IT Support - ISL Qatar, Doha | International School Qatar

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Welcome to the college counselling website. Here you can find who we are, what we do and what to expect for the years. We look forward to getting to know you!

Our Mission

The ISL Qatar College Counselling team is committed to providing a personalized college counselling approach to student development, academic advisement and post-secondary planning. Following best practice, the counsellors aim to empower all students to discover and achieve their potential as lifelong learners. The College Counsellors provide best fit counselling services that are respectful of each of the student’s aspirations and needs so that they and their families can make informed decisions for their post-secondary futures.

Implementing a personal approach to college counselling, we meet individually with Grades 10, 11 and 12 students and their families and also offer support to our Grade 9 families when making subject choices . Similarly, as part of Homeroom, we provide curriculum in areas aimed at developing a student's post secondary and career readiness. This website contains all the counselling and homeroom presentations on topics, such as:

Personality, Strengths & Learning Style Exploration
Study Skills & Planning for Academic Success
Career Exploration
Course Choices
The IB and Me
University Admissions Systems Around the World
The Importance of Best Fit Counselling
Writing a University Application
Summer Programs Across the World

Please note that the counsellors will be organising several coffee morning informing parents about application systems most popular in our ISL community. We will also present on other relevant topics, such as Effective Time Management in IB Course Choices. All our workshops will be announced in the school's newsletter and in the DP newsletter. In the tabs above, you can explore the grade specific presentations and curriculum. In the section below, you can learn more about your college counsellors.

GERARDO ZEPEDA

Gerardo (a.k.a Gerry) grew up in various countries of Latin America and attended Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, for his Bachelor of Science degree. While at Cornell, he strengthened his interest for service-learning, and became a team leader and manager for educational projects that empowered 110+ students in the U.S. and abroad.

Gerardo then obtained his Master of Science degree from Columbia University in the City of New York, with an emphasis in environmental and social sciences, and economics. After his studies, thanks to his multidisciplinary academic and professional background, he started college counselling and teaching at educational and multinational companies in the US, mainland China, and Hong Kong. His students have attended top Canadian, UK, and American universities, including the Ivy League.

After 10+ years as an educator and college counsellor, Gerardo is still fascinated about channelling his own curiosity into others through counselling and teaching. He still identifies with the promising generation of his high school students that will also go on to make their own positive impacts.

During his spare time, Gerardo enjoys cycling, the outdoors, and learning anything new about psychology, sociology, sustainability, leadership, and educational topics.

GRADE 9

Welcome to High School, Grade 9! This year, the counseling department will help guide you on your journey of self exploration. Together with your homeroom teacher, we will deliver lessons that focus on preparing you for success in high school. All lessons can also be viewed below.

WELCOME TO HIGH SCHOOL

STRENGTHS EXPLORER

STUDY SKILLS

P ROFESSIONAL COMMUNICATION

GRADE 10

Welcome to grade 10! This year, we will be exploring your personality, interests and career. You will learn more about how to research careers effectively, and you will be completing an internship as part of CREW week. The college counsellors will also invite all families for course advice meetings to discuss subject choices taking into account interests, strengths and post secondary study requirements.

CAREER EXPLORATION

COURSE CHOICES

MINDSET

PERSONALITY EXPLORATION

THE IB AND ME

GRADE 11

Welcome to Grade 11! This year will be an exciting time as you will start preparing for post secondary options. You will learn how to research university destinations and begin your work on your applications to university. Around February, the college counsellors will also invite you and your family for college advice meetings during which we will provide guidance for the university (and other post-secondary option) application process.

GRADE 11 KICK-OFF

TIMELINE

RESEARCH
UK
US&CA
NL/EU

WRITING
US ESSAY
UK PERSONAL STATEMENT & MOTIVATION LETTER

REQUESTING RECOMMENDATIONS

MINDFULNESS

GRADE 12

Welcome to Grade 12; your final year of high school! During this exciting time, the counsellors will be focused on guiding you through the university application process. Our department will be offering workshops on Budgeting, Stress Management and how to approach the application process. Meetings will be held with all grade twelves and their families at the beginning of to year to ensure a thorough understanding of your hopes and aspirations for post secondary options.

STRESS MANAGEMENT

THE APPLICATION PROCESS

BUDGETING FOR COLLEGE

TIMELINE

MOCK ADMISSIONS

COLLEGE FAIR ETIQUETTE

SUMMER PROGRAMMES

SUMMER PROGRAMS
Summer is a wonderful time to relax, recharge and reconnect. It is also a perfect opportunity for your to start exploring some of your passions and interests through summer programs, online courses and further reading. Check out this presentation to learn how you can enhance your demonstrated interest in a subject during your summer break.