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 introduce the academic and post secondary planning tools using the Unifrog platform.

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 UniFrog, and they will have the opportunity to complete career interest inventories, personality type inventories, Morrisby testing and PSAT.
   
• We offer a coherent, step-by-step process Pathway Planning process designed to offer the best advice for each student. This is done via student and parent information sessions, grade level information meetings, and individual family meetings about the academic pathways

In Grade 11, the focus is on doing well academically and on researching post-secondary options. 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 post-secondary options are available to them.
 

• To achieve this, Grade 11 students have mandatory Counseling Blocks scheduled during their free periods. Students are also strongly encouraged to attend as many on-campus university visits as possible. Grade 11 students should work regularly with UniFrog and other country specific search tools. Grade 11 students will meet individually with their University and Career Counselor. By the end of the year, students should have a preliminary list of universities they are considering and 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 and SAT. Students should work with their counselor regarding whether the tests are recommended.

 

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 UniFrog.
   
• Grade 12 year starts with a “Grade 12 Senior Retreat” where important work is done and where timelines are set. Students continue to have individual meetings with their ZIS University and Career Counselor to develop specific timelines, work on finalising their applications, sitting any remaining required tests, completing teacher recommendation surveys, polishing their application statements or essays, and completing application forms. 
   
• Parents should be aware that universities maybe in direct with the applicant; therefore regular and open communication between students and ZIS University and Career Counselors ensures a smooth process.

UniFrog 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 necessary for university applications. 
• It helps counselors manage student progress, and keeps families involved in the process.  

The web address for UniFrog is:

https://www.unifrog.org/

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

Germany www.daad.de 

France www.campusfrance.org 

Sweden www.studera.nu 

Switzerland www.swissuniversities.ch/en/topics/studying/admission-to-universities