Fall 2016 Parent Newsletter

From Your University & Career Advancement Counsellors

Inside Fall 2016

Dear CIS Parents,

Were very excited! As you read this, your University and Career
Advancement Counsellors are settling into our new suite of oces. (See
picture below.) We are now located two floors up from our previous
location (new 3rd floor), across the hall from the Secondary Library
entrance.

While our new locale may require a little more exertion to reach in terms of
stairs, were confident that our CIS community will be better served by our
enhanced facilities which include:

Space for conferencing

Easier access to our many resources

Roomier oces (with windows!) for more comfortable meetings

More importantly, Annie Yung, our Career Advancement Counsellor, will be

joining us thereby providing our community a more convenient one-stop
shop and enhance our stas opportunities for collaboration and program
upgrades.

Most importantly, since we are located directly next to the Year 13

Common Room, students will be able to access us more conveniently
resulting in what were confident will be a greater level of support for our
students and community.

The Dream School Myth:

How Parents Can Help
In a Post-Brexit World:
UK Universities Are Urging a
Wait and See Approach
Why Are Some US
Institutions Abandoning
Standardised Tests while
Others Arent?
The reasons may surprise
you
The Coalition Application:
For CIS Students, Its Much
Ado about Not Much
Featured College:

Quest University
UC Potpourri:

Tips on Communicating
with Universities
Career Fair: Nov. 22nd
Whats a foundation
course?
FAFSA Update
Our New CIS Profile

So please stop by to
have a look, say hi,
and enjoy what we
feel is the best cup of
coee in the building!

And a happy and safe

fall break to all!

Book Review:

Malcolm Gladwells David and

Goliath
Regular Feature:

Articles of Interest from

Around the Web

Your CIS University Counsellors

Sow Fun Dawson - sfdawson@cisedu.hk

Robert Manuseto mansueto@cis.edu.hk

Marc Marier mmarier@cis.edu.hk

A little learning may be a

dangerous thing, but a lot of
ignorance is worse.
Bob Edwards

Your CIS Career Advancement Counsellors

Annie Yung ayung@cis.edu.hk

Administrative Assistant

Brankie Wong bwong@cis.edu.hk

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The Dream School Myth: How Parents Can Help

The fear of being denied by their ultimate dream school is very real to
many of our college applicants. For some students, this fear can be
difficult to manage, especially if theyve applied to highly competitive
institutions where some are reporting acceptance rates well below 10%.

Your CIS University Counsellors do speak to our Year 13s about

managing expectations, about the fact that a denial is not the end of
their hopes and dreams. But the reality is that for some, the arrival of
a denial letter will mark the very first time in their entire lives where
they experience a major disappointment.

Some cope better than others

We witness a range of reactions when denials arrive. One recent CIS
graduate, for instance, actually expressed gratitude for having gone
through the process of applying to her dream school even though it
had ended in a denial. She felt that what she had gained from the
experience of applying more than compensated for the pain she felt
at having been denied. Thats a mature perspective for an adult,
never mind an eighteen-year-old.

A recent graduate who

struggled for several months
with his dream school denial
had not only bought into the
dream school myth, but that
dream had been aided and
abetted by his parents. Over
the course of many years, the
dream school hung over all of
their college conversations,
becoming the guiding star for
all of his academic efforts.
Every test, paper and
homework grade was cast as
a rung on the ladder to his
successful dream-school offer
of admission. No wonder he
was crushed when the denial
letter arrived.

On the other end of the coping scale are those students who equate
their self worth with an institutions prestige, who buy into the myth
that Im only as good as the school I get into. A denial letter for students who have put all their eggs
in one basket can be sharp, bitter and long-lasting. And totally unnecessary.

What can parents do?

During the college process, many students are highly susceptible to a kind of dream school delusion distorted thinking that can make students sound as though theyve fallen in love with their university of
choice, that it is perfectly suited to meet all of their needs. We know better, or at least we should.

Its good to remind your college applicant that no school is perfect, no university experience is ideal.
They wont like all of their classes, professors, dorm-mates, activities or cafeteria meals. No university
experience is endlessly joyful and life-enriching both in and out of the classroom. Parents can be a
voice for reality, and by doing so, check some of the distorted thinking that teenagers can be especially
susceptible to.

