News from IBDP Coordinator Jaimala Quinlan
Dear Parents,
Our IB cohort of students are becoming more and more aware of the needs to develop good study habits in order to keep up with the demands of the Diploma Programme. This week, they were given a presentation on tips of how to develop personalized study habits and ways in which to approach learning in class. They were also reminded of the need to use their Study Hall productively. It is challenging at this age to keep up the motivation day in day out but it is often good to stop and reflect sometimes and rethink their goals. When asked why they had chosen the IB Diploma as their pathway in High School, most of our students agreed that this was the best option if they were to get into a good college. This, to my opinion, is good motivation.
Parents of Grade 11 IB students attended an evening session on Assessments and CAS. It was a very informative evening and parents asked a lot of questions about this core element of the Diploma Programme. CAS is crucial to the success of the students though it is not assessed through examinations. CAS enables students to develop into a true IB student- they not only show the ability to perform in their academics but they are also able to develop creative thinking, physical fitness and social skills. At the moment our DP students are performing service tasks within the school community but from next semester we will be planning to have them move into the wider community. If any parent is aware of orphanages, retirement homes, hospitals where our students could do some service, please contact me. ( [email protected]).
Why do universities value our IB students? This is a question that has been posed many times and the answer is quite obvious. Colleges know that the IB Diploma Programme is a rigorous pre- university programme that puts a lot of demands on the young students. Students who take up the Diploma Programme, undergo an academic and personal growth. With the CAS programme which is an integral part of the DP, students develop their ability to take initiative, show perseverance and commitment in all the activities that they do. The fact that they also have to do a service activity enables them to connect with other people outside their school environment and appreciate other people’s points of view and opinions, thus developing their respect for other cultures.
The IBO (International Baccalaureate Organization) has been doing a lot of research over the years to assess the extent to which the IB students are prepared for life in college. I am attaching an article to this newsletter entitled: ‘Examining College Readiness’ , which is a report of a survey that was taken to assess college readiness of the IB students. This survey was carried out at the University of Oregon among 2 groups of college students: those having studied IB courses and Non –DP students. The findings are quite interesting and I would like to share this with you.
I leave you with a thought for the week:
‘The Roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet’. Aristotle.
Jaimala Quinlan
IB DP Coordinator
Our IB cohort of students are becoming more and more aware of the needs to develop good study habits in order to keep up with the demands of the Diploma Programme. This week, they were given a presentation on tips of how to develop personalized study habits and ways in which to approach learning in class. They were also reminded of the need to use their Study Hall productively. It is challenging at this age to keep up the motivation day in day out but it is often good to stop and reflect sometimes and rethink their goals. When asked why they had chosen the IB Diploma as their pathway in High School, most of our students agreed that this was the best option if they were to get into a good college. This, to my opinion, is good motivation.
Parents of Grade 11 IB students attended an evening session on Assessments and CAS. It was a very informative evening and parents asked a lot of questions about this core element of the Diploma Programme. CAS is crucial to the success of the students though it is not assessed through examinations. CAS enables students to develop into a true IB student- they not only show the ability to perform in their academics but they are also able to develop creative thinking, physical fitness and social skills. At the moment our DP students are performing service tasks within the school community but from next semester we will be planning to have them move into the wider community. If any parent is aware of orphanages, retirement homes, hospitals where our students could do some service, please contact me. ( [email protected]).
Why do universities value our IB students? This is a question that has been posed many times and the answer is quite obvious. Colleges know that the IB Diploma Programme is a rigorous pre- university programme that puts a lot of demands on the young students. Students who take up the Diploma Programme, undergo an academic and personal growth. With the CAS programme which is an integral part of the DP, students develop their ability to take initiative, show perseverance and commitment in all the activities that they do. The fact that they also have to do a service activity enables them to connect with other people outside their school environment and appreciate other people’s points of view and opinions, thus developing their respect for other cultures.
The IBO (International Baccalaureate Organization) has been doing a lot of research over the years to assess the extent to which the IB students are prepared for life in college. I am attaching an article to this newsletter entitled: ‘Examining College Readiness’ , which is a report of a survey that was taken to assess college readiness of the IB students. This survey was carried out at the University of Oregon among 2 groups of college students: those having studied IB courses and Non –DP students. The findings are quite interesting and I would like to share this with you.
