College Counseling

— AIS Graduates

Association International School is a University Preparatory School and thus prepares students for studies in post-secondary institutions worldwide. The Counseling department provides a wide range of services to its students. These services include:

– University selection and applications – Scholarship/financial aid applications

– Guest lecture and speaker series – Campus tours

– Accommodation advice – Career guidance

– Visa counselling – University fairs and visits

– ACT/SAT tutorials

College counseling starts with students from grades 7-12. Students are advised on their course selections based on where their career interests lie. In grade 10, students take the pre-ACT test and review their scores with the counselor when it arrives. Towards the end of the academic year, students begin to plan/register for their IB courses. They are also encouraged to research and or visit as many colleges as possible during the summer break.

Once in 11th grade, students take the PSATs in the very first semester. The counseling department organizes regular workshops and seminars to orient the students on university application processes. Students then take the April ACT or the May SAT towards the close of the second semester. The same opportunity is given in June for students who wish to take more SAT subject tests. Over the summer break, students are encouraged to do the following

  • Create/Modify Resume
  • Work on College Essay
  • Research and visit colleges
  • Create a college list and a financial strategy for college

In grade 12, the application process becomes more intense.

College Counseling Handbook

  • College Counseling Handbook

First semester

  • Continue working on their college essays, college lists, identify/inform teachers for letters of recommendations, and visit colleges if possible.
  • From September through to November, students should register for SATs or ACTS if they are interested in boosting their scores.
  • By November, students should order for their SAT and ACT scores to be mailed to them
  • Applications to schools in the US, UK, Canada, Australia, other destinations should be

completed by December

Second Semester

  • In January, the counseling department organizes a financial aid workshop for parents and students.
  • Towards the end of the second semester, as decisions from universities begin to come in, students are encouraged to accept offers and pay deposits to reserve their spots in their school of choice.
  • In July, a pre-departure briefing is organized for the students to prepare them adequately for their studies at the university.

A short list of universities and colleages accepting Association International School graduates:

Massachusettes Institute of Technology

Johns Hopkins University

University Of Florida

Columbia University

George Town University

Princeton University

Rutgers University

Boston University

Vanderbilt University

Belmont University

University of Cambridge

University of Alberta

Career Counseling

— At Association International School

Unlike College counseling which is more geared towards students in the upper secondary school (Grades 9-12), career counseling appeals to the whole secondary school (Grades 6-12). Students must begin to think about their future career paths starting at the beginning of secondary so they are more prepared for college and its application process once they get to upper secondary. Thus, the counseling department organizes a career day/fair once every academic year. All through secondary school, career day is an opportunity for students to engage with people from various professional backgrounds to help them decide what career paths they might take.