ASH Welcomes 90+ Colleges, Universities to Campus
“We are supporting the future of our daughter. What I’m most dedicated to (mom), is to translate her dream into a reality.” - Parent
American School of The Hague -- in partnership with the Council for International Schools (CIS) -- hosted representatives from more than 90 universities as part of an international university fair held on campus last week. Fall is when the road to college and university really starts to speed up for our seniors, and this was definitely a moment of excitement for students and parents.
Organized by our High School Counselor Office, The CIS University Fair offers students and parents an opportunity to personally connect with colleges and universities. Not only was this a chance to see the full offer of institutions they are interested in attending; it was also a time to feel the excitement of the countless possibilities beyond high school.
The Sports Hall was buzzing with conversations as students met with admissions representatives from across the globe. Institutions ranged from Vanderbilt University and Boston University in the US and Leiden University in the Netherlands to Cambridge University in the UK and The University of Hong Kong.
The fair brought our curious ASH students in direct contact with university representatives, and was the ideal opportunity for students to ask questions and get a better sense of the many facets of life as a university student.
“I’m excited about the freedom of studying what you want, and pursuing what I’m passionate about,” said an ASH student. “I’d like to be an engineer, so for me it’s important what student life looks like and if I can be a match.”
“There’s a lot of places around the world that I’m interested in. It’s important if they are a well-known university but also, at the fair, if they seem open to answer questions and welcoming,” shared another ASH student. “I’m trying to go to many open days to meet as many universities as possible - Im interested in something science-related like medicine or biology.”
The fair also served as an opportunity for representatives to articulate what universities would like to see in their applicants and how best to go about the application process.
“We’re looking for students who are open-minded, willing to learn and curious,” a representative from Leiden University explained “We often get the question of what electives students should take in high school to prepare for college. I think the best way is to reflect on what information or knowledge is going to springboard them into the university programme, rather than asking ‘what does the university need’. Of course that’s important, but it’s more about what students need as learners to get themselves there.”
This rare opportunity to meet with so many colleges and universities is a critical step in this exciting journey. Throughout the year, students will hit many more milestones towards becoming graduates and first-year college students - college applications, selection, studying and passing their final exams.
At ASH, we are proud of the opportunities we provide our high school students in preparing them for going on to college or university, or whatever path they choose to take. As part of our students’ experience, our counselors work with students to find the best fit for their education beyond high school.
Supported by our college counseling office, ASH students find their way into esteemed institutions of higher education across the globe. Our 127 graduates from the Class of 2023 received 199 acceptances from 125 universities in 13 countries.