What sort of format can university visits take?

The importance of welcoming colleges and universities to high schools cannot be overstated.

University visits offer students exposure to a variety of options, provide valuable information, facilitate personalised interactions and create networking opportunities. Moreover, they inspire and motivate students, demystify the application process and reduce anxiety. These visits can also involve parents and address regional considerations.

At St Paul’s School, we believe in providing our students with dedicated time and resources to explore their higher education options. This commitment is at the core of our approach, and we’ve tried to come up with a range of ways to allow students to make the most of university visits in the way that suits them best. Flexible scheduling during university visit season ensures that students have ample opportunities to interact with college representatives and gather valuable information about institutions of interest.

In the 2022-23 academic year, our students had the chance to interact with representatives from a staggering 130 universities. This interaction spanned more than 50 different dates.

It is important to keep track of all colleges and universities we welcome to our campuses. If possible, record dates of visits, names of institutions and their representatives, as well as the numbers of students attending each session and the number of applications to visiting institutions within a given cycle. These numbers can serve to identify what aspects of the programme are working well and what needs to be changed – or even abandoned. Statistics can also be a powerful tool for discussions with senior leadership teams. 

Uni Prep Time

Once every two weeks, our upper and lower sixth (years 12 and 13) students have a timetabled period of 50 minutes called Uni Prep Time. This is not merely an abstract concept; it’s structured and dedicated time during regular school hours.

This time allows students to focus on their university preparations, emphasising the importance of the college search process in their academic lives. During Uni Prep Time, students have the opportunity to research colleges and universities, work on application materials and participate in guided discussions with our experienced university guidance counsellors.

Uni Prep Time also offers the perfect opportunity for us to welcome universities from around the world for longer sessions with both classes. These could take the form of presentations about their universities, the programmes available and the application processes, as well as a review of mock applications to help students understand how universities make decisions when reading applications.

Uni Tutorials

Every Thursday, our students benefit from Uni Tutorials. These 20-minute sessions offer a more personalised experience. Whether students need guidance on choosing the right courses, understanding financial aid options or perfecting their application essays, Uni Tutorials provide a platform for one-on-one or small-group discussions.

These sessions are crucial for keeping students on track, helping them meet deadlines and addressing individual concerns on the journey to college. Uni Tutorials lend themselves beautifully to university visits that need to be a little shorter.

Uni Lunchtime

We understand that our students have packed schedules, which is why we offer Uni Lunchtime. Our lunch break is one hour long. Uni Lunchtime allows students to meet university reps for the first 30 minutes: ideal for presentations. These informal sessions offer a relaxed setting for students to ask questions and learn about the institutions they are interested in, without compromising their academic responsibilities. Reps are then invited to grab lunch with the university guidance team so that we can talk about how we can best support our students.

Uni Breaks

Recognising that students might have limited time between classes, we provide Uni Breaks. These 15-minute sessions are held during break times, allowing students to quickly connect with college representatives. It ensures that they can explore various options without missing valuable class time.

Uni Coffee

We are a British school located in Brazil, so coffee is the drink of choice. But other drinks are available. For students who prefer a more in-depth experience with college representatives, we offer Uni Coffee. These are pre-arranged, small-group meetings that allow students to engage in meaningful conversations with admissions officers. Uni Coffee sessions offer a deeper exploration of an institution’s offerings and provide students with the opportunity to connect on a more personal level.

University Guidance Hub

To further streamline the university guidance process and make it more accessible to our students and their families, at St Paul’s we have established the University Guidance Hub.

This online resource is a dedicated web page where we maintain a comprehensive record of every visit by college and university representatives to our school over the previous two years.

The University Guidance Hub provides a wealth of information, including the names and contact details of admissions officers who have visited our school. It allows parents and students to easily access more information about the institutions and reach out to these admissions officers for further inquiries or clarifications.

This centralised hub is a valuable resource that supports our students in their journey to higher education. Follow this link to take a look at the Hub.