This Week In University Counselling: Grade 11
April 26-May 6
Messages that ALL STUDENTS need to review... so take a look:
Appointments to see a university counsellor
To see one of the University Counsellors, you must make an appointment using our on-line booking system.
To book an appointment, you need to be logged into the Brentwood system through your school email account. Also, you must ensure that you have opened your Google Calendar at least once to ensure that the times between the two systems are in sync.
To access our on-line appointment system, click HERE to go to the correct page on the University Counselling website...
Although we shouldn’t have to tell you, do not make an appointment during a class—academic, arts or athletics—you cannot skip to attend a University Counselling appointment!
Take note: there are some evening appointments (virtual) that are available in the coming weeks... look carefully at all of the University Counsellors and their booking calendars for days/times that work best.
FRIDAY, APRIL 26 & SATURDAY, APRIL 27... MR. RODRIGUES WILL BE IN UNIVERSITY COUNSELLING SEEING VISITING PARENTS ON A DROP-IN BASIS... HE'S HAPPY TO SEE STUDENTS FOR DROP-IN, TOO!
University Visits & Presentations
Here are some UPCOMING visits that have been scheduled (CLICK THE LINKS IN THE SCHOOLS' NAMES TO DISCOVER MORE ABOUT THE SCHOOLS):
University of Cambridge & Imperial College London, England - Monday, April 29 @ 4:30 pm - Woodward 303
For university presentations, you MUST SIGN UP to attend...
Procedure for Signing-Up for University Presentations:
If they occur during a sport or fine art, you MUST get permission from your coach/instructor to attend the Presentation. You must this AHEAD OF TIME.
Once you have permission from your coach/instructor, if required, Email University Counselling to request to be signed up for a presentation, and be specific about which one it is.
You must Email University Counselling with your request no later than the night before the day of the presentation. Last minute requests are not permitted.
Grade 12 COurse selections
The following Grade 11 students have not yet had their appointment to review Course Selections with one of us in University Counselling... and the rate at which this list is shrinking is stubbornly slow:
Ryan A.
Hawk A.
Grace A.
Olivier B.
Ella B.
Jack B.
Beatrice B.
Felix B.
Lily C.
*Declan C.
Nicolas D.
Peter D.
Sarah D.
Siera E.
Elena F.
Nardia F.
Rylie F.
Abigail G.
Kade G.
Trevyn G.
Liam H.
Aizah H.
Basma J.
Maxwell K.
Myra L.
Soren L.
Liam L.
Lauchlin M.
Dara M.
Tavin M.
Jacob M.
Jasper M.
Kevin O.
Toni O.
Karter P.
Zara R.
Temi S.
Orion S.
*Joseph T.
Rowan V.
Kevin V.
William W.
Steven W.
Matt W.
Mila W.
* = Inexplicably, these students still have NOT submitted their Course Selections!
If you feel that your name is listed above in error, please touch base with the University Counsellor that you met with. If you came in to ask a question about your choices BEFORE YOU SUBMITTED THEM, that does NOT count as the meeting required to confirm your choices.
"What Do I Do Now?"
Now, take some time to discuss your selections with your Advisors, your Houseparents, and any teachers who might be able to offer insight into your potential for success in the courses you have selected.
"What if I Want to Make Changes?"
If you want to make any changes to your selections, you can do so with the University Counsellor that you meet with.
"Where Can I Review Course Information Again?"
You can return to the Course Selection website for course information. You can also access PDF slides of the presentation offered to the Grade 11 class, you may find them in the Presentations section of Student Resources on this website.
Messages that SELECT STUDENTS need to review:
applying to colleges in the united states
US Applicants
By April 21, US Applicants were meant to have their 1st Draft Essay complete. By May 5, they need to come into University Counselling to get feedback on that draft...
Where's your essay? Are you behind? You need to keep to the schedule, even with everything else going on... GET WRITING!
REMINDER: Our Next USA Sundays Workshop will run Sunday, May 5 at 7:30 pm in the Foote Field House.
If you are on the US Applicants list, then you attendance in MANDATORY at these Workshop.
If there is a reason why you cannot attend, please contact Mr. Rodrigues (it better be darn good!)
Based on attendance to our first three USA Sundays workshops (and the communication to Mr. Rodrigues about not being able to attend them), the following Grade 11s have identified themselves as US Applicants:
Olivier B. -Unexcused absence on April 21
Miguel B.
Megan C.
Albina D.
Sienna G.
Hamish G.
Ainose I.
Youto I.
Emma K.
Abby K.
Cleo K.
Isaac K. -Unexcused absence on April 21... absent last two USA Sundays
Tighe K.
Soren L.
Alex L.
Evan M.
Dara M.
Shunsuke N. -Unexcused absence on April 21
Pearl N.
Luke O.
Frederick O. -Unexcused absence on April 21
Toni O.
Karter P.
Kennedy P.
Serena P.
Stella P.
Mia R.
Evan R.
Isaac R.
Temi S.
Ruby S.
Angel S.
Grace Si.
Anya S.
Sloane S.
Grace St.
Rowan V.
Kevin V.
