University & Careers

ZIS counselors know that Grade 9 students who focus on transitioning into upper school, doing well academically, and joining extra-curricular activities have the widest range of opportunities and success in the future. So rather than developing anxiety about life after ZIS, Grade 9 students concentrate on doing these three things well, and understanding themselves as learners.

• To help students meet with success, we work closely with the Grade 9 Grade Level Leader to provide students opportunities for learning more about their signature strengths and their learning style. We also provide information on course selections and academic planning.
   
• In March/April, students will have the opportunity to take the PSAT 8/9, which measures what they’re already learning, shows them whether they’re on track for college, and lets them know where they need the most improvement.

The focus for Grade 10 students is on further leveraging their strengths and interests. This is a year in which academic planning is a major focus.

• We know students who work to their strengths are more likely to be engaged and less likely to experience stress or anxiety. Similarly, a student who knows his/her personality type will have better insight into the situations in which he/she works best.
   
• Therefore a student’s strengths, personality traits, and abilities underpin our in-depth individualized academic planning process in Grade 10.
   
• To help create the best academic plans, Grade 10 students will be introduced to MaiaLearning, and they will have the opportunity to complete career interest inventories, personality type inventories, Morrisby testing, the PSAT-10, and ISA testing.
   
• We offer advice via a coherent, step-by-step process, that is designed to offer the best advice for each family. This is done via parent information sessions, grade level information meetings, and individual family meetings about the academic pathways

In Grade 11, the focus in on doing well academically and on research. This exploratory time is one for the student to focus on their learning, their aspirations, and to honestly self-evaluate strengths and weaknesses. This will inform their research on what options are available to them.
 

• To achieve this, Grade 11 students have counseling blocks scheduled and they are strongly encouraged to attend as many university presentations as possible. Grade 11 students should work regularly with MaiaLearning, and UK applicants should also be using the UCAS search tool. Grade 11 students will meet individually with their University and Career Counselor. By the end of the year, students should have a list of universities they are researching and they should be ready to draft personal statements and application essays.
   
• For some ZIS students, this is also an important year for standardized testing. Therefore, we are a testing center and we offer the PSAT, the SAT, and the ACT for students who need them. Students should work with their counselor regarding the timing of these tests.

Grade 12 is the time for applications for most ZIS students. The goal is for the student to be true to themselves; to show their ability, individuality, strengths, and character and explain why that makes them likely candidates for admission to university.

• Depending on the country and the course to which they are applying, applications can be due as early as October of the Grade 12 year or as late as three weeks after graduation. Planning is important, and students will regularly use MaiaLearning.
   
• Grade 12 year starts with a “Grade 12 Senior Retreat” where important work is done and where timelines are set. Students continue to have scheduled counseling blocks, and they should also be meeting often with their ZIS University and Career Counselor to develop specific timelines, and to work on finalising their application list, sitting any required tests, requesting teacher recommendation letters, polishing their application statements or essays, and completing application forms. 
   
• Parents should be aware that universities are in contact directly with the applicant; therefore regular and open communication between students and ZIS University and Career Counselors ensures a smooth process.

MaiaLearning is a website that students and parents can use and is an integral part of the university and career readiness counseling program at ZIS. Here are some of the things we use this program for:

• It lets students develop profiles, explore careers that fit those profiles, and build academic, college, and career plans. 
• It helps students manage college/university applications, and build portfolios that will gain them admission. 
• It helps counselors manage student progress, and keeps families involved in the process.  

The web address for our ZIS MaiaLearning account is:

https://www.maialearning.com/#/user-login

UK www.ucas.com

US https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/college-search

Canada www.studyincanada.ca

Ireland www.educationireland.ie

Australia www.studyinaustralia.gov.au

Holland www.studyinholland.nl (1,500 Bachelors and Masters courses in English in Holland)

Germany www.daad.de (106 courses in English in Germany)

France www.campusfrance.org (24 courses in English in France at Bachelor level)

Sweden www.studera.nu (65 courses in English in Sweden at Bachelor level)