Jon Hartmann Careers Counselor at Prem Tinsulanonda International School presents 'How to gain entry to overseas universities at PSA meeting 21 May 2012

1. How to gain entry to Overseas
Universities
Based on over 12 years Experience in Chiang Mai
By Jon Hartmann BA (Hons), Grad.Dip Ed, Careers Cert.
Career Counsellor
Prem Tinsulanonda International School

2. Pre-requisites
 Career counselling (grades 9-11)should lead
to good course selection .(myroad.com,pastoral care programme,,work
experience, careers day)
 University research (grade 11/12) should lead
to good University selection.
 Course selection is the most important
 Application can then take place.

3. Advice
 Do Work Experience or Shadowing
 Talk to Alumni of Universities
 Talk to admission officers at Fairs
 Settle on ONE country
 Take aptitude test (Hascit Test at Prem)
 Make a family decision
 Base decision on reality ,academic and
financial

4. Factors to Consider
 Credentials of the student both academic and
others.
 Nationality of the Student
 English requirements of University
 Country applying to
 Dates and Deadlines
 Specific Universities
requirements
 Cost
 Scholarships

5. Nationality of the student/English
requirements
 Thai/Non native English student to UK,
USA,Canada,Australia
 For Undergraduate courses Universities will need
guarantees of English ability
 May need to do TOEFL or IELS (CMU). Bridging courses
available at the University
 May need school verification of ability and length of
English education.
 eg Melbourne University: “Completing the final two years
of secondary education at a school where English is the
medium of instruction and assessment and gaining a
satisfactory pass in English in the final year”

6. Dates and Deadlines
USA:1st January ,some earlier
UK January 15th
Canada February
Australia November after graduation
 Need to know the dates, deadlines and
specific details of each countries
systems and each University applied for.

7. Country Applying to.
UK
 a centralized system allowing
5 choices for one fee
 Apply online
 Apply before January 15th
 www.ucas.com

8. USA.
USA
 Individual applications to individual
Universities are accepted. Deadline is mostly
the 1st January
 Most accept “The Common Application online”
 Require student essays, references,
curriculum vitae and grades
 May require SAT score.
 Will require school transcript from grade 9-12.

9. USA.
 USA has the most diverse and complicated
system of application. Consider early
application.
 Some Universities have their own Application
forms, some have an International
supplement, some have earlier and later
closing dates, some require an interview.
 My Advice is: Check each USA Universities
entry criteria and application process
thoroughly.

10. Australia
Australia
 Much later than the other ESC due to
Southern Hemisphere.
 Can apply as late as November
for February intake.
 Individual applications to Universities

11. Canada
Canada
 Direct entry to the University
 Entry around February (UBC Feb 28th)
 SAT maybe
 Application require personal
statements, grades, references

12. What credentials do students need?
 A Transcript with GPA
 A standardised Test Score SAT or IB Diploma
or AP.
 Higher grades determine the quality of the
University and course you can successfully
apply for.(SAT scores for average entry
published and match ranking)
 Higher grades will help students applying for
merit based scholarships.

14. Hints for a successful application
 Include School profile
 Personal essay skillfully written.
 Documents easy to read and attractively
presented
 References from an alumni if possible.
 Everything very professionally presented
and all in one parcel or online.

15. School Profile

16. References

17. Personal Essays
Boston University Essay: Who or what influenced you to apply to BU?
“Communications, Mr. Hartmann! I love it! But, what school?”
As I had never considered Communications previously, I was absolutely in the dark about what school was the perfect fit for
an ambitious student willing to study communications.
Without hesitation, Mr. Hartmann suggested a name I was quite familiar with, yet unsure of its strengths, “Boston
University.”
Boston University? I knew it was a great school, well recognized for many specializations, but was it really that famous for Communications?
Seeing my puzzled face, Mr. Hartmann expanded on his suggestion.
“Boston, as you know, is the city for education in the United States. Smack in the middle of such a city, Boston University contains many schools
of different educational fields, one of which being Communications. The Communications College offers majors in mass communications, film
and television, journalism… Practically everything you can ask for in communications is there with a liberal arts program so you can try
everything, explore, and come to your final major without any problems. Aside from all the studying you have to do, you are free to take part
in the hundreds of sports teams, clubs, and more! Plus, you are literally in the middle of the city, so you are really able to balance between
school workand the fun you need in college life. I mean, what more can you ask for?”
I knew it was Mr. Hartmann simply informing me of a school, but everything about his description of the school was instantly attractive. To be
able to enjoy the city life as well as be productive in my studies of Communications was something not many schools could ever offer.
One usually has to choose between the two, but here was a school capable of fully offering both.
Completely satisfied with knowing what to study and where to go for that study, I knew I did not have to ponder any further about which college
would be the perfect fit. I knew where I had to go, and where I had to get in to have the best four years of my life.

18. Uncertainties
 Quotas : need for nationality balance
 sex ratio,
 need for a % of underprivileged.
 Special Missions: Trent University
Canada
Will give enormous support to Burmese students.

19. Other ways to help yourself
 Special Guidance: Agencies, Experts on the
USA, publications,Good Universities guide,
 College Dirt.com, alumni accounts, admission
officers counselors.
 The KEY Question:What slant will most aid
your success???
 NO SUBSTITUTE FOR GOOD GRADES

20. Scholarships
 Scholarships :USA has the most!
 Merit based:academic/sporting/arts
 Needs Based: income/
 Automatic or special application
 PSAT for grade 11’s

21. Examples from PTIS
 Sonja2006: IB score of 44 Barnard
College, Columbia University IVY
LEAGUE

22. Examples from PTIS
 EMMY2007 London School of Economics / IB
score of 38 second best Business School in
Europe

23. Examples from PTIS
 Art: 2008 IB certificate, classical guitarist
DVD,
 Australian National University ranked 16th in
the world One of two Internationals allowed for
this course.

24. Examples from PTIS
 Ishaan 2009 IB Score of 40 University
College London ranked 7th in the world

25. Examples from PTIS
- Gun 2010 Carnegie Mellon
University (CMU) ranked top ten in the world
for Engineering

26. Examples from PTIS
- Prangphisut (Fah) Daengdej 2011 New York
University (Abu Dhabi) one of the most selective
University in the World accepting less than 5% of
applicants

27. My Conclusion
 Conclusion: Students from PTIS who
have outstanding academics, great
references and a history of service and
leadership can gain entry to the world’s
finest Universities.