Matson W.
Steven W.
Kyle Y.
Names that are crossed off... you will be removed from the US Applicants unless Mr. Rodrigues hears otherwise.
If you intend to be a US Applicant and are not listed above, please email Mr. Rodrigues.
If you need to review the USA Sundays Workshop presentations, please see the slides available on the Presentations page under Student Resources section of this website. Even if you were in attendance, take some time to review those presentation slides and ensure you have a firm grasp of the messages in them. Ask you parents to review them and then have a discussion with them about the information provided.
US Applicants should be making Appointments with Mr. Rodrigues to discuss your plans for US applications... We will be expecting you to make an appointment to:
discuss your testing plan
review your academic records that we have on file
your preliminary campus choices
your ideas for your Personal Essay based on the CommonApp Essay Prompts
US Personal Essay: the commonapp essay prompts
One of the big tasks that US Applicants have is to look at the CommonApp Essay Prompts and to pick one for their First Essay Draft. The CommonApp Prompts from this past admissions cycle are (and they are unlikely to change):
Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.
The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?
Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?
Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?
Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.
Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?
Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.
Many Schools Have Extended Their "Test Optional" Admissions Policies... While Others Have Not
We continue to see schools announce that they are extending their Test Optional admission policies through to the (Class of) 2025 admissions cycle. It would seem that the foothold that standardized testing has had in the admissions process is loosening... and this may alter the approach that students take to the whole process.
At the same time, there are some schools who have returned to requiring the Standardized Testing for Admissions, so it will very much depend on where you eventually apply. Indeed, there was big news from Dartmouth, Brown, and Harvard recently about the return of their standardized testing requirement, Yale announced that a flexible testing requirement will be put in place, yet others are retaining their Test Optional policies for the next admissions cycle. Is this the beginning of a major shift? ...Perhaps!
We still encourage students to consider the SAT as part of their approach to applying to schools in the US, but the landscape will certainly be predominantly Test Optional for you when you apply next year.
Registering for your first SAT
Some Grade 11s who already know that they will definitely will be applying to the US have been asking about the official SAT. As you can see on the Grade 11 Timeline, we recommend that students in Grade 11 take the SAT for the first time in March. If you were unable to take that test, then taking one of the two coming tests is critical to your testing plan!
The following students are registered to take the upcoming SATs:
May 4 SAT @Brentwood: Lavinia B., Ainose I., Evan M., Dara M., Shunsuke N., Pearl N., Kevin O., Karter P., Temi S., Sloane S., Kevin V., Kyle Y.
May 4 SAT @Shawnigan (we will arrange for transport to/from SLS for these test-takers): Albina D., Kennedy P., Evan R.
June 1 SAT: Hamish G., Youto I., Evan M., Dara M., Jacob M., Shunsuke N., Frederick O., Karter P., Kennedy P., Evan R., Ruby S., Grace St., Kevin V.
Testing Schedule for the SAT
Regardless of how you are preparing for the SAT, you need to get your testing schedule organized. What we recommend for all Brentwood students is:
1st sitting of the SAT = March or May or June 2024 (Grade 11)
2nd sitting of the SAT = June or August 2024 (Grade 11)
3rd sitting of the SAT, if needed = October 2024 (Grade 12)
Not every student needs to sit the SAT three times, but virtually all students will take it 2 or 3 times.
Testing Accommodations for the SAT
Do you get testing accommodations at Brentwood because of an IEP? If you believe you might be eligible for accommodations for the SAT, then you need to submit an application with the CollegeBoard for them. You need to see Ms Rogers in the Learning Centre as she must submit the application and required documentation to see if you qualify for accommodations. They are not guaranteed!
interested in applying to the United kingdom?
While Grade 11 students looking to the US have been busy this spring, others have been wondering when they might have to get more serious about the process...
If you are thinking about applying to the Universities in the United Kingdom...
Do we have a presentation for you!
On Tuesday, May 7 in Woodward 303 at 6:45 pm (immediately after the Direct-Entry presentation), Mr. Rodrigues will present about UK Applications.
interested in applying to direct-entry programs overseas?
While Grade 11 students looking to the US have been busy this spring, others have been wondering when they might have to get more serious about the process...
If you are thinking about applying to Direct-Entry Programs (medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, law) outside of North America...
Do we have a presentation for you!
On Tuesday, May 7 in Woodward 303 at 6:00 pm, Mr. Rodrigues will present about Direct-Entry Programs Overseas.
Summer Programs
We receive a lot of notices about summer programs that are out there in world, so we thought we would make a space to share links to some that catch our attention. Have a look at the Summer Programs page in the Student Resources section of this website.
"What's involved in this post-secondary planning process?"
Planning for your post-secondary life after Brentwood can be a confusing and intimidating process... that's why University Counselling is here to be with you every step of the way! For the process to go well, however, you and your parents have to be informed consumers! That means keeping up with information (here on this website), but also anticipating what's to come. How do you do that?
Take some time to review the Timelines section of this website. It will give you and your parents a broad view of what's involved at various stages through the process, now and into the future! Certainly, it will answer questions you have about the critical times that demand action from you!