By Julie Allen Over the summer, students in our current Grade 12 classes have been exceptionally busy preparing for their university applications. Many participated in internships and additional summer programs to boost their chances of success.
University and Career Counselor
One such program was the prestigious ESSEC Summer Business School in Singapore. We had over 10 students attend this program, and they shared their thoughts on their amazing experiences.
"I was thrilled to participate in the ESSEC Singapore summer program. Throughout this fun and engaging learning experience, I got to meet, share ideas, and work with other students from around the world on a group project. The lessons at ESSEC enabled me to learn valuable business concepts and real-world life tips that I wouldn't have gotten in my regular studies. I'm glad I was able to be a part of this program, and it has made me consider pursuing business-related opportunities in my future career."
Monyreach Grade 12
Another student, shared, "We were given a 5-day extensive course at the ESSEC Summer Business School that covered the basics of business, including Finance & Accounting, Marketing, Business 101, People & Organizations, and the Future of AI. These day-long tester trials gave me an extensive feel of what it's like to be in university. Being in a foreign country without parental supervision and personally needing to commute via the MRT every day was thrilling.
I loved the wealth of knowledge I gained at the ESSEC Business camp, especially from the guest speakers like Josh Frost from 'BestPerfumeStore'. I also really enjoyed the presentation we had to do, where we had to suggest marketing strategies for AGI Company to expand into different Asian countries.
Overall, I enjoyed my time there immensely, and I couldn't have wished for a more fulfilling experience."
The summer months following grade 11 are crucial for students looking to gain an advantage when applying to top universities worldwide. This time can be leveraged in several ways:
Internships: Securing an internship, whether it's at a local business, a research lab, or a nonprofit organization, can provide invaluable real-world experience and demonstrate your interests and initiative to university admissions committees.
Summer programs: Attending specialized summer programs, such as those offered by universities or academic enrichment organizations, can help you explore your academic passions, develop new skills, and strengthen your application.
Research papers: Undertaking a research project and writing a paper can showcase your intellectual curiosity, analytical thinking, and research capabilities - all highly valued by top universities.
Medical shadowing:
For students interested in medical fields, such as becoming a physician, shadowing doctors can offer crucial insight into the realities of the profession and provide a deeper understanding of the challenges and responsibilities involved.
These activities can significantly enhance a student's chances of gaining admission to their desired top-tier universities, whether they aim to pursue medical studies or other academic paths, as exemplified by a top student at NISC who recounts his experiences.
This summer I spent 6 weeks in Europe taking courses and working at labs in hopes of further developing my knowledge and passion for biomedical sciences in preparation for university next year. Firstly, I spent 2 weeks in London at Imperial College’s global summer school. Besides touring and living on the campus of one of my dream schools I got to attend lectures, seminars, labs and projects all led and taught by imperial professors surrounded by like-minded peers.
Some of the highlights from these 2 weeks at the summer camp was a lecture on immunology given by Dr. Annachiara Rosa where I got to dive deeper into the types of pathogens, their reproduction mechanisms and even the biochemistry of the human response. Secondly was the 2-day laboratory conducted at the department of biomedicine where I had the chance to apply concepts and principles I learned about in biology to the test. This included practicals such as PCR, gel electrophoresis and fly genetics. However, the most memorable takeaway from this summer school was the various friends I made from my academic and pastoral groups.
The remaining 4 weeks were spent in the city of Charleroi (Belgium), where I worked at IPG (Institut de Pathologie et de Génétique): other than allowing me to work on my French, this internship was crucial for me to develop an understanding of current practices in a field I hope to enter in the future. Working closely with the histology, molecular biology, genetics, cytology, Immunology and pathology departments, I had the chance to deepen my knowledge of these fields and use lab techniques to diagnose patients.
My favorite part of this experience was shadowing alongside Dr. Schroeder from the pathology department to see how a combination of histology, immunology and cytology are all used to make diagnostics. Observing the effectiveness of immunological testing methods motivated me to undertake further research in the field of diagnostics. I could also see how the theory I had learnt in my biology class applies and was able to help read and diagnose genetic abnormalities using karyotyping.
Overall, this was quite a productive summer but most importantly it allowed me to develop more passion for my chosen field of study and prepare me for my university applications and university life in general
Dario Grade 12
We encourage all student aspiring medical practitioners to gain work experience by shadowing a doctor or collaborating with professionals in a hospital setting. This experience is vital for the application process, particularly for students aiming to study medicine in the UK. Here, one of our Grade 11 future medics shares his experiences working at Intercare in Phnom Penh during the holidays.
I worked at Intercare for four weeks over the summer, gaining insight into hospital operations and information flow between departments.
Blood Level Checks: I assisted with drawing blood samples for laboratory analysis, which was my favorite part due to the informative staff and the fascinating machinery.
Patient Care: I interacted with patients, addressed their concerns, and provided information about their conditions. I frequently encountered patients with high blood pressure and appreciated the opportunity to support peers and teachers during their visits to Intercare.
This experience has further motivated me to pursue my career path, and I look forward to returning to Intercare next summer to gain more invaluable work experience.
Aditya Grade 11
Another NISC future medical student ventured further afield to gain work experience by traveling to Mongolia to work in a hospital:
During my week-long internship in Mongolia, I gained valuable experience and created unforgettable memories. Traveling abroad with a friend fostered my independence, especially in a country where a foreign language is spoken. We were placed at a well-known public hospital in Ulaanbaatar to shadow the doctors. Assigned to an EMT surgery supervisor, we faced some communication challenges due to language barriers, but we adapted to the routine by the second half of the internship. Overall, this experience was memorable, allowing me to reflect on my future aspirations while learning about Mongolian culture and its people.
Mimi Grade 12
We are exceptionally proud of our students who have demonstrated their determination to succeed by pursuing work experience through internships, summer programs, courses, and volunteer opportunities across various fields. One of our top mathematics students dedicated his time to honing his skills in preparation for applying to leading universities in the USA and UK.
This summer, I was fortunate to be accepted into Stanford University's SUMaC (Stanford University Mathematics Camp) program, an extremely competitive initiative that admits only 17 students per session. I participated in the semester focused on Number Theory and Abstract Algebra. Being the only student from Southeast Asia made my experience both an honor and a source of stress.
SUMaC's curriculum revolves around number theory and abstract algebra, foundational elements of mathematics that underpin many advanced fields in modern science. I delved deeply into these subjects and, by interacting with passionate mathematics enthusiasts from around the globe, I not only enhanced my understanding of math but also broadened my global perspective. I aim to integrate this invaluable experience into my future studies and research as I continue to explore the limitless possibilities of mathematics.
Honglong - Grade 12
As NISC students, our learners consistently demonstrate resilience and perseverance. They step outside their comfort zones to explore new opportunities and pursue their dreams in their chosen careers. By engaging in these meaningful experiences, students become more motivated in their lessons, driving them to fulfill their aspirations.
World Children's Day (WCD) is celebrated on November 20 each year to promote international togetherness, awareness among children worldwide, and improving children's welfare.
The readers of this article have all likely experienced a ‘traditional’ exam setting. Rows of desks, pen and paper, and exam papers that are primarily constructed to test knowledge and recall of the course content. There is certainly some value to an exam paper that assesses a student’s knowledge, but ultimately, knowledge and recall represents a very narrow range of the skills actually needed in the modern world. Recognising this, the IB has taken an revolutionary look at assessment in the middle years, with the eAssessment.