Its good to remind your

college applicant that no
school is perfect, no
university experience is
ideal No path to lifelong
success and happiness
leads through a single
universitys doors.

Some parents are likely to have their own favorites on their students
list of final choices, and we sometimes meet parents who are clearly
struggling with their own dream-school fantasies as well. This kind of
thinking puts students at risk. No path to lifelong success and
happiness leads through a single universitys doors.

As parents, be thoughtful in how you speak about potential schools.

Make it clear that you understand the truth to the oft-quoted saying
that Where you go is not as important as what you make of the
opportunity. A recent graduate who struggled for several months with
his dream school denial had not only bought into the dream school
myth, but that dream had been aided and abetted by his parents. Over the course of many years, the
dream school hung over all of their college conversations, becoming the guiding star for all of the
students academic endeavors. Every test, paper and homework grade was cast as a rung in the ladder
to his successful dream-school offer of admission. No wonder he was crushed when the denial letter
arrived. Adding to his disappointment was the shame he felt at having deeply disappointed his parents.

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On the other end of the
coping scale is the
experience of a recent CIS
graduate who expressed
gratitude for having gone
through the process of
applying to her dream
school even though it had
ended in a denial. She felt
that what she had gained
from the experience of
applying more than
compensated for the pain
she felt at having been
denied. Thats a mature
perspective for an adult,
never mind an eighteenyear-old.

The importance of thorough research

Interestingly, this same student later admitted that he had never actually
considered, much less researched, any institutions other than his dream
school. In his mind, there was simply no room for a plan B. So when his
#1 said no, there was nothing to fall back on.

Encouraging, better yet, insisting that your college-bound students

research in-depth all of the schools where they plan to apply and asking
them to share what they like and dislike about their schools of choice is
an excellent reality check for them and you.

Can we shield our students from the disappointment of a

denial?

No. Teenagers will, of course, feel some degree of disappointment, but a

denial need not be a soul crushing experience. Counselling centers at
universities the world over are currently experiencing a wave of students
whose entire lives have been so carefully managed that they have never
felt the sting of disappointment, failure, or rejection. An unbroken chain
of success can create a fragile psyche, one that can tumble into
depression or worse because of a C on a test. Only after arriving at university do these students begin to
learn a lesson that would have been much less painful had it come sooner in their emotional development
namely, that they can survive disappointment. (Click here for a very quick Michael Jordan clip on the
topic of failure and disappointment.)

What we tell our students

We vividly remember a student who came down to our office after
having received a dream school denial. For an hour, she gave our
tissue box quite a workout, tearfully confessing it was her first real
experience with disappointment. On a recent visit, she reminded us of
that day. You know Im soooo glad my dream school rejected me!
Im so much happier where I ended up. Lots of returning grads tell us
the very same thing.

You know Im soooo glad

my dream school rejected
me! Im so much happier
where I ended up. Lots of
returning grads tell us the
very same thing.

Closing thoughts
Will students have favourites among the schools they apply to? Of course. But as parents, we can play
an important and helpful role in managing expectations. Our students are blessed with so many options
and so many advantages. It doesnt hurt to remind them. It also doesnt hurt to remind them (and
ourselves) of Sir Mick Jaggers famous song lyric: You cant always get what you want. But if you try
sometime, you just might find you get what you need.

And while were on the subject of fears

For students engaged in the college process, one of the greatest fears they often share with their
university counsellors is the fear of not receiving a single university offer. Fears are frequently irrational
and this one certainly qualifies. If you as a parent are a fellow sufferer, rest assured that that sad fate has
never befallen any CIS student applying to university. In CISs entire 30+ year history, all of our college
applicants, without exception, have received offers. So lets put that fear to bed, shall we?

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In a Post-Brexit World, UK Universities Are Advising a Wait and See Approach

For many of our CIS parents, the most important question surrounding
the UKs recent vote to exit the European Union is likely to be: what
does Brexit mean for students considering university in the UK?

In recent weeks, weve posed that very question to several of our

visiting UK university admission representatives with our query typically
being met with a lets wait and see response. Clearly, theres an effort
underway by UK universities to soothe and calm that sharply contrasts
with the pre-Brexit vote fears universities helped raise.

