UWC applicants year 2014

Applying to College
41

<p>@ MediDuet, yeah, I’m glad I’m finally here too :stuck_out_tongue: I’m in the middle of a move across continents so it’s a little hectic, but hopefully I’ll be able to keep chatting on here! Also, I’ll definitely check out the UWCGB site. I do check it every so often, and I’m on their newsletter email list, but I’ll keep a close eye on it.</p>

<p>The ratios in your country are scary! I emailed UWCGB committee a while ago to find out about the figures for Britain, and it’s about 1/3 of students who are accepted!!! :

  • approx 120 apply
  • approx 80 get interviews
  • approx 40 get selected</p>

<p>So yeah, woop woop</p>

42

<p>@Pashay, what?? “Only” 120 apply? Britain is a lot bigger than my country and has less applicants. It is strange because there is a UWC school in Wales as well.
And good luck with moving!</p>

43

<p>How can I know how many applicants were there at the latest selections here in Italy ?</p>

44

<p>Hi everyone,</p>

<p>Sorry to jump in the middle, but I was really excited to find a thread already up for the 2014 UWC school year! I applied through the US program as a sophomore, and didn’t get in, but I am trying again this year. I actually live a couple of hours away from the USA UWC campus, so if anyone has any questions about the area, let me know! </p>

<p>I read a lot of the 2013 thread, but does anyone know if how you did previously in the application process affects your current chances? Thanks!</p>

45

<p>I don’t think your previous applications will affect your chances this year at all! </p>

<p>I’m applying for the first time to the UWCs! I’ll be applying through the Hong Kong this year and I’m hoping it’ll go well. :slight_smile: Does anyone know anything about applying to Li Po Chun through the Hong Kong committee? I can’t find much about it… </p>

<p>Good luck to everyone!! ^_^</p>

46

<p>I really love the Adriatic College. Does anyone know anything about it & its music program?</p>

47

<p>@heningz, Atlantic College is very nice. :slight_smile: I think AC it not special for teaching music although you can learn music there and there are music teachers for some instruments as well. But I don’t know more about it. As far as I know UWC AD in Duino is the one which is more into music.
Here is a link where you can find pretty much everything about AC. :slight_smile:
[UWC</a> Atlantic College - International Baccalaureate](<a href=“StackPath”>http://www.atlanticcollege.org/)</p>

48

<p>UWC AD has a very comprehensive music program, with ties to a conservatory. In the beginning of the year you can audition for the classical program and if you get in you are in ensembles and get masterclasses and private lessons. I just know this because I was all of you last year, the borderline obsessive UWC applicant and through blogs and forums pieced together A LOT of information about the colleges that interested me. It gets better, you guys! The waiting does end, and for some (hopefully all) of you this will mean a turning point in your life :slight_smile: I’ve been skyping with my co-years from all over the world, connected with my second-years and have chosen my classes now and will be leaving for India in 3 weeks. I’m telling you, APPLY! You won’t regret it. I’m not even there yet and I feel changed. Get ready to have your life turned upside down.</p>

49

<p>On another note I just took an oral vaccine for Cholera and I feel like I’m going to throw up. There’s two sides to every coin ;)</p>

50

<p>Thank you garyoak nd MediDuet. Actually my family’s total income can just afford the tuition. Is it pretty hard to get the full scholarship?</p>

51

<p>So, I know it is a bit early, but how do we start preparing for the selections? I know here in Italy they start in February.</p>

