Spotlight on the Virtual BISW and BISH University and Careers Fair

BISW hosted our virtual Global University and Careers Fair on June 15, 2021. The day began with career presentations with professionals representing fields in broadcast journalism, law, systems and software engineering, national security, national security research and analysis, filmmaking, medicine, entrepreneurship, public policy consultancy, and software services. Our presenters joined us from the metro DC area as well as Florida, Texas, and California. They shared common messages which stressed the importance of hard work, persistence, and resilience. Another common theme was the importance of strong critical thinking and analytical skills.

Following an informative discussion on space missions with a STEM Education Specialist from the Johnson Space Center in Houston,  we joined with the British International School of Houston community to co-host a university fair that welcomed over 120 universities from Australia, Belgium, Canada, Estonia, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Medical Schools in Europe, the Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, and the United States. In addition to opportunities to schedule a 1:1 appointment with recruitment officers from diverse and highly selective institutions which included the University of Cambridge and the University of Oxford,  families were able to participate in presentations that provided advice and guidance on Applying to Selective U.S. Universities, Oxford University’s Admissions Process, Developing Time Management Skills, How to Stand Out in the UK University Admissions Process, Hot Topics and Burning Questions Revolving Around the US University Holistic Review Process, What I Wish I Would Have Known (from a BIS alumnus matriculating to Oxford in the fall, 2021 term), Studying in the Netherlands, Beyond the Ivies, Writing an Effective UK Personal Statement, Applying to Australian Universities, Dealing with Stress, The Benefits of SATs and ACTs in an Increasingly Test-Optional Environment, and Secrets to Great College Essays: What we learned from reviewing 90,000 essays. There was truly something for everybody regardless of where you are in the university and career exploration process. 

The recruitment officers enjoyed engaging with our communities. Feedback from our colleagues includes:

“I wanted to send along my thanks for this wonderful event - I was able to connect with lots of great students and have much more in-depth conversations than at many traditional fairs. I would be happy to attend a similar virtual event in the future as well.”

Courtney Villeneuve Recruitment Officer, US

Office of Student Recruitment | Enrolment Services | University of Toronto

“Thank you for the email and for the opportunity to participate in your event. I really appreciate it. Please do let me know if there are any other opportunities to raise awareness of opportunities in Australia amongst your students. If you require any links, brochures etc., I am happy to send those along.”

​Justine Somogyi | Regional Marketing Manager 

Griffith International

Thank you so much for all the hard work that you put into this fair and for inviting IE University to participate once again. My colleague Elsa and I enjoyed talking to some of your students and are always very pleased with the outcomes of your fair. Please let us know if there is anything that we can do in the future to help!” 

Faustine Decroocq

International Recruitment Officer- North America

IE University

“Thanks for hosting the fair. I spoke with two families who fit our type of student exactly. Both had some contact of family background here in Spain but wanted to keep studying in English at an American university. For me, it was a total success!”

Heidi Buffington
Director of Admissions

Saint. Louis University Madrid

Our sincere thanks to the universities, parents, community members, and amazing BIS team who contributed to the success of this event.