A distinct change in tone

As is true of the US, Canada

and Europe, institutions of
higher learning in the UK
have become increasingly
dependent on the
international student market
to diversify their enrolled
student body and help
balance the books.

Before the June 23rd referendum, a flurry of news articles (click here and
here) predicted that a vote favoring Brexit would cost UK universities tens of millions in international
student fees, particularly from EU countries.

Since the vote, however, these dire predictions are no longer in vogue. From the UK university
perspective, adopting a calming response to the many Brexit concerns makes perfect sense. As is true of
the US, Canada and Europe, institutions of higher learning in the UK have become increasingly dependent
on the international student market to diversify their enrolled student body and help balance the books.

Adding to the need for a measured response is the fact that the Brexit vote has caught UK institutions at a
vulnerable time, several of whom having recently incurred debt to upgrade facilities in order to attract foreign
students. It therefore makes no sense to rattle a key market by spreading fear and panic. International
students, currently comprise 14% of non-UK students. There are no caps on international student tuition
fees which are typically significantly higher than those paid by domestic or EU students.

The short term view

Beyond massaging fears, there are sound reasons not to panic or jump to conclusions according
to the admission representatives we interviewed. No UK university has cut back on services;
theres been no belt-tightening to date. In fact, the general feeling is that there will be little Brexit
fallout for UK universities in the near term as its widely anticipated that the upcoming separation
negotiations will be complex and protracted perhaps requiring five years or more by some
estimates.

For current Year 13s

considering admission to the
UK, it is safe to assume that
tuition increases are not
likely to be substantial in the
short term.

For the near future, UK universities are hopeful that

international applications will actually increase thanks to the
pounds decreasing value. (Since the Brexit vote, it has dipped
roughly 20% versus the US dollar.) UK university
representatives are confidently maintaining that tuition costs
will not substantially increase, at least through the next two
school years.

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The short term view
Beyond massaging fears, there are sound reasons not to panic or jump to conclusions according
to the admission representatives we interviewed. No
university has cut back on services; theres been no beltNo UK university has cut
tightening to date. In fact, the general feeling is that there will
back on services; theres
be little Brexit fallout for UK universities in the near term as its
been no belt-tightening to
widely anticipated that the upcoming separation
date. In fact, the general
negotiations will be complex and protracted perhaps
feeling is that there will be
requiring five years or more by some estimates.

little Brexit fallout for UK

universities in the near term
For the near future, UK universities are hopeful that
as its widely anticipated that
international applications will actually increase thanks to the
the upcoming separation
pounds decreasing value. (Since the Brexit vote, it has
negotiations will be complex
dipped roughly 20% versus the US dollar.) UK university
and protracted perhaps
representatives are confidently maintaining that tuition costs
requiring five years or more
will not substantially increase, at least through the next two
by some estimates.
school years.

A domino effect?
Much of the discussion around the Brexit vote has focused on its implications for EU students
studying in the UK as they comprise 6% of non-UK students currently attending university there.
EU student tuition in the UK is currently capped at 11,900 per year. If the Brexit vote leads to
tuition increases, EU students will be the first to feel their eect and, as a result, perhaps opt to
attend less expensive universities closer to home.

Should EU students pull out of the UK in large numbers, the fear is that it might trigger a domino
eect with increased tuition costs being borne by domestic and international students. Click here
and here for a full discussion.

Is the longterm outlook entirely gloomy?

Not necessarily. For views on how Brexit might actually benefit UK-bound international students
and universities, click here, here, and here.

What does this uncertain post-Brexit world mean for our CIS community?
For current Year 13s considering admission to the UK, it is safe to assume that tuition increases
are not likely to be substantial in the short term. Beyond that period, particularly for our families
for whom cost will be an important consideration, the wait-and-see approach recommended by
our visiting UK admission tutors is strongly advised.

Further reading
The prospect of financial instability is having an eect on relations between UK universities and
EU partners. Click here and here for a full discussion.

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Why Are Some US Universities Becoming Test-Optional While Others Aren't?

