University and Career Counselling

University and Career Counselling 

A counsellor's role is to advocate for students and to further advise them and parents individually. This advice includes but is not limited to researching and choosing a university, career, course or major; admissions testing; external programmes; co-curricular activities; internships; or summer programmes. 

The Dulwich Success Plan has been put together by counsellors across all the schools in the Dulwich family to provide excellent support for each student through the whole university application process.

Philosophy:

Our philosophy is that each student does not simply matriculate to the highest ranked university that grants them a place but, rather, considers the balance between social and academic fit. 

Guiding Principles:

• Students will have access to university counselling and career services from the start of their high school education; 
• Students will have adequate time to access services during the school day; 
• Students will be exposed to and supported in all post- secondary and vocational choices based on goals, individual capability, strengths and interests identified through participation in The Dulwich Success Plan; 
• Students will have sufficient support to participate in enrichment programs throughout the year; 
• Parents will be educated, engaged, and understand their involvements and roles in the university and career planning process; 
• University and career counsellors will serve as advocates, supporting and guiding every student, prioritizing individual student needs. 

Roles and Responsibilities: 

Applying to university is a collaborative process that involves the full participation of the student, parents and the counsellor in preparing the students to apply to university. 

It is our aim to guide and advise students through the application process so that they are prepared for what is a busy and often stressful time for students and parents. 

What do the counsellors do? 

• Empower the students in researching universities and colleges; 
• Organize college and university visits to the school; 
• Guide students/parents through the application processes: 
• One-on-one meetings with students and parents 
• Advise on what should be included in the application 
• Advise on creating a balanced university application list 
• Help with the content of a personal statement or essay 
• Assist students with proofreading their essays and personal statements. We do not write them! 
• Send initial transcripts, mid-year transcripts and final transcripts 
• Send the application and supporting documentation (as required) to each university. 
• Coordinate the Letters of Recommendations from teachers; and 
• Write a counsellor Letter of Recommendation. 

 

Agent/Independent Counsellor Policy 

A private agent or an independent counsellor offers a wide range of services including assisting with application materials, school selection, and writing essays. However, it is not necessary to use an agent or an independent counsellor as explained in the Integrity Agreement. There have been many cases where agents have written essays for students. THIS IS UNETHICAL AND CAN RESULT IN AUTOMATIC DENIAL OF ACCEPTANCE. An increasing number of universities have made clear statements that they do not accept students who are paying a company or an individual to complete the application process on their behalf. Dulwich expects our students to take responsibility for themselves in terms of applications and their further studies; therefore, if we find out a student is using an independent counsellor or an agent to complete application forms, to write essays, or to forge our school's materials(transcripts, Letters of Recommendations and so on), we will immediately inform the universities, without exception. 

Dulwich provides university and career counselling services as part of your tuition and offers professional advice throughout the process. The DHSZ counsellors will be mentoring you from the beginning to the end of your applications; hiring an agent or an independent counsellor is an unnecessary addition to your educational investment. 

Instead of purchasing services from agencies or independent counsellors, engaging in the process of university research, selecting schools, completing application forms and writing essays by yourself is a great opportunity to put your future in your own hands. So, please do not pay others to take this valuable chance from you! 

 

Counsellor Appointments 

Each year group has different scheduled appointments with counsellors. If students need an additional meeting with a counsellor, they can do so through by reaching out to their House Counsellor or teams or visiting the counselling office on the second floor (Room 2S2)

Dulwich Success Plan 

The following content provide information, by year, so that our students are well informed and can be well prepared for all stages of their university/college career options. By following this plan, our students will be able to find their best fit university. 

The Dulwich Success Plan is tailored to our students and their individual needs. Counsellors are available for meetings with students and/or parents at a mutually agreed convenient time and are arranged by the AHOY. Students can make individual appointments to speak to a counsellor who has a wide range of knowledge about global institutions and application processes. 

