University and College Entrance Advising

The College Counselling Office

The Lyceum School is dedicated to preparing its students for higher education, and the counselling staff is committed to helping students achieve their goals.

There are four staff persons in the counselling office. Annabel Wells Belgaumi, Talat Davis, Sharmeen A. Gohar and Maleeha Naqvi are the counsellors, and John Bernard is the assistant to the counsellors in addition to his other administrative duties. The counsellors are available to meet with students throughout the school year, and students may receive as much individual counselling as they need. The counsellors guide students through the college and university admissions process, from the selection of appropriate institutions through acceptance of offers and follow-up documentation.

It is important that students and their parents/guardians know what to expect as students select and apply to colleges and universities. This process works most smoothly when the student, the parents, and the counsellors are working together.

Parental Guidance

The tasks of selecting potential careers, deciding to which universities to apply, and then completing the applications are primarily the responsibility of the student him- or herself. Naturally, parental guidance and support is crucial during this process, so the parents and the student must be communicating clearly. Parents can help their children by working with them to set realistic goals and limits, and by being encouraging and supportive throughout this long and difficult process.

The parents and the student should come to an agreement on the type and location of university that should be considered and the general academic program to be pursued. At this time, the family also needs to make an assessment of how much money will be available to spend on the student's university education, as this can determine which universities may be considered. It is important to discuss these issues now, to avoid problems and disappointment later. If there are any restrictions on a student's university selection, make that clear immediately. It is easier and kinder to break the news before a lot of time, money, and emotion have been invested in unacceptable options.

Counselling and Student Responsibilities

Group meetings are held for students who are considering applying to colleges and universities in the US, the UK and Canada. Other meetings are held as required. Students are strongly encouraged to attend the information sessions held on campus with representatives from both local and foreign universities.

In addition to attending appropriate group meetings, all students who plan to apply abroad should meet with Mrs. Belgaumi, Mrs. Gohar or Mrs. Naqvi for an individual appointment before the end of the AI year. The counsellors will ask for information about each student's academic goals and records, preferences, and financial resources. The counsellors use this information to help guide the student's research in the right direction, but will not dictate where to apply or guarantee admittance into any institution. The amount of attention and energy the student devotes to the university research and application process is the most important factor in achieving a successful result.

Orientation meetings and individual appointments are held during the students' first year so that they can plan any required testing well in advance, and can spend their summer break researching schools and careers of potential interest. This is particularly important for study in the UK, as students decide their specialisation first, and then apply to that specific department at the university. It is important to research in detail not just the universities, but also the specific courses under consideration, as transferring to another course later may prove to be very difficult, if not impossible.

An early meeting will also ensure that students have time to gather all of the information they will need and to review their options with their parents. This preparation will enable students to make informed and appropriate decisions at application time.

Documentation

Students are often required to provide academic documents from The Lyceum School, including transcripts with projected grades, attested copies of AS Level results and letters of recommendations from counsellors and/or teachers. The college counsellors provide the transcripts and letters of recommendation as necessary, and students may request teachers to write letters in support of their applications. These requests must be made in a timely way, early in the second year of study.

Counselors and teachers are obliged to give an objective assessment of a student's performance and potential and are free to give their independent assessment, even if this is at variance with the student's/parents' expectations and desires. Likewise, projected grades are given by the teachers based on the student's potential, as demonstrated by achievement in the class. No student can, therefore, demand a letter of recommendation or a projected grade according to his or her wishes.

The School will provide transcripts and other documents for students wishing to leave before the completion of the 2 year programme. However, the college counselors will not write letters of recommendation or fill out School Report forms under these circumstances. Students are referred to the counselor of their previous school for completion of these documents.

Timetable

For those applying to schools in the US, the first major application deadline is January 1st for start in September of the same year, with a few schools having earlier deadlines. Application deadlines continue throughout the spring of the AII year, with the most competitive schools having the earliest deadlines. In order to meet these deadlines, testing must be completed by December, and the majority of applications must be prepared and sent between November and January. It is strongly recommended that students applying to the US take the SAT I test in January, May or June of the AI year.

For those applying to Canada, application deadlines start January 15th and continue throughout the spring. Because of the paperwork required, students applying to Ontario universities must be able to select their schools and initiate the application process bys sending the OUAC form before the mid December.

For those applying to the UK, the UCAS application must be sent through school by November 15. However, applications for Oxford and Cambridge, as well as those for medical, dental and veterinary programs are due on October 15. UK applications must be checked carefully before they are sent, so students must be prepared to meet school submission deadlines well in advance of these published deadlines.

For those applying to Pakistan, the earliest deadlines are for LUMS and AKU, in early March of the AII year. Most other local institutions, such as IBA, GIK, NED, FAST and Szabist, will run admissions after the A Level examinations, during the summer for a September start or during the fall for a January start.

Resources

A number of useful documents are available on the website, and provide a comprehensive overview of the application process and other relevant issues. Students should carefully read the relevant sheets for information and reference purposes, and should share these with their parents.

The counseling office has reference books and materials and an extensive library of university and college prospectuses, as well as some in video and CD-rom formats. The library also has useful reference books. Students are welcome to use these materials at school and to take photocopies of materials they would like to keep.

The school obtains SAT registration and study materials for student use, and keeps reference copies of ACT, IELTS and TOEFL registration materials.

Getting Started

Starting to prepare for your future studies is as simple as a visit to the counselling office. It is critical to begin early, especially for those who will apply to schools abroad. We in the counselling office are available to assist students and their parents in any way we can. We look forward to working with you.