While the great majority of US tertiary institutions do not require ACT or SAT standardised tests as part
of their application requirements, many of the more competitive US universities still do. But even among
these institutions, standardized tests, long a staple of selective university admissions, are getting a
second look with a growing number of universities deciding to either adopt various test-optional plans or
eliminate the standardized test requirement entirely.

Why the trend?

There are many factors driving this trend, including, most importantly, a growing body of
evidence suggesting that standardized reasoning tests fail at their central task - namely,
identifying those students who are most likely to be successful at university. Based on their
own internal research, some universities are concluding that transcript grades, along with
expected grades and perhaps some subject tests are better indicators of future success.

Click here for a complete list of the 870+ test-optional institutions.

Two additional factors are compelling a growing number of institutions

to question their SAT/ACT requirements:

A recent spate of security issues aecting standardized test

administrations are raising concerns regarding test validity.
Over the past few years, SAT and more recently ACT test
administrations have been repeatedly compromised including
the March 2017 roll-out of the brand new SAT. Websites, often
originating in Asia, widely disseminate test questions and
answers prior to their administration forcing test providers to
cancel some administrations. That being the case, universities
are forced to decide if they can trust these scores.

A recent spate of security

issues affecting standardized
test administrations are
raising widespread concerns
regarding test validity. Over
the past few years, SAT and
more recently ACT test
security have been repeatedly
compromised.

Another consideration in the trend to abandon the standardised test requirement is the
growing income gap favoring wealthier applicants to highly competitive universities, a
gap that a reliance on SAT/ACT test scores tends to fuel. Its a long-known and welldocumented fact that while standardised tests dont reliably predict university success,
theyre very good at indicating students socio-economic status. Its a well-known fact
that students with means reliably score better than those without as they can more
easily aord test preparation courses. Standardised tests are increasingly seen as
prejudicial to students who cannot aord a test-prep advantage.

Academic prestige and rankings

Given the scope and seriousness of these issues, you might be tempted to ask: why are there
still US universities requiring standardized tests? Its a question we regularly put to our visiting
university representatives. Heres what they tell us.

Prestige is an extremely valuable commodity in the world of university admissions, one which
institutions are eager to maintain, and if at all possible, enhance. For some schools, theres the
very real concern that giving up standardized tests as an admission requirement will send a
message that the university has become less selective, and that perception, simply put, is
admission poison.

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Why? Remember that college rankings are often derived, at least in part, from average SAT/ACT
scores of accepted applicants. Institutions are hypersensitive to their rankings as they can
aect more than perceptions - they can have a dramatic eect on the bottom line. A ranking
slip of just a few notches can be expensive - so much so, in fact, that marketing pressures have
resulted in some universities doctoring their admission statistics to win the rankings race.
Theres lots of creative ways to advantageously massage these statistics, ways that skirt or
even violate ethical boundaries - yet another reason to view rankings with no small amount of
skepticism.

For the general public, however, theres still the widespread belief that
a standardized test requirement confers a certain degree of scorebased legitimacy to admission decisions. In a holistic admission
process, theyre seen as furnishing less subjective data by supposedly
placing all applicants on the same level playing field. Some
universities may be loath to tamper with an admission formula that the
public has grown comfortable with.

In the competitive world of college admissions, university faculty often

play a major role in determining admission requirements. Fear of how
a change in these requirements might aect the applicant pool helps
explain why some institutions have yet to abandon standardized tests
or move to a test-optional policy.

For some universities, theres

the very real concern that
giving up standardized tests
as an admission requirement
will send a message that the
university has become less
selective, and that perception,
simply put, is admission
poison.

And lets not ignore the fact that ACT and SAT are hugely influential businesses closely tied to
the admissions industry. Lots of pressure can be brought to bear on schools who decide to
abandon standardized tests.

What are the implications for CIS students?

In a perfect world, we feel all US universities would abandon standardised tests as an
admission requirement. Unfortunately, that day has not arrived, nor will it any time soon. While
we expect to see more schools adopting a standardized test-optional plan of some sort, its
unlikely that institutions currently requiring standardized tests are going to change their
requirements.

Theres lots of creative ways

to advantageously enhance
these statistics, ways that
skirt or clearly violate ethical
boundaries - yet another
reason to view college
rankings with no small
amount of skepticism.

