College Guidance
U.S. Accredited School in Puerto Vallarta Mexico
As College Guidance Counselor, my goal is to help students gain a better understanding of their options following High School. The idea is to help them reach their goals, wherever those may take them. Each student is unique, so we will work together to make their dreams come true.
- Lisa Langley
THE AMERICAN SCHOOL - College Guidance
The American School of Puerto Vallarta is pleased to announce the colleges and universities that have accepted our graduates from the Class of 2011. In the United States, the following schools accepted at least one of our students: Bentley University*, Cornell University, California Polytechnic Institute (CalPoly), North Carolina State, Colorado State, Drexel University, Virginia Polytechnic University*, Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Fashion Institute of Technology, School of Visual Arts, Otis College of Art and Design*, Johnson & Wales (Rhode Island* and Florida), Endicott College *, University of San Diego, Hawaii Pacific, Technological Institute of Illinois, University of Texas @ Arlington*, Suffolk University*, Oklahoma State University, California Institute of the Arts, Academy of Art University, Northeastern University, the New England Culinary Institute, Loyola University New Orleans, Lynn University, Eugene Lang College The New School for Liberal Arts, Seattle University, and Seattle Central Community College*. Schools marked with an asterisk are the ones our students chose to attend.
As for Europe, one student is headed off to Hult University Business School, one to the Ipag School of Business and the other to the Instituto Tecnologico de Catalunya in Spain.
Many of the finest Mexican schools also opened their doors to our students, including: el Instituto Tecnologico de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey (TEC), Universidad Panamericana, Universidad Anahuac, ITESO, and Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara.
One young lady will be going off to Australia to the International College of Management in Sydney.
Such success highlights the quality education these students have received at the American School (over half have been at our school since primary) as well as the support given them by their parents and teachers. It’s a group effort, but most of the credit goes to each of them. We are all very proud of them. Congratulations to the Class of 2011!
CAREER EXPLORATION
ASPV we begin career exploration in earnest in grade 10, using a number of tools available on the internet. For students planning to study in Mexico and some other countries, this is especially important, as they must apply directly to a particular career/major starting their university studies. Those going on to the United States and often Canada have more time to choose their major, usually after 1-2 years in college. Even if they must apply to a particular program upon entry, they generally have the chance to change without jeopardizing the credits they have earned. As members of CollegeBoard, we use the Quickstart program as our principal tool for vocational guidance. A student might also want to explore the career development guide called career zone at https://www.nycareerzone.org/ in the State of New York that allows you to register and then follow the links to assess yourself using a test developed by the U.S. Department of Labor. The assessment suggests a list of possible careers, depending on your interests and the number of years you want to study. Most of the links on this site are free, but some of the more complex assessment sites charge a fee.
TESTS & DATES
Tests and Dates: SAT
The American School of Puerto Vallarta is an official test center for the CollegeBoard SAT tests. This test, or the ACT (administered in Guadalajara ), is required for application to a great number of selective colleges and universities in the United States and to some of the most selective universities in Canada . Students must register for the test and pay the test fees via the internet. To register, you must first establish a collegeboard.com account. You can sign up now and then log in to My Organizer to register for a test, check your scores, or have the scores sent to universities. If you are a student at the American School of Puerto Vallarta , you can sign in directly using your myroad.com username and password . When you register for a test, you will need to enter your current high school and the test center at which you want to test. If you are a student at the American School of Puerto Vallarta , our high school code is 870900. Our test center number is 69227. Test dates for the 2011-12 school year are given below. You must register by the deadline to avoid paying a much higher fee for standby administration (only available on a space available basis). This year there will be four SAT testing dates at ASPV (October, November, May, and June). IF YOU WANT TO TAKE THE SAT IN DECEMBER OR JANUARY, YOU WILL NEED TO GO TO GUADALAJARA, MEXICO CITY, OR ANOTHER TESTING CENTER.
Test Dates and related deadlines for SAT 2011-12
| Test Dates | At ASPV | Registration Deadline |
| October 1 | Yes | September 9th |
| November 5 | Yes | October 7th |
| December 3 | No | November 8th |
| January 28 | No | December 30th |
| May 5 | Yes | April 20th |
| June 2 | Yes | May 22nd |
TOEFL
The American School of Puerto Vallarta is an official testing site for the new internet-based TOEFL, of Test of English as a Foreign Language. You may need to take this test if English is not the primary language in your home and you want to attend a university in an English-speaking country. Students must register for the test and pay the test fees via the internet. You can establish an account and register for the TOEFL here. For more information about the test, go to the TOEFL Home Site.
