1. Tell us about the career counseling program at your school, including the services offered and the process for students to access counseling sessions?
Our comprehensive ‘Career Counseling and University Guidance Program’ is designed to support students from Grade 8 through Grade 12.
The program is intended to guide students through their entire journey, from the exploration of careers to understanding themselves to getting admitted to their best – fit colleges / universities across the globe. The entire program is divided into two parts: Career Counseling and Profile-Building (for Grades 8 to 10) and University Applications (for Grades 11 & 12).
Part 1 of the program aims to assist students in several key areas. Firstly, it helps them identify suitable career options based on various factors such as interest, personality, orientation style, aptitude, and academic performance. Additionally, the program focuses on helping students build a profile with tangible proof of work, enhancing their ability to communicate effectively through writing and speaking. Moreover, it provides clarity regarding subject combinations that align with their specific career goals, ensuring a solid foundation for their future endeavors.
The program offers several key benefits to participants. These include data-driven guidance, personalized mentoring, exposure to a wide range of career options, and curated recommendations for building a professional profile.
Part 2 of the program is designed to identify the best-fit college or university options, making informed decisions about their academic paths, developing strong applications and essays that showcase their true potential, and ultimately securing admission to top universities both domestically and internationally. It also includes personalized mentoring.
2. What is the role of career counselors in your school, and how do they contribute to helping students choose a career path? How are they empowered at your school?
They facilitate students and parents in exploring various career options, ensuring that students choose a career that aligns with their interests. Additionally, career counselors organize ‘Career Days’ where students can learn about different professions and interact with industry experts. They also conduct webinars and University Fairs. This comprehensive approach empowers students to make informed decisions about their future career and academic pursuits.
Students and parents meet with the career counselor again before entering Grade 11 to finalize subject combinations, ensuring that each student’s academic choices align with their career goals and aspirations. This personalized approach ensures that students receive guidance specific to their unique qualities and ambitions
3. Does the school collaborate with any external career counseling companies or agencies to administer career assessment tests or provide specialized counseling services?
Our school collaborates with external career counseling companies as part of the Global Schools Group (GSG). We have in-house career counselors and Ivy League experts who guide students throughout the application process. This collaboration extends to using specific tools for career assessments and data management, aiding in tracking academic and non-academic performances for profile-building. These tools are instrumental in selecting the best-fit programs and universities based on individual student preferences and strengths.
4. How does the school monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of career counseling services in guiding students towards informed career decisions?
One critical measure is students meeting the eligibility criteria for admissions and successfully gaining acceptance into their target universities. This outcome directly reflects the efficacy of our counseling in preparing students for their desired academic paths.
Additionally, we value and consider student and parental feedback as an essential component of our evaluation process. Gathering feedback allows us to assess whether we are effectively meeting the individual needs and aspirations of students and whether our counseling services are aligning with their expectations and goals. By regularly reviewing these metrics and feedback, we can make necessary adjustments and enhancements to our career counseling programs, ensuring they remain relevant, impactful, and supportive of students’ academic and career journeys.
5. Looking ahead, what are the school’s plans or initiatives to further enhance career counseling services?
We plan to establish a dedicated outreach team tasked with fostering university connections globally. This effort aims to provide students with a broader range of opportunities and insights into international educational pathways.
Another focus area is improving the career counselor to student ratio, ensuring that each student receives personalized attention and guidance tailored to their unique needs and aspirations. This enhancement will contribute significantly to the effectiveness of our counseling services and the overall satisfaction of students and parents.
Additionally, we plan to launch a comprehensive career counseling portal accessible to all Global Schools Group (GSG) students. This portal will serve as a centralized platform offering on-demand guidance, resources, and information related to career exploration, university admissions, and professional development. By leveraging technology in this way, we aim to provide students with enhanced support and empower them to make informed decisions about their future academic and career pathways.