That said, US-bound CIS students will continue to feel

compelled to sit for either the ACT or SAT tests. We do
recommend, however, that students familiarize themselves
with the many test-optional plans along with the testing
requirements of schools of interest. Its important to note
that there are great options for qualified students who do
not necessarily test well, along with fabulous institutions not
requiring any standardized testing.

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Further Reading on Standardised Testing
To access a helpful test-optional guide for prospective applicants, click here.
Click here for a discussion on why sitting for the SAT/ACT reasoning tests before Year
12 makes no sense.
From Reuters News Service on recent security breaches:
College Board gave compromised SATs
How the new SAT got hacked
Chinese cheating rings penetrate U.S. colleges
Students and teachers detail pervasive cheating in a program owned by test giant
ACT
Massive security breach at College Board exposes hundreds of questions for
upcoming SAT exams
And click on the following University Counselling website links for in-depth answers on:
Standardized Testing (SAT/ACT)
Standardized Test Preparation
Recommended timeline for completing your standardized tests
Do I need to take the TOEFL?
ACT vs. SAT: Which one is right for me?

The Coalition Application: For CIS Students, Its Much Ado about Not Much
The current admission cycle marks the Coalition Applications debut as an alternative to the Common
Application in US university applications. Were anticipating that questions may be raised by CIS students and
parents as to its implications.
What is the purpose of the Coalition Application?
The Coalition Application was developed by a consortium of US institutions in order to address the fact
that the Common Application (recognized by most US institutions) makes it more challenging for students
of lesser means to effectively compete at the more selective US institutions. These universities are
seeing a growing disparity of opportunity for economically deprived students.
Theres also a concern that Common App has gained a virtual monopoly as the college application
platform of choice. The Coalition Application was developed with the hope of providing a measure of
competition to Common App.
The Coalition Applications main goal is to expose students to a broader range of schools they might not
ordinarily consider or apply to. Its also designed to flatten the playing field for students who may lack
guidance personnel to help shepherd students through the application process.
Theres also a concern that Common App has gained a virtual monopoly as the college
application platform of choice. The Coalition Application was developed with the hope of
providing a measure of competition to Common App.

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In summary, the Coalition Application was not designed with CIS
students in mind. The Common Application continues to be the most
appropriate application platform for students like ours, an application
which has served our students well over the years.

What are differences between the Coalition Application and

the Common Application?
None except for minor details.

Which US institutions are participating?

Click here for a list of participating institutions.

the Coalition Application

was not designed with CIS
students in mind. The
Common Application
continues to be the most
appropriate application
platform for students like
ours, an application which
has served our students well
over the years.

Do participating universities prefer one application platform over the other?

No. Universities have no preference. In the meantime, we will continue to recommend that our
student use the Common Application, a platform that has served our students very well. We will,
however, keep you informed if any future Coalition Application developments affect the US
application process for our students.

Featured University

QUEST University: A Cutting Edge Canadian Liberal Arts Program

Quest University Canada, the countrys first independent, not-forprofit, secular university opened its doors in September 2007
with a vision to build a new kind of university focused on
excellence in undergraduate education. Its simple philosophy
that education, in its truest sense, comes not from providing the
right answers, but from learning how to ask insightful questions
has driven the development of a campus and a curriculum
focused on producing broadly educated individuals with an
informed perspective on the problems of the 21st century and the
integrative abilities to address them. Located in Squamish, BC, midway between Whistler and Vancouver,
Quest offers students an intimate, integrated and international education in one of Canadas most celebrated
outdoor playgrounds.

BLOCK PLAN
Unlike conventional universities where students take several classes simultaneously in a semester, at
Quest students focus on single block courses that run for 3.5 weeks. The Block Plan allows students to:

FOCUS Continue course discussions and activities from one day to the next without
interruptions, allowing for deep and meaningful learning.

EXPLORE Want to go to Hawaii to study volcanoes for two weeks as part of a geology class? Or
take an all day trip to the Vancouver Art Museum for an art class? The Block Plan ensures that
students can participate in course activities fully without competing interests.

