University applications have always been a tough journey. Parents may find themselves in a situation where they would like to be involved but do not know how, due to a new competing route and overwhelming information. This kind of feeling may be especially true for parents of students who have newly enrolled in the international education system. In order to ease parents’ anxieties and enhance their level of involvement in the university application process, the Career and University Guidance (CUG) team at SUIS Qingpu recently held three junior student parent gatherings in our 5th floor Salon, one on 29 December 2023, one on 5 January 2024, and one on 12 January 2024. The themes for the salons were: Interpreting the Latest Trends of Studying in the UK and the US through Official Data; A Good Career Assessment, a Good Major Choice; and Being an Admissions Officer for One Day.
Salon Gathering #1
Interpreting the Latest Trends of Studying in the UK and the US through Official Data
Regarding the UK direction, Mr. Penn began by discussing the state of the Chinese economy, international student research reports, statistics on Chinese students pursuing higher education in the UK, and other topics. He then provided corresponding explanations for the main concerns shared by many parents, such as the number of Chinese students enrolled in the Russell Group, the cost of studying abroad, and the trends regarding Chinese students applying for courses.
The primary focus for the US direction discussion was the trend regarding the number of international students studying in the US, the main majors, the processing of student visas, and other relevant topics. Parents actively participated in the discussions and asked questions about the topics that were of special interest to them. Mr. Penn provided thorough answers to all their inquiries.
Salon Gathering #2：
A Good Career Assessment, a Good Major Choice
On 5 January, using a Kuder assessment report example as a case study, Mr. Penn demonstrated how to interpret the report and use it to inform a student’s future career planning and course selection. Regarding the questions posed by parents, Mr. Penn emphasized that the Kuder assessment has a higher reference value in educational planning as it can produce more dependable and professional results than the MBTI system that other platforms use.
Salon Gathering #3: Being an Admissions Officer for One Day
Among the three salon gatherings, the one on 12 January was especially noteworthy. Mr. Penn provided a brief overview of five sample applicants at the start of the event, an overview that included each student’s school, curriculum, course selection and exam results, as well as their major interests. Parents were then asked to take on the role of ‘admissions officer’ after reading the extract of five students’ personal statements (application essays). They were required to evaluate each applicant, select the one they thought had the most advantages, and provide justifications for their choices. This interactive activity helped parents vividly understand the university admission process, giving them more insights into admission criteria.
We are delighted to communicate that parents responded very favourably to the three career and university guidance salon gatherings. The CUG team will continue to support our students’ planning and preparations for university and their future careers. Please keep an eye out for our upcoming events!
