By Julie Allen
Careers & University Guidance Counsellor
University application season is in full swing at Northbridge International School Cambodia. Having passed the United Kingdom's January 31st UCAS deadline, our students submitted 180 applications spanning 36 students to top institutions across the U.K.
We are pleased to report over 100 offers received to date, including 17 received from prestigious Russell Group universities. As members of the Russell Group, these research-intensive U.K. universities are globally esteemed for facilitating innovative, cross-disciplinary work through empowering learning environments, robust resources, and industry collaboration.
Securing admission to one of these distinguished institutions uniquely positions graduates for success.
Alongside their U.K. applications, many Northbridge students anxiously await upcoming admission decisions for selective U.S. colleges and universities. Submissions through the Common Application portal totaled 23 students applying to over 90 option schools. Several students pursued admission to revered Ivy League institutions, renowned for outstanding academics, faculty, resources, and influential alumni networks.
The intensive effort shown through crafting strong applications is evident, with some students expending over 20 additional essays. We are proud of our students' demonstrated drive, focus and ambition to secure places at top global institutions.
As an institution accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC), Northbridge International School Cambodia frequently sees students opting to continue their education at institutions within the esteemed University of California (UC) system.
With 10 campuses statewide offering expansive academic programs, UC remains a popular choice for our students. This admissions cycle, 17 students submitted applications to multiple UC schools, with the University of California, Berkeley, UC San Francisco, UC Davis, and UC San Diego emerging as the most sought-after destinations. We await the admission decisions from most US colleges next month and are hopeful for positive outcomes.
Beyond California, several Northbridge students also explored opportunities in other regions. Canada and Hong Kong attracted applicants due to their geographic and cultural proximity. Meanwhile, others began preparations to target prestigious South Korean universities. Applications to institutions in Australia and Singapore which have later deadlines are also ongoing and further demonstrate our students' ambitions to study abroad.
As always, it is gratifying to see our graduates pursuing a wide range of world-class programs that will allow their intellectual talents and lifelong learning pursuits to flourish in the years ahead. We look forward to celebrating their successes in the coming months.
A review of this year's student applications reveals some emerging trends in the choice of intended course of study. Business-related fields remain significantly popular, with many students applying for programs in Business Management, Accounting, Finance, Marketing, Business Analytics, Data Science, and Business Computing. Government and Economics also attract considerable interest, as seen in the number opting for Politics, International Relations, and Economics degrees.
Creative industries also emerge as a common path, with Architecture, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Fashion Design, Industrial Design, and Fine Arts comprising several prospective majors. Hospitality Management sees ongoing relevance, represented herein by applications to programs in Luxury Hospitality and Culinary Arts.
Among more specialized scientific routes, Veterinary Science, Biomedical Science, Biochemistry, and Forensics continue drawing applicants. Additionally, degrees in Law, Computer Science, and Computer Engineering also feature among this year’s applications.
Overall, the breadth of intended areas of study displayed is truly diverse, ranging from traditional disciplines to more vocationally focused fields, with both arts and sciences well-tailed. This diversity underscores both the wide range of student interests and the multitude of opportunities available at the post 16 secondary level at Northbridge International School.
Teenagers, including at Northbridge International School Cambodia, are at a crucial stage in their lives as they try to navigate the complexities of growing up. They are faced with the challenge of balancing academic demands, peer pressure, and family expectations, all while trying to discover their own identity and purpose in life.
After becoming a father for the second time on NYE 2022, I was able to re-evaluate my lifestyle and reflect on how to improve myself for my family, my community, including at Northbridge International School Cambodia, and the planet.
For school year 2022-2023, Northbridge International School Cambodia installed some updates in the Secondary Science Laboratory Classrooms that the NISC Health and Safety Audit Committee has been working on from the previous school year based on the Nord Anglia Regional Manager on Health and Safety suggestions.
For the last several months grade 10 students at Northbridge International School Cambodia have been thinking about their futures and the pathways they intend to take both next year in the DP and subsequently after.