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CLASSROOM
Students engage in discussion-based
classes that are capped at 20 and take
place around a single table. All
classes are guided by distinguished
faculty members called tutors,
because their role is not to profess
but rather to foster personal and
intellectual growth.
FOUNDATION
All degrees begin with 16 courses for
the first two years covering the
landscape of the liberal arts and
sciences. Students gain a variety of
intellectual tools as they explore
subjects in the Foundation Program.
Real world problems
are complex and messy the Foundation Program encourages students to identify links among
different academic disciplines and prepares them to design creative solutions for the challenges of the
21st century.
QUESTION
In the second year, students will develop an individualized Question instead of choosing a major, for
example: What is dark matter? or What conditions optimize a sense of belonging? The Question
isnt necessarily meant to be answered think of it as a vehicle for intellectual exploration. This is their
chance to study big ideas that transcend traditional academic boundaries, all in a way that fits the
students interests and aspirations. The Question guides their choice of courses and readings in the
Concentration Program and will eventually inspire their Keystone Project.
CONCENTRATION
In the Concentration Program, students will choose courses and readings to support a meaningful
exploration of the topics related to their Question. Theyll have the freedom to pursue their academic
passions in the way that makes sense to them, unconstrained by the limitations of majors or
departments. Working with a faculty mentor, theyll develop ideas, select courses, and design
enriching experiential learning opportunities. They will also develop a Keystone Project, a
comprehensive thesis related to their Question. Though all Keystone Projects contain a written
component, the format of the final product will reflect the students academic path.
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Experiential learning opportunities allow students to pursue their Questions outside of a classroom
setting. Experiential Learning blocks, which might include Internships, Research, or Volunteerism,
emphasize hands-on knowledge and the connections between knowledge and practical application in
different contexts.

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TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
Quests Curriculum is designed to prepare students to become leaders and problem solvers in a
globalized world facing complex challenges. Quests mission is to produce graduates who are
international in outlook, skilled in communication, inherently trans-disciplinary in their approach to
problems, technologically literate, instinctively collaborative, and engaged in their local and global
communities.
ALUMNI
The versatility of the Quest degree prepares students to excel in graduate programs and thrive in a
wide variety of careers in todays dynamic employment landscape. Graduates have gone on to follow
their passions in a variety of ways, including:

Studying Civil Law at McGill University School of Law

Pursuing a PhD program in Cognitive Science at St. Andrews in Scotland
With a full fellowship, pursuing a PhD in Neuroscience at Yale University
Starting a Masters in Social and Public Communication at the London School of
Economics
Studying Midwifery, under the Faculty of Medicine at the University of British Columbia (1
of 20 students accepted)
Working at a leading environmental engineering firm in Portland
Attending the University of Waterloo and finishing a Masters in Environmental and
Resource Studies
Studying at the Sauder School of Business at the University of British Columbia
Becoming the youngest manager in Parks Canada history
Working as a Policy and Issues Manager for the Department of Energy, Canada Ministry
of the Environment
Pursuing Medicine at Queens University

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS
Of the 700 students, 46% come from Canada, 37% come from the US, and 17% come from 61 other
countries. As part of its commitment to a global classroom, international students are equally eligible
for all Quest scholarships and financial aid. Tuition fees are also the same for all students, regardless
of country of origin.
A HOME AWAY FROM HOME
Live on campus for all four years
6 Campus Residence Buildings (3 styles of residence)
A strong sense of community is at the heart of Quest
Volunteer & Leadership opportunities on and off campus
40 Clubs ranging from radio production to outdoor adventure, chess to knitting, and food to
debate
ADMISSIONS
Quest University Canada is currently accepting applications for the 2017/2018 academic year. For
information, applications, deadlines, scholarship and financial aid information, please visit http://
www.questu.ca/.

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COSTS, SCHOLARSHIPS & FINANCIAL AID
2017-2018 Tuition Costs: $34,000 CAD
Housing: $12,250 CAD/year
Quest University Canada Scholarships: $2000-$16,000 CAD/year
Financial Aid: available for students who demonstrate financial need

College Related Potpourri

When communicating with universities
Some universities track all contacts with potential
applicants including phone calls and emails.
Repeated calls by a parent
Repeated calls by a parent can raise a red flag.
can raise a red flag.
Communicating with a university is the students job.
Communicating with a
Emails are a notoriously ineffective means of
university is the students job.
communicating with universities. Schools are generally
much better at responding to phone calls.
Universities prefer it if the student calls as this shows initiative on the students
part. The exception might be if the parent calls regarding financial questions
more appropriate for the parent to address.
Polite enquiries are appreciated. Aggressive and angry calls/emails may be noted
in the applicants file.
Repeated calls for information readily available on the universitys website can be
considered a nuisance, and again, noted in the students file.