52

<p>@MilanoMetro, in my country the application is out around October or November.
I’ll describe the whole process with every detail I can give you now. So first you have to fill a form with the following things: your name, grade, sex, date of birth, place of birth, nationality, passport number, identity card number, the name and job of your parents, your address, phone number, e-mail address, details of your current school, which language you speak and what level (and the details of your language exam(s) if you have), details of competitions you participated in, details of community service, what sports you do, and what creative artistic activity you do, whether you study music.
And then you have to ask your form-master (if it is how you call the leader teacher of your class) and an other teacher to write recommendations.
Then you have a series of questions and if you answer them the Committee gets a picture of you. These questions are mostly about your hobbies, freetime activities, your future plans, your family. About UWC for example: where you found out about it. A question, whether you want to say anything else about yourself to the Committee.
And finally you have three essays to write. Two compulsory essays and than you have to choose two topics out of three and write those essays as well. But these two are more about forming an opinion than about you.
This whole thing is the first step in my country and if you are interesting for the Committee then they are going to choose you and put you through to the interview stages. In case they like you there as well they invite you to a two-day-camp which is the last step before getting a scholarship. But again it’s about the system in my country I don’t know the other coutries but I guess there must be at least small similarities.
I started preparing for this about seven months ago. BUT not too seriously, I’ve just collected essay topics and interview questions. But from now I’ll practice essays or at least just think about what I would write to a particular topic. :slight_smile: (I know I am very passionate about it because UWC means a lot to me, and I guess I am not alone here! :slight_smile: )
I hope I helped!
@heningz, yes, it is pretty hard but NOT impossible! That’s what comforts me as I’ve mentioned my country’s statictics before…</p>

53

<p>@mediduet thanks a lot! Here in my country is a bit different, as much as I know. You still have to ask a teacher to make a presentation letter, but you don’t have to write any essay. After, you send the right documentation, there are the “pre-selections” where there are various tests: general knowledge, math-logic, italian language use capacity (English skills aren’t valued, they think you will learn or improve english directly in a UWC camp), some other activities, and there is a little interview. If you pass the “pre-selections”, you are called to partecipate to the 3 days selection in Duino (UWC Adriatic location), were you are interviewed, valued etc. </p>

<p>So, I found a lot of information.
What I understood, is that the most important things you have to know are all about today geopolitics: wars, debates, current events in general.
The classical questions that will probably be asked are:
-Who are you?
-Why do you want to go to UWC?
-What distingueshes you from the other candidates?
-Why should we choose you?
-What’s your greates weakness?
-What are your strenghts?
-How would you contribue to UWC?
-What are you motivations?
-What are your goals?
-When was that time that you failed and learnt from your mistakes?
And then various opinions about mainly these topics: War - general point of view, war in Afghanistan, Isarel-Palestine war, war in Syria (this one, being “recent”, may be a hot topic), then, death penalty, homosexuality, religion in general, hunger in Africa, European Union (if you are from USA, you won’t be asked about this, probably), but also internet influence, social networks, modern technology pros and cons, recent nobel prizes, books (better if you find a “favourite” book). Then, again, questions about the financial crysis, how it has changed your life, how it may be solved. The importance of peace and integration, between nations and people. But also environment, why and how should we respect it. Renewable energy sources. Nuclear energy, again, pros, cons and dangers. But you may be also questioned about music, movies, books. What kind of them do you like, what do they mean to you and which one helped you or changed you.
You better have a STRONG opinion about every matter, you must not show yourself insecure, but you also show yourself willing to discuss about it and reason about it.</p>

<p>This is the info that I found from other people experiences, MAYBE it applies only to Italy, but it’s important that you all have some knowledge and an opinion about that arguments anyway :stuck_out_tongue: I hope i’ve been to help to somebody.</p>

54

<p>Hi everyone!
I’m from China and I applied to UWC last year when I was in Grade 10. But I was rejected. I still want to apply this year so it’s great to have a chance to learn more about UWC in this forum. ^<em>^
It is really competitive to apply to in China. There are 35 students selected according to the official website, but it is said there were more than 1000 students who have applied to it. And only 70 students was able to attend the interview. I didn’t even attend the interview.
I never thought it is so competitive. It is really hard for a student in grade 10 I suppose, because when I was applying to UWC, I haven’t taken any formal exam (Like the end-of-year exam).
I wonder do you in some other country need to submit a transcript of the senior high school entrance exam? It is required when you apply in China. But unfortunately all the students in my city don’t have a official transcript with a official seal because we all only get a informal piece of paper which said the scores when we went and got. It’s really frustrating. Last year, my present high school printed one transcript for me and affixed the school’s seal. I really don’t know whether that’s okay and I think this matter will still bother me a lot this year. -</em>-#</p>

55

<p>The interview questions focus on you and your application. There might be a few political questions that are relevant to your country or area as they want to know that you understand what impacts this has on you or at least that you understand what it means and have formed your own opinion on it. For example, here in British Columbia, First Nations rights tied to environmental rights are a big issue and quite often people here are asked about it. If you had to specify what college you’d prefer they might ask you about that, and if its abroad they’ll be interested to hear what you know of the country.</p>

