OACAC Scholars 2015

By Joan Liu
University Advisor, United World College of South East Asia

OACAC actively promotes access to higher education opportunities for the neediest students around the world by supporting those who work directly with them. Through the OACAC Scholarship Program, we fund and support high-impact counselors working to help academically bright, but under-resourced international students gain access to higher education.  

Thank you for helping us identify talented counselors around the world. This year, we received 73 nominations from you. We then reached out to these nominees to encourage them to apply for the OACAC Scholarship. In total, we received 61 applications from 49 countries. 

Is the Admission Process Broken?
A Counselor's Perspective from China 

By Hamilton Gregg
HGIEC - Educational Consultant

The following is a submission from a long time OACAC member expressing his view on the current state of admissions as it pertains to students in China, and beyond.  Hamilton offers this reflection as the start of a dialogue, and with any discussion there is surely to be different points of views. OACAC invites readers to provide their views and perspectives in the Comments section at the bottom of the article. 

This year has been a bit tumultuous with month after month of SAT cheating scandals, continued reports of unethical agents or companies manufacturing outstanding student portfolios, intense “coaching” on essays and all sorts of other behavior to throw out the question “what’s going on?”

Find Yourself Not Your "Passion"

By Kelly Braun
 Int'l School of Sacred Heart, Tokyo

If I have another admission rep come into my school and tell my students that the best thing for them to do in high school is find their passion, I am going to scream. No joke. I am going to scream at the top of my lungs with reckless abandon. 

Passion is such a huge word. These kids are dealing with waaaaaay more pressure than I ever remember dealing with. They worry about their SAT scores, the amount of vocabulary they know, what their parents want, trying to ace all those classes that they are taking, and round out their extracurriculars with violin practice and basketball. Kids think that they need to fit into the “perfect student cookie cutter” so they can get into Harvard, even though I tell them that the cookie cutter is going to get them nowhere, just a mental breakdown.

So when admission people tell them they need to find their passion?

Add that to the short list of things they still need to do. 

Naviance Tuneup - Holiday Season Edition

By Tim Munnerlyn
American Community School – Abu Dhabi

Many of us are winding down the semester thinking of warm sunny beaches, shopping for those last minute presents or finalizing plans for friend and family get-togethers.  In the spirit of giving, Naviance is a gift which continues to give beyond the mangled wrapping paper and proud, fleeting New Year resolutions.

Here are a few Naviance tips to get you through the holiday season and into the New Year.

5 Fast Facts 4 Foreign Apps

By Beau Benson
New York University

    It’s that time of the year again.
For a large portion of universities, applications will be due within the next month and a half. Around the world, students are placing the finishing touches on documents that will be shipped to admissions offices around the world. And in the weeks that follow their arrival, these documents will come to define and represent the applicant as universities begin the difficult task and building a unique and diverse Class of 2019!

While countless college admissions blogs have reiterated the standard tips for all applicants, regardless of citizenship, below just a few that should be highlighted specifically for the international community.

Support the OACAC Scholar Program

Each year OACAC selects high-impact, under-resourced counselors to receive funding to attend the OACAC Summer Conference as an OACAC Scholar. These counselors are nominated by their peers and are provided funding to cover their travel, registration, and accommodation at the conference.  These are counselors who would not have been able to attend a professional OACAC on their own; often it is their first introduction to the OACAC community. 

Please consider nominating your colleague to be a 2015 OACAC Scholar. Perhaps you are in a high school yourself, and know of another school in your community whose staff could really use the support.  Perhaps you are at a university and work closely with a counselor who you know is under resourced, and would benefit from the experience of attending OACAC.  Either way, counselors who are selected speak of a life changing experience - and that life changing moment starts with your nomination. Nominate a deserving counselor today. 

Top 10 List: How to Get the Most Out of the OACAC Conference

By Jemison Foster & Tim Munnerlyn 
Jemison Foster                    Tim Munnerlyn   
Bangkok Patana School        American Comm. School – Abu Dhabi

Let’s face it, not all professional development opportunities are created equal.  Some are painful, but a necessity.  Some are engaging and inspire.  And some are OACAC!  With just over two weeks to go before this summer’s OACAC conference in Tampa, we thought we would share a few handy tips on how to maximize your experience.  

The Best of OACAC Series

Announcing … The BEST of OACAC SERIES …. Inspired by “The Best of American Essays”, a series which includes: 

Do you ever run a “best of” list in your head? Share it out loud!  Best book to get for your office, if you can only get one! Best program to run for your juniors, if you can only run one! Best database program to convince your admin to get, if you're tired of excel sheets!  Let’s pool ideas, share suggestions … after all, that’s what the Best of OACAC is about!   

Here’s our first “Best of….” column for counselors. Next column is for admissions officers! Share, Enjoy, Laugh, and most of all, Use! 


>> Elisabeth Marksteiner (International School of Zug and Luzern, Switzerland)

Senior College Application Kickoff 2013

By Tim Munnerlyn
HS Counselor – American Community School – Abu Dhabi

It’s early September and another busy season of assisting, motivating and bribing seniors to complete their college applications on time, is upon us.  Oh, where did our summer vacation go?  Amidst, the buzz of the hallways as students make their way to classes and teachers revving up their courses; high school counselors must find ways to focus their seniors for the important tasks that awaits them during the fall.

Over the years, we’ve offered a Senior College Night presentation to students and parents providing information and answering questions regarding the college application process. This has typically occurred during the second or third week of school.