FINDING YOUR SCHOOL
Finding Your University
There are many tools for searching for universities on the internet. Below is a list of sites that will be useful for university searches.
Another very useful site is collegesofdistinction.com. This site is not a comprehensive search engine like myroad.com. It is instead a listing of colleges that are well recognized by educational professionals as providing an excellent undergraduate education, along with innovative teaching, a high quality residential environment, and wide recognition among graduate schools and employers. The schools are organized by region or state within the US.
U.S. News and World Report publishes an annual ranking of more than 1,400 U.S. universities. You can see the summary rankings for 2010 for free or can purchase the complete, electronic, searchable edition.
Schools in Canada
The Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada website provides a comprehensive list of Canadian schools with detailed profiles and includes a search engine. Macleans magazine rates Canadian universities every year. The 2009 rating can be found here for free. Additionally, this website provides good information on options in Canada: www.studyincanada.com
Schools in Mexico
Anuies, the Asociación Nacional de Universidades e Instituciones de Educación Superior, provides a state-by state listing of affiliated Mexican universities as well as a Catálogo de Carreras de Licenciatura y Posgrado in Mexico. Universia.net provides a fairly comprehensive listing of universities in Mexico, but it is not searchable. Yahoo Mexico provides another extensive list.
International Listings by Country
One of the most comprehensive listings of colleges and universities throughout the world can be found at braintrack.com. Other options are the Yahoo Education Directory and the Google Education Directory.
Online Degrees
Although almost all of our students go on to a full-time college or university, there are also expanding options for study online. One comprehensive listing of online schools, primarily in the U.S., can be found at onlinedegrees.com.
Opportunities for online education in Mexico are expanding as well. UNAM, the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, offers distance and online education at Licenciaturas SUA y ED. The Universidad de Guadalajara offers an expanding list of programs at the UdeG Virtual. Tec de Monterrey allows students to pursue continuing education in Spanish (diplomados, certificados, etc.) and master’s degrees through their Universidad Virtual.
THE APPLICATION PROCESS
Application procedures vary enormously by country and school and are explained at each school’s website. Almost 300 U.S. colleges and universities use the Common Application, which can be filled out online. You can download and print a paper copy to use as a rough draft. There is a list of participating institutions on the website.
Paying for School
One of the most important aspects of planning for a university career is developing a budget well in advance. Many schools in the U.S. and in other countries as well, provide scholarships and financial assistance for students, but the country of citizenship usually affects the amount of aid available. (There are some schools in the U.S. that guarantee to meet financial need of foreign students, and there are some schools in other countries that offer full scholarships to select students.) The amount of aid available at U.S. universities is summarized in myroad.com and is available at each school's website. The Council of International Schools provides similar financial aid information for their member universities throughout the world.
Most US scholarship money is available directly through the universities. Students can search for additional scholarships at fastweb.com, but be ready to do a lot of extra work!
U.S. citizens apply to colleges and universities for need-based financial aid through FAFSA, the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. Although the application cannot be submitted to universities until January 1 of the last year of high school, the student and family can begin the process a couple of months before by applying for a pin and filling out worksheets available on the website. The pin is necessary to submit the application electronically, and both the student and the parent(s) need a pin. Some federal money is also available for U.S. citizens to use at Canadian universities.
Most schools require additional documentation of financial need, usually including income tax records (from the U.S., Mexico , or another country) and statements of assets. Many American schools require US citizens to complete the College Board's CSS/Financial Aid profile online. Some schools also require Mexicans and Canadians to complete this form. It is generally available in October of the senior year, and there is a listing of which schools require the form on the website
Most U.S. schools require citizens of other countries to complete other forms, which are generally available on the school"s website. Two of the forms used most frequently are available at the bottom of the page: "the CSS International Financial Aid Application" and "the CollegeBoard International Student Certification of Finances".
Financial Aid Documents
2011-2012
International Student
Financial Aid Application
2011-2012 International Student
Certification of Finances Guidelines
Student Visas
You will need a student visa to study in a foreign country. You will apply for your visa after you have received a letter of acceptance of a university . You can apply for a US student visa at the US Consulate in Guadalajara. Information on the procedure to obtain an F-1 Student Visa is available here. You can apply for a Canadian visa through the Canadian Embassy in Mexico City. Information on the procedure to obtain a Study Permit is available here.
Applications for universities in the U.S begin in the 1st semester of their Senior year.