I leave you with a thought for the week:
‘The Roots of education are bitter, but the fruit is sweet’. Aristotle.
Jaimala Quinlan
IB DP Coordinator
College Counseling News
Which Country?
If our students were attending a public or private high school in their home country, the odds are that they would apply to universities within a couple of hours from their home. But at GAA, our international student body considers international schools. Our students realize that there is a world of opportunity waiting for them, and consider the different universities and educational systems around the world.
While a large majority of GAA graduates will matriculate to the US, others will go to the UK or some other European university, stay in the UAE, return to their “home” country, or attend somewhere else around the globe. In fact, students have so many choices; it’s often difficult to know where to begin! The next few articles will be dedicated to providing a brief overview of universities in the prominent countries to which students apply.
General Overview
There are major differences between the university systems in different countries. Most systems follow one of two schemes, which can be categorized into the “European” or “US” systems. The United Kingdom, Australia, some provinces in Canada, and many European countries follow the European system of higher education. In this system, students are required to indicate their course of study at the time of application. Unlike the US system, students are accepted into a particular course of study. Once you begin that program, all of the courses are related to that particular area. If you compete a year of study in psychology, for example, and then you decide to change and study math, you would have to re-apply for a math course and begin the process all over again. Students are not usually asked to complete courses outside of their major area of study.
In the US, a student is required to take a broad variety of courses, often called “general studies,” in addition to courses within their major. In the US system, students usually apply to an institution instead of as single course, and many students choose to apply as “undecided,” meaning they have not chosen a major. A Bachelor’s Degree usually takes four years and students take general education requirements outside of their major.
We’ll start with an overview of the system in the United Kingdom.
UK University System
The country known as the United Kingdom (UK) is comprised of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. I state what might seem the obvious, because so many students only think of “London” and forget about the rest. Universities in all four of these lands are subject to the same government regulations and processes, but the system of education in Scotland is different from that in the other parts of the UK. Most degrees in the UK can be completed in three years, whereas in Scotland, the usual length is four years.
Universities in the UK follow the European system as outlined above. Nearly all of the courses a student takes at a UK university are directly related to their chosen course of study and typically last for three years for a Bachelor’s Degree.
Universities and colleges have specific requirements for international students. When a student is applying from GAA with the standard American high school diploma, it is extremely likely that he/she will be recommended to enroll in a foundation year program. This is because the regular American high school diploma (without the support of college-level AP/IB classes) is not equivalent to a high school diploma in the UK (high school in the UK goes an additional year than most high schools in the US).
When a student is pursuing the IB Diploma, the decision to admit a student is mostly based upon predicted examination scores. The more popular the course of study is, the higher the examination scores will need to earned to be admitted.
When applying in the UK, students are required to indicate a course of study at the time they apply. Unlike the US, where students can apply without having decided about their major, there is no such thing as “undecided” at UK universities. Students must be prepared to launch into a specific course of study, and to stay with it for three years until the degree is completed.
Fall College Visits
NOVEMBER
3rd – American University Sharjah, UAE, 9:15am
4th – Gulf International University Tour, USA and International, 9:15am
16th – Vassar College & Grinnell College, USA, 1:30pm
17th – Queen’s University, Canada, 12:00pm
19th – Bennington College & Wartburg College, USA, 9:15am
24th – Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, UAE, 9:15am
Which Country?
If our students were attending a public or private high school in their home country, the odds are that they would apply to universities within a couple of hours from their home. But at GAA, our international student body considers international schools. Our students realize that there is a world of opportunity waiting for them, and consider the different universities and educational systems around the world.
While a large majority of GAA graduates will matriculate to the US, others will go to the UK or some other European university, stay in the UAE, return to their “home” country, or attend somewhere else around the globe. In fact, students have so many choices; it’s often difficult to know where to begin! The next few articles will be dedicated to providing a brief overview of universities in the prominent countries to which students apply.
