Editor’s Note: This story reflects not only the hard work of Pearson students now preparing for post-secondary education opportunities around the world but also the work of people like Universities Counsellor Becky Halvorson, Academic Services and Student Records Coordinator Donna Grunder, Director of Admissions Melody Miu and every single Advisor, faculty member and supportive adult – especially families — on and off campus.
Up to 85 per cent of Year 47 Pearson College UWC students have made plans to attend a postsecondary institution this fall or have deferred their attendance until next year, says Universities Counsellor Becky Halvorson.
“Again, this year, overall, Pearson and other UWC students were highly sought after because universities recognize the high calibre of students attracted to the challenge of an IB curriculum while undertaking the full UWC experiential, service and academic curriculums.
“The 85 per cent figure is within the average annual range,” adds Halvorson who noted this is slightly higher than last year at this time. She cautions that this figure, as in every year, is somewhat fluid as plans change and late offers become known plus, not all students may report their plans to the College.
The high calibre of a UWC education historically sees most Pearson graduates who seek scholarships or related financial assistance for post-secondary schooling receiving such offers. While similar results are anticipated this year, it is too early to quantify at this point.
Halvorson noted that most bridge year (formerly termed gap year) students have reported plans for postsecondary education within one year.”
Each year, Halvorson works with graduating students, their Advisors and other trusted adults in their support network and universities and other post-secondaries in Canada and around the world which are keen to attract Pearson students.
“The Year 47 class, like their immediate predecessors, showed resilience and character by maintaining their focus throughout the continuing challenges, restrictions and unknowns thrown out during the COVID pandemic. Admissions and recruitment officers at post-secondaries are aware of how challenging the past couple of years have been, particularly for students on a boarding campus like ours.”
Finding matches between student and institution can be a complicated matrix and a long-term investment of time and research. It encompasses, among other things: academic standings, availability of specific programs of study, student and family financial capabilities (or lack thereof), the availability of scholarships and other philanthropic sources of support, the availability of visas to students from specific countries, individual preferences and the lingering disruption of current and potential future travel and border restrictions.
Halvorson works with students throughout their two-year program at Pearson to help them identify opportunities and find convergences between individual interests and ambitions, institutional opportunities and financial realities. Students and their families ultimately make their own decisions on educational trajectories, but Pearson’s guidance and support is often crucial.
Here is an abbreviated review of where, as of this writing, Year 47s are going, together with a selection of scholarship and recognition highlights. Please note that the lists of universities will continue to be updated as student plans are finalized.
Canada
Larger universities, such as the University of Toronto, McGill and UBC, continue to attract students, as do smaller campuses such as King’s College and UPEI. Historically, adequate funding to attend Canadian schools for international undergraduates remains a challenge and some students took up more generous offers in the U.S. even though Canada was a first choice.
- Concordia University (Montreal)
- McGill University (Montreal)
- Ontario College of Art and Design
- University of British Columbia (Vancouver/Okanagan) including full award, the International Scholars Mary M. Young Global Citizen Award
- University of Calgary
- University of King’s College (Halifax)
- University of Moncton
- University of Prince Edward Island
- University of Toronto including full award, the National Scholarship/Book Award
United Kingdom / Europe
After the UK, Spain and the Netherlands were the most popular (similar to the previous year), with other destinations including France, Germany and Italy.
- Amsterdam University College
- Brunel University
- Central Saint Martins – University of the Arts London
- Delft University of Technology
- Durham University
- Goldsmiths, University of London
- IE University – Segovia
- London School of Economics and Political Science
- Norwegian School of Economics
- Polytechnic University of Milan
- Queen’s University Belfast
- SAE Institute Berlin
- Sciences Po -UBC Dual Degree
United States
The U.S. remains a most reliable destination because the Davis UWC Scholars Program creates an incentive for American colleges to admit UWC graduates and meet their full financial need at the undergraduate level. Non-Davis program scholars this year were offered