. One of the major topics of the presentation was an introduction to Maia Learning, and providing access to parents. If you have not had a chance to review the platform, or sign up for parent access, please see the links below for more information:
Link to Maia Learning Overview:
https://player.vimeo.com/video/469137166
Maia Learning website: https://www.maialearning.com/v3/
Link to sign up for parent access to Maia Learning (D1 and D2 parents only): https://forms.gle/quaauoAA7N2RfR9b9
UPCOMING College and University Events
15 December (event recorded): 5:45 PM EAT F-1 Student Visa and Enrollment in the US – Part of the 15 on the 15th series by fifteen liberal arts colleges in the US (ten of the 15 are UWC Davis Scholar partner institutions)
Link to recordings of all of the helpful 15 minute sessions from last year: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1XtkUpsz4hp28sBFBh8M0tIc8nMK4UG_K?usp=sharing
9-13 January: Karibu tena ISM/UWC East Africa Alumni Week
7:30 PM Virtual Panels with former students
*12 January: 4:00 PM Carleton College to Medical School with ISM Arusha alumunus Mehdi Shahid
Keep exploring options and enjoying the journey.
Cassandra Ford, College and Career Counselor