General Overview
There are major differences between the university systems in different countries. Most systems follow one of two schemes, which can be categorized into the “European” or “US” systems. The United Kingdom, Australia, some provinces in Canada, and many European countries follow the European system of higher education. In this system, students are required to indicate their course of study at the time of application. Unlike the US system, students are accepted into a particular course of study. Once you begin that program, all of the courses are related to that particular area. If you compete a year of study in psychology, for example, and then you decide to change and study math, you would have to re-apply for a math course and begin the process all over again. Students are not usually asked to complete courses outside of their major area of study.
In the US, a student is required to take a broad variety of courses, often called “general studies,” in addition to courses within their major. In the US system, students usually apply to an institution instead of as single course, and many students choose to apply as “undecided,” meaning they have not chosen a major. A Bachelor’s Degree usually takes four years and students take general education requirements outside of their major.
We’ll start with an overview of the system in the United Kingdom.
UK University System
The country known as the United Kingdom (UK) is comprised of England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. I state what might seem the obvious, because so many students only think of “London” and forget about the rest. Universities in all four of these lands are subject to the same government regulations and processes, but the system of education in Scotland is different from that in the other parts of the UK. Most degrees in the UK can be completed in three years, whereas in Scotland, the usual length is four years.
Universities in the UK follow the European system as outlined above. Nearly all of the courses a student takes at a UK university are directly related to their chosen course of study and typically last for three years for a Bachelor’s Degree.
Universities and colleges have specific requirements for international students. When a student is applying from GAA with the standard American high school diploma, it is extremely likely that he/she will be recommended to enroll in a foundation year program. This is because the regular American high school diploma (without the support of college-level AP/IB classes) is not equivalent to a high school diploma in the UK (high school in the UK goes an additional year than most high schools in the US).
When a student is pursuing the IB Diploma, the decision to admit a student is mostly based upon predicted examination scores. The more popular the course of study is, the higher the examination scores will need to earned to be admitted.
When applying in the UK, students are required to indicate a course of study at the time they apply. Unlike the US, where students can apply without having decided about their major, there is no such thing as “undecided” at UK universities. Students must be prepared to launch into a specific course of study, and to stay with it for three years until the degree is completed.
Fall College Visits
NOVEMBER
3rd – American University Sharjah, UAE, 9:15am
4th – Gulf International University Tour, USA and International, 9:15am
16th – Vassar College & Grinnell College, USA, 1:30pm
17th – Queen’s University, Canada, 12:00pm
19th – Bennington College & Wartburg College, USA, 9:15am
24th – Paris Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi, UAE, 9:15am
Dear Secondary Parents,
Thank you for your interest in the swimming tryouts during the past week. Congratulations to all the swimmers who were chosen for the teams.
We still have a few open places for advanced swimmers in the Gr.5-6 team, and the Secondary Gr.7-12 JV / Varsity teams.
Squad Entrance Expectations (at coaches discretion)*
Grade 5-12 Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly 400 meters continuous, 100 meter IM continuous
* given the limited spaces and high numbers trying out for the teams, the strongest and fastest swimmers will be selected.
Students will be timed on 25m (Gr.5-6) and 50 meters (Gr.7-12) for each stroke. We are also looking at the level of stroke performance.
Squad training takes place 2 times a week after school from 3:00-4:30.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Best Regards,
Ms. Ilaina Jaltova
GAA Aquatic Director [email protected]
Thank you for your interest in the swimming tryouts during the past week. Congratulations to all the swimmers who were chosen for the teams.
We still have a few open places for advanced swimmers in the Gr.5-6 team, and the Secondary Gr.7-12 JV / Varsity teams.
Squad Entrance Expectations (at coaches discretion)*
Grade 5-12 Freestyle, Backstroke, Breaststroke, Butterfly 400 meters continuous, 100 meter IM continuous
* given the limited spaces and high numbers trying out for the teams, the strongest and fastest swimmers will be selected.
Students will be timed on 25m (Gr.5-6) and 50 meters (Gr.7-12) for each stroke. We are also looking at the level of stroke performance.
Squad training takes place 2 times a week after school from 3:00-4:30.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact me directly.
Best Regards,
Ms. Ilaina Jaltova
GAA Aquatic Director [email protected]
Here is our Community and Secondary School Calendar - Scroll through the months to see what's planned for this year at GAA
Please make sure you check this calendar regularly for updates and new events