Welcome back to China! I hope everyone had a fantastic summer pursuing amazing opportunities whether in summer programs, traveling or just hanging out. Sometimes it is just good to relax, breathe some fresh air and get some perspective.

With the end of summer comes the start of school and most schools are underway – well, international schools for the most part. If you are just starting or about to start, it is important to get yourself organized and mentally ready for all the things that need to be sorted out for the year ahead.

If you are a graduate and on your way to university or the parent of a university Freshman, I would like to direct you to the following article written by my good friend from Trinity College in Hartford Connecticut. Heading to College? Let’s Make Sure You Graduate. He gives fantastic advice for how to set your self up for success. Making the right connections and setting appropriate goals is key to finding your way to graduation. I would add another comment – Get Engaged. No not the married type of engagement but by engaging the community – find three different clubs/organizations to join. One has something to do with academics, one is social, and one is personal. By finding good clubs or organizations, you will expand your network, make different kinds of friends and really become a part of your school.

If you are a Senior (Grade 12) – Whoa you have a lot to do: School, testing (SAT/ACT, TOEFL), applications, essays, interviews (IntialView and School) and most importantly school. Your plate is full, and there is a lot to get done. Being organized, planning ahead is key to making your final year in high school a rewarding experience. One thing for sure, the end is coming and getting down to business right from the start is your job. Get on it!

As a Junior (Grade 11) – this is, in some ways your last year. By that I mean you need to make sure your grades this year are the best they can be. Whether you are an A-Level or an IB student everything you do this year goes toward your Predicted Grades. This is the last evidence of your academic prowess. It is also important to know that entering AS or IB first year courses will take a big jump in intellectual and quality of work expectations. Be ready and again organization and planning are vital. In addition, you need to be thinking about the next step in your education path. Start thinking ahead for testing (PSAT (especially if you are a US Citizen) and SAT/ACT, TOEFL), attend college visits to your school or Beijing, university fairs and begin building a good list of schools. But remember a good list takes into account good grades!

When you’re a Sophomore (Grade 10) university feels a million miles away. It’s not. Planning actually needed to start a year before – i.e., Grade 9! But as a Grade 10 student, this is the year you should be hitting your stride. The awkwardness of being a Grade 9, new high school student are over. So jump in, get involved in sports and clubs and make it a great year. Spend a bit of time investigating universities. This is really quite important and will help you know how to target your energies. Also, plan on taking one of the pre-tests for SAT or ACT. These are great ways to know what lies ahead and they will help you determine specific subject areas you need to work on. Pre-tests like the PSAT are great because the only people who see the scores are you and your counselor. P = Practice.

And finally, Freshman (Grade 9) – the first year in high school. Your grades matter! This is when everything begins, so begin with a positive. The nice thing about Grade 9 is that students don’t need to worry about standardized tests at this stage. Everything is about school and getting settled into a good routine. Get involved, try new things, explore and have fun.

No matter what you are embarking on, make this year the best yet. Get your head in the right space and go for it!

Photo: Bored Panda

It’s that time of the year when Grade 12 students are getting ready to move forward. College decisions are trickling in or are yet to arrive. In the meantime, it is time to make sure that everything needed for applications is in place. If you are in Grade 11, then there is a lot to look forward to, but it all takes planning.

So Grade 12 students. You may or may not have heard from a few schools you applied to. If your ED school accepted you, Congratulations! You’re done! If it’s an Early Action school(s) then you have some decisions to make: Do you take one of those schools or wait out for the rest? It is an important decision; certainly, if you were accepted by one of your top schools, then you need to weigh the balance of waiting. As a reminder, college applications shouldn’t be a collection process, but a choice of what is right for you. When thinking about your future, it is definitely about making sure the school you choose is the best fit – the one where you can develop the skills necessary for the future; the one that will prepare you on all levels – academically, personally, and socially. These are not mutually exclusive.

As you think about your future, it is important to weigh all the essential factors you made when choosing schools. At this stage in the process, remember that you have changed – from the process of applying, getting a bit more mature, focusing more specifically on things coming to an end (high school). There is a crack in the door letting you peek at your future. Take notice!

For the rest of your Grade 12, you’re in the waiting process. Make sure you check the status of your applications to ensure all of your needed documents are on file and nothing is missing. At this stage, the only document due is the Mid Year Report – grades from your mid-year exams. Otherwise, you are just in a holding pattern while you wait for the decisions to start rolling in – good, bad, or wait some more.

Now on to Grade 11 students. This is when everything starts. Now is when you should be planning on tasks, goals and setting a schedule. Here are a few things you must get done soon:

1. Testing – SAT or ACT and TOEFL or IELTS (if English is not your first language). Please note that some schools may state that “if you have attended an English school…” etc.. not every school has the same requirement or require a TOEFL or IELTS. It is always a good idea to have the testing in place than wish you had it.
2. Research schools – not just cursory schools that everyone applies to but schools that may actually suit you. Applying to university is not a popularity contest, though certainly, one might think that given the media’s attention to ranking and admission.
3. Talk to your College Counselor – they should be a great source of information. Remember they may have a greater knowledge of schools, and if they know you well, they might be able to recommend some schools that might actually make sense.
4. Think about summer. This has been said before, but staying home studying SAT and TOEFL is NOT a good use of your summer. Your peers, the students you are competing with, are taking courses, doing amazing community service projects, research projects, adventures in the wild and more. You lose the race by focusing on testing when testing is a small portion of the application process. Do something really meaningful, and plan something that is going to push you.
5. Don’t wait. Nothing good comes at the last minute. Students who plan and prepare are far better off than those who don’t

Move forward, clear the path. Make sure you are in a good place, whether you are a Senior or a Junior. Do what is right in front of you but also plan for the future.

Photo: telegraph.co.uk