CIS Career Fair - Tuesday, November 22nd, 11:35am-1:45pm

The CIS Career Fair for senior students will take place on Tuesday, November 22nd from 11:35am
- 1:45pm. This year, we are hoping to expand our industries to include Government & Politics and
Non-Governmental Organization. If you are currently in or have worked in these field and would
like to share your invaluable insight and experience with our senior students, please consider
getting involved.
Other industries in the fair include:
Architecture & Urban Design - Business - Design - Education - Fashion - Finance - Fine Arts Hospitality and Food & Beverage - Legal - Media and Journalism - Medicine - Psychology Science and Engineering - Startups
Professionals manning the booths will be encouraged to promote their careers, as well as provide
information about education related to their careers, discuss paths into and within their careers and
share any tips or advice that might be inspiring for young people thinking about a career in that or
a related field.
Please email our Individual and Career Advancement Counsellor, Ms. Annie Yung at
ayung@cis.edu.hk if you are willing to help or would like more details.
NEW DATE! InterQuest Feedback Session for Year 11 Parents - Tuesday, December 6th,
6:30pm-8pm
Please join us for a general interpretation session regarding your son or daughters InterQuest
report. Sign up for the event here.
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Whats a foundation course?
In the UK, a foundation course has traditionally been defined as a bridge to an
undergraduate degree for students who did not fulfill their secondary school
requirements. For international students who have not completed 13 years of education,
the foundation course can fill in the gaps necessary to pursuing an undergraduate
degree.
Foundation courses can prepare the student for a variety of subjects such as:
Business, Finance & Management; Computing; Law; Art and Design; Engineering;
Social Science; Medicine; Science and Pharmacy; Media; and Humanities.
Some universities will furnish what are called foundational courses for students
who have been accepted in a degree program. In this instance, foundational
courses may serve as a tool to help students determine which specialty they
might want to focus on in their undergraduate degree. For instance, an art school
may offer foundational courses to help students more precisely determine their
area of focus.
New FAFSA application date: October 1st
For US citizens, residents or green card holders, the Free Application for Federal
Student Aid is the US government portal for financial aid applications. Formerly, FAFSA
applications could not be made before January 1st. The new date, October 1st, was
established to better align with the college application cycle. Click here for an article
explaining the new deadline and its implications for filers as well as other FAFSA
updates.
Our Updated 2017 School Profile
All secondary schools with US applicants (including CIS) publish an annually updated
school profile which provides university admission personnel with a picture or profile of
the applicants secondary school. The profile helps place the students academic
experience in context with applicants from other institutions.
US admissions personnel rely on our CIS profile to help them better understand and
assess our academic structure, how our students perform academically as well as on
standardized tests (including SATs, ACTs, and IB Exams.) Our profile also lists all of the
universities that CIS students have matriculated to in the past three years not just in the
US but the world over.
When updating our profile, we regularly have visiting representatives review it to make
sure its providing the information they need to fully understand our students. You might
be happy to know that our profile has been deemed highly informative and helpful!.
Click here for a look at our 2016-2017 profile.
Book Review:

Malcolm Gladwells David and Goliath Challenges

Conventional Wisdom
Readers familiar with Malcolm Gladwells previous books (Tipping Point, Blink,
Outliers) will see a familiar pattern at work in David and Goliath. Gladwell has
built a highly successful writing career by turning conventional wisdom on its
head and this book falls into that mould.
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When she went on that whirlwind

tour with her father, she ranked the
colleges she saw from best to
worst. Brown University was
number one. The University of
Maryland was her backup because
it was not in any way as good a
school as Brown.

In David and Goliath, the famous myth serves as a

metaphor that victory and success can rest on
many factors other than simply being the best, the
strongest, the fastest. His examples are drawn
from the worlds of business, sports, art, history,
and psychology and includes unforgettable
characters from around the world.

