Page 30 - Quintile_37 web

30 • • • Issue 37 • QSI Quintile

SlOVAKiA

QSI International School of Bratislava

the recipe for and this year, to top European universities in the
Outstanding Applications Netherlands. These trips make post-secondary
By Talley Sjoberg Varney, University Counselor and more real, and give us a common language to
IB Psychology Educator. discuss schools.
The school features 35 classrooms, a
library, computer laboratories, science Beginning in Secondary III, students have
As a University Counselor at Bratislava’s only many options. They can undertake the IB Diploma,
American international school, I am often asked laboratories, theater, and playground or keep racking up AP scores, or for the very
about admissions to UK and European Universities. areas. Other facilities also include an industrious, take IB courses and sit for AP Exams
It is an urban legend that UK and European Schools indoor swimming pool, fitness facility, in the same content areas. We see students earn
want a UK or European secondary school diploma, dance and exercise rooms, gymnasium, terrific scores on AP Biology from taking IB
and one I fight hard to refute. Biology. The spring of their Secondary III year,
snack bar and cafeteria. students sit for their first official SAT assessment,
While QSI International School of Bratislava In 2018 QSIB moves to new, purpose which they typically repeat in the fall.
graduates do amazingly well with North American design facilities in Samorin adjacent to
admissions, from UC Berkeley to McGill University, As you may imagine, this becomes the
we are exceptionally strong with other countries the spectacular X Bionic Sphere facility. academic profile college admissions officials
as well, and I believe we have the most successful This will offer students and families the are delighted by. Not only does a student have
university-preparedness formula in all of Slovakia: finest learning, arts, sport and leisure predicted IB scores, an IB CAS (creativity, activity,
QSIB offers both the Advanced Placement and the service) portfolio, service through House Projects,
International Baccalaureate programs. And while facilities in Bratislava. and other important character-building activities
students are free to choose one or the other, many of and sports on their CVs, but they are applying with
our high-achieving students use both, to make life solid scores on AP Exams and the SAT.
easier for themselves during university application
times. More work being easier? I will explain. Take this student profile, and couple it with
recommendation letters from faculty who have
As of Secondary I, high-achieving students had specific training on the craft, and student
are eligible for and encouraged to take AP Human workshops dedicated to reviewing and writing
Geography. An overwhelming number sit for the personal statements (no, you cannot write about
exam in the spring, and achieve strong scores sports), and firm offers come to ecstatic QSIB
that they will use down the road for applications. students and parents. For these hardworking
During Secondary II, students may take other AP students, the most stressful part of the spring is
courses, or just sit for the exams. Students do this determining which Russell Group school’s offer to
based upon a language strength, or a previously choose.
learned skill set. Fluent French speaker? AP French.
History buff? Sit for AP American History. Lately, our largest issue has been students and
parents from other schools, wanting to meet with
During this time students are also gaining us for information on this recipe for admissions we
ground with PSAT exams annually, checking use. And we help. Our University Nights are open
their university readiness against other students to the public, and I often answer late-night emails
from around the world. They will sit for the SAT from desperate students of other international
(for which QSIB is the only testing site in all of schools. But ultimately, this specific experience of
Slovakia) when the time comes. In the meantime, being supported entirely through Secondary I–
they have the SAT Prep Club to join. Our annual IV by a faculty that all contributes specifically to
Week Without Walls always includes a university this one path can only be had in Slovakia at QSI
trip, taking students on tours in England, Scotland, International School of Bratislava.