The World of University Admissions

Hi everyone! My name is Ruby Wang and I am a grade 12 student attending Dr. Norman Bethune C.I. Today, I had the pleasure to attend Jodi Buckley’s Think Tank on “The World of University Admissions” as a part of the Associate National Lead program where I get to build and host my own conference!

Being a high school student currently applying to universities, Jodi's Think Tank provided lots of valuable information on how to stand out on university applications. Initially, I had many false ideas about what admissions officers look for when considering an applicant, however, Jodi was able to use her expertise to denounce those perceptions and draw attention to the actuality of the admission process.

Through the Think Tank session, I learnt about the various application processes which ranged from interviews to portfolios to auditions and essays. From this, I was able to understand and differentiate which of the following applications I would need to complete for the specific program I was applying for. To further deepen our skills, Jodi had us do a "mock" application, where we answered common interview questions to prepare us for our own. Using the STAR method that Jodi introduced, made the interview less overwhelming and more manageable. Not only did I feel more prepared, but through this interactive activity, I was able to meet new people with similar interests and exchange useful tips!

The STAR method identifies how you should approach each situational interview question. First, you want to identify and introduce the Situation and set the scene. Then, you want to describe the Task. What needed to be don't in this situation? After, you want to talk about the Action you took to resolve the situation, and finally, talk about the Result. What was the outcome of your actions? How could you have acted differently?

The Think Tank overall was incredibly useful and informative. I can confidently say that I left the session with a bigger understanding of the world of university admissions and I felt more at ease knowing how to approach the supplemental applications.

Thank you Jodi for the amazing guidance!