How does this relate to universities? One chapter

focuses on the story of one Caroline Sacks and
her college experience. Eager for a quality university, she applied and was admitted to
Brown University, the prestigious Ivy League university located in Providence, Rhode
Island. Without giving away what happens next, lets just say that her troubles started
there. Her journey underscores an essential truth in the college process - prestige and
fit are not the same. Along the way, Gladwell also challenges the widespread belief that
graduates of elite institutions make for better employees.
David and Goliath will challenge your beliefs while providing a fascinating perspective on
what constitutes advantages and disadvantages in a variety of real world applications.
Its an informative and irresistible read.
Click here to access Gladwells podcast Revisionist History.
David and Goliath is one of many books in our University Counselling Parent Library.
Click here for a list of titles!

Articles of Interest from Around the Web

Wellbeing
of Hong Kong kids need professional help for anxiety - Most of the anxious children
(22.7 percent), said they were worried about academic results, telling researchers they
fret that they are not performing well enough in class, are fearful of going to school and
suffer headaches and stomach aches in lessons.
High Stress High School - "Whats the balance between preparing students for college
and ensuring they arent killing themselves in the process?
Stress Is more stressful for teens than adults - Teens sometimes seem like a different
breed of human. We might call them young adults, but teenage brains are actually very
different from those of adults, especially under stress or while making risky decisions,
researchers are finding.
Getting inKindergarten Part I - A video highlighting the stress that parents feel and
communicate to their pre-schoolers.
What a Stanford Dean says parents are doing that is ruining their kids - This week, I sat
in an auditorium with a couple hundred other parents at my daughters high school to
hear what author and former freshman dean of Stanford University, Julie Lythcott-Haims,
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UK
Practical advice from the Guardian for those considering the UK - As the Guardian
publishes its 2017 university guide, our experts answer those vital questions on
unconditional offers, entrance exams and how to pick a course.
Which UK universities offer the most financial support? - Worried about how youll meet
your living costs at university? Use our handy guide to find out which universities offer
the best bursaries.
EU/World
European universities to be part of UCAS admissions - High standards of teaching and
lower fees make studying for a degree in Europe an attractive option for many UK
students.
Which countries have the cleverest graduates? - These figures, based on test results
rather than reputation, show a very different set of nationalities from the usual suspects.
US
Why college rankings are a joke - Shortly before the newest U.S. News & World Report
college rankings came out last week, I got a fresh glimpse of how ridiculous they can be
and of why panicked high school seniors and their status-conscious parents should
not spend the next months obsessing over them
Whats made US research universities so great and what might be threatening them Since the 19th century, the institutions thinkers have discovered a dazzling array of new
knowledgeyet attacks on academic freedom mean all their potential is now at risk.
Honors college, honors program whats the difference? - After a lengthy analysis of
staffing, class schedules, and honors curriculum in preparation for our new book to be
released this Fall, we can say that there are significant differences between honors
colleges and honors programs.
The Long March: What mainland Chinese students go through to get to the Ivies - Brook
Larmer discovers what Chinese students go through to get into top American
universities.
The unnecessarily mysterious cost of college - Despite an array of calculating tools,
comparing financial-aid packages is still an incredibly dense and circular process.
How much does living off campus cost? Who knows? - In setting allowances for offcampus living, the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn decided that about $18,500 should cover it.
Two blocks away, St. Josephs College determined that $10,000 would suffice.

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General
How to research a university - When researching colleges, many families gravitate to
what they call great schools without having any idea of whether these institutions merit
their reputations.
Business majors need a liberal arts education - Their degrees may help them secure
entry-level jobs, but to advance in their careers, theyll need much more than technical
skills.
The college visit every female applicant should make - Why visit a womens college?
Because experiencing the culture may change some misconceptions and lead to
finding a perfect fit.

A new crop of hands-on universities is transforming how students learn - When

Christine Ortiz imagines her ideal university she sees no lectures, no classrooms,
no majors, no departments. Students will work on tough practical problems in
huge open spaces.
How taking a gap year can shape your life - Looking back, adults who took
time off before or during college say they have no regrets.

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