Throughout the year, DHSZ hosts a number of university and college visits from a range of countries and disciplines, providing an environment for students to talk with admission officers to learn more about areas of study and locations, ensuring that by Year 13 students have a clear understanding of their best fit universities. 

The counselling department also regularly invites academics to speak at the school, so that students can have a better understanding of career and university options.

Maia Learning:

Maia Learning is a college and career readiness online platform that helps connect academic achievement to post-secondary goals. Maia Learning helps students determine which careers may be of interest and helps them match their likes and dislikes to specific colleges in many diverse areas, such as school size, location, and majors offered. Maia Learning helps our students begin to prepare for life after high school by helping them narrow down their areas of interest and by supporting them with the process of applying to college. From Year10 to Year 13 students are particularly active in managing their research and applications through this platform.

Annual Objectives Year 10 - Year 13: 

All year groups will work on three key themes throughout their time at DHSZ: 

1. Knowing Themselves; 
2. Understanding the Bigger Picture; 
3. Making Informed Decisions. 

As the student progresses through Dulwich, the content of these themes deepens each year. By the time the student is in Year 13, students can reflect on this awareness in their university application. 

Year 10:

• Year 10s have six counselling sessions during Life Skills classes. 
• This Year is about settling into DHSZ, and utilizing the opportunities and experiences that Dulwich offers. To start developing a strong college profile and identity. 
• Students use this year to try new sports and/or skills. Learning objectives are for students to start to identify their strengths and help them learn more about themselves. They will be able to identify their weaknesses and to try to turn them into strengths; they will also research and understand careers. Finally, they will also be supported in choosing their options for lGCSE. 

Year 11/IG1/PAL: 

• The A-Level choices that students will make in Term 2 may affect what they study 
• at university and can even affect their admission. The Head of Year and Counsellors will review course selection and work with the Head of Departments to ensure that the most beneficial choices have been made, based on a tentative or definite future. 
• The learning objectives for Year 11/IG1 are to understand how students can make the best of opportunities and experiences they have in and out of school to be competitive in the university admissions process. They will understand resiliency in learning more about themselves; be able to apply hints and tips for decision making processes and understand and partake in the process of researching careers and courses all over the world so that their decisions for A-Levels are based on well-informed choices. 

Year 12: 

• Students will actively research courses, colleges, and universities, beyond rankings and minimum entry requirements, whilst looking at degree types and lengths in different countries. 
• The aim is to create a Long List of potential universities they may like to attend worldwide. The students will have a firm understanding of the terms unlikely, likely, and most likely when considering what types of universities there are and how it suits them (see below in Year 13). 
• Students will also have opportunities to start crafting their application documentation and will work with both counsellors and teachers of the English department in producing a first draft of a Common Application essay, or a personal statement. 
• If students are thinking of applying to US universities, it is recommended that students take the SAT or ACT in winter and/or early Spring of Year 12 so that their scores are known before entering Year 13. Elite university preparation (Oxbridge and Ivy League) and support is also available through Scholars Programme. 
• Students will ask applicable teachers to write Letters of Recommendation for their university applications. Students will have individual counselling sessions, class discussions and projects. This process will start in January with a mandatory parent/student event. 

Year 13: 

• Students will take time to reflect on their time at DHSZ and to identify their strengths and weaknesses. They will understand how they can stand out from the crowd and be unique to send well-drafted and meaningful applications to universities in Year 13. 
• From the start of Year 13, individual student and parent meetings are held to discuss unlikely, likely and most likely universities/colleges, application processes and, to sign the Integrity Agreement and the US and UK Early Application Agreement Policies. 
• Our Year 13s have individual counselling throughout the application process. Their applications are reviewed and checked prior to sending. Transcripts and other documents will be prepared and sent as required. 
• Students need to communicate with their counsellors regularly about external deadlines, scores and plans for Oxbridge, Early Action, Early Decision, or an art degree, and to which universities they are applying to. The counsellors are involved in each stage to advise and guide the student for the best outcome. These dates will have been communicated to students and parents in January of Year 12.