Welcome back everyone…
The new academic year has gotten off to a busy start and it’s hard to think that we are already into our fourth week. We are very happy to welcome two new staff members to the HEO, Marisa Jackson as our new HE Counsellor and Dorothy Ng as our full time assistant.
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Mrs Jackson joins us after four years at a local Hong Kong school and is no stranger to the fast-paced city. Originally from Huntington Beach, California, but considers herself a global citizen having lived in Spain, Germany, and Hong Kong. When it comes to university counselling and applications, she believes the most important thing is finding the right fit for each student. She also takes a comprehensive approach to counselling and always keeps the students mental wellbeing at the forefront of the process. She is a firm believer in a balanced lifestyle so outside of work she enjoys cooking, staying active, sitting on a beach, traveling and a nice cup of tea. Mrs Jackson is a welcomed addition to the HEO and we look forward to her involvement with DC students and families.
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Our full time assistant, Dorothy Ng, needs little introduction to many of you, having been a valuable member of the art department here at DC for the last four years. Having lived and studied in Australia for 12 years previously, Dorothy adds a highly creative and innovative dimension to the HEO. Part of Dorothy’s role will involve implementing efficient systems to ensure the smooth operation of the office and we are very excited to have her as part of our team.
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Year 13 have hit the ground running and are busily drafting their admissions essays and finalising their university lists. There are some impending and important deadlines coming up, especially for early applications (Oxbridge, Med, Vet, Dentistry, Early Decision and Early Action applications in the US).
For a copy of these deadlines: 
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DC Alumni Fair
Mon 12 September
1.30-2.20pm
We are excited to invite our alumni from 2014-2016 to speak to students about their experiences in the whole HE process and the transition to university. The event will be set up as a mini education fair, allowing students from all year levels to speak informally with alumni about their experiences.
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Students and the HEO are getting to grips with this exciting new platform and we are confident this will be an excellent tool for our students in regards to university research, strategy building and planning admission essays.
Bridge U has just opened an office in Hong Kong and we are delighted to have them so near and to offer us all hands on training and support.
Training sessions for Year 13 students will take place on Wednesday 7 September, and on 23 November for Year 12 students. Training dates for Year 10 and 11 students will be released shortly. There will also be workshops for parents, so watch this space.
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Career & Personality profiles
Bridge U will be offering a career profile as part of their platform in January 2017, but until then there are some excellent questionnaires on the market, which are completely free of charge. Please make sure you click on the following links to explore how your strengths and interests can direct you towards a particular pathway or career:
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Personality, Career and Strength Assessments:
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A very warm welcome to our new Year 12 students, we are looking forward to working more closely with you over the next two years.
Although our first term is primarily focused on Year 13 and submitting their university applications, we are still very happy to see you – especially if your query is to do with subject selection. Make sure you sign up for an appointment on the notice board in the DP Centre or online.
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Meeting with
Ms Blomfield:

Meeting with
Mrs Jackson:

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We need your feedback!
We will be running a total of nine more HE sessions this year and would like your feedback in order to run workshops that fit your needs and interests. Last week we asked you to complete a survey to give us the information we need to develop these workshops, but to date we have heard back from less than half of the year group. Help us to help you by completing this quick questionnaire:

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Calendar of events
As another new academic year starts, so does the steady flow of university visits. We are very excited to have a great line up of university visits this year, including our first ever visit from the University of Cambridge, an academic lecture from Durham on Brexit, and a lecture on medicine from Keele.
As always, parents are warmly welcome.
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For a full calendar of University visits and to sign up for these events:
Calender on Ding:
Events update google link:
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PSAT – Wed 19 October
Students from Year 10 and 11, and US passport holders from Year 12 will be able to sit the PSAT next month in the DP Centre. More details will be sent out to students who registered for the test towards the end of September. Meanwhile practice booklets will be distributed by their Learning Advisors.
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DC University Fair and Career Fair
Wed 21 September
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With just two weeks to go, we are busy organising the final details of these important events. With over 125 institutions exhibiting at the fair, it offers a diverse and exciting range of opportunities for our students. For a list of universities attending:

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For the first time, DC will also be holding a career fair from 12.30 to 2.30 pm in the DP Centre. Aimed at Year 9 students for the first hour, the fair will then be opened up to all year groups during lunch from 1.30 to 2.30 pm.
For a list of the careers that will be represented please:
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HEO Feature
Voluntary and community work may not only be some of the most rewarding and beneficial things a student can participate in, but universities and colleges are attaching more and more importance and emphasis on ethical engagement in the admissions process.
Read the following articles on the importance of community service in the whole process:
Turning the Tide: Inspiring Concern For Others And The Common Good Through College Admissions
http://mcc.gse.harvard.edu/collegeadmissions
http://www.gse.harvard.edu/news/uk/16/06/college-and-real-you
We look forward to seeing you soon at some of our events over the coming weeks. Alternatively, please feel free to pop in at any time, our door is always open.
Kind Regards
Susie Blomfield & Marisa Jackson

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