56

<p>Thank you MilanoMetro! It is really helpful for me. :slight_smile:
@garyoak it is so good to hear things from you who experienced the whole process, thank you! I guess I have a bit of reading to do if I get an interview. I am going to get more information of my favourite school’s region. And hopefully that will help me.</p>

57

<p>Yeah, obvioulsy the kind of interview changes from nation to nation, that were info that I found on an italian website.
However, Garyoak, what were the most important or difficult questions that were asked you?
Also, I remember you had a blog if I’m not wrong, could you link it? :P</p>

58

<p>For sure, For sure, my blog is thuleatmuwci.blogspot.com :slight_smile:
The most important question they asked me was (surprise) why I wanted to go to a UWC. They asked me why I, specifically, wanted to go. Because anyone can browse the website and put together a paragraph of what you know they want to hear, so they want something from the heart. They asked how what I’m doing now, what I want to learn at a UWC, and what I plan on doing after, connect.</p>

59

<p>Hi everyone!
I’m so glad this little thread exists! I didn’t know about it until now so I missed the memo then proceeded to blow past the fashionably late category and ended up stumbling in with metaphorically messed up hair and mismatched shoes to this lovely UWC internet pow wow …but it’s ok, right? We are all possible-potential-peers here :slight_smile:
So! I have a burning question for anybody who is up for it: I fell in love with muwci and become slightly obsessive- trolling forums and the uwc website etc.- but nobody ever seemed to gush about their aspirations to attend muwci like they do with Adriatic and Atlantic…What’s up with that? It worried me a tad and I was just wondering all of your opinions on it! Thanks so much! </p>

<p>Oh, and a little information on me…you might want to sit down and hold onto your socks-I am pretty darn exciting :wink:
I’m from the US and going into my sophomore year at a boarding school. (For those who haven’t lived in a dorm, it is the most wonderful fantastic experience! Imagine it with 3 culturally diverse roommates at UWC though! Thats like the definition of amazing on steroids!) umm lets see what else. I guess you can stop holding your socks…not as exciting as I thought. Oh! volunteering and service is where a majority of my focus goes. “Since you get more joy out of giving joy to others, you should put a good deal of thought into the happiness that you are able to give.” is one of my favorite Eleanor Roosevelt quotes. If you take that and pair it with The Little Prince, you will get an idea of how I run my ship! I can’t wait to get to know you all!</p>

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<p>Emmy0126, I’m so excited that you fell in love with it just like I did! I think what puts off a lot of people is not as much the college but more the country. For a lot of westerners, India seems like a pretty challenging place to live, and well, they’re right from what my second-years have told me. It’s dusty, it’s hot, there’s frogs in the shower, monsoons when you arrive, and getting somewhere takes 3 more hours than you planned. But it’s also beautiful, with bright orange sunsets and monkeys and the campus is basically in a jungle on a hill. It is filled with open, enthusiastic people that are all so incredible diverse that India is 10 different countries in itself. There is the Ganesh festival, Holi festival, Diwali festival … the list goes on! The opportunities for Project Week at Mahindra are also absolutely mind-blowing. This year I could choose from hiking a glacier in the Himalayas to working with tribal communities on the east coast to crocodile habitat conservation. It’s harder to be comfortable there, but that gives you the best platform to embrace that change in environment and grow from it. I guess I’ll have to learn to be comfortable with being uncomfortable, but I think it’s a small price to pay for all the new smells, tastes, sights and textures, not to mention friends that will be waiting for me there :slight_smile: Another really cool thing with Mahindra is that they offer World Religions as a course, as well as yoga, tabla and sitar classes, Marathi (the local language) and Hindi, traditional indian dance and Bollywood dance as activities. There are so many opportunities to explore India. Not to mention it’s really cheap! I’m planning on travelling around India for a whole month during winter break and I only really need to budget around 300 cad for it :slight_smile: You could also view most other people not taking it into account as a good thing because it means that you’re more likely to get your first choice! Everyone has their own reasons for what college they prefer. There was one girl this year who had offers from both Mahindra and Atlantic and decided to go to Atlantic because it was closer to home and, again, India is quite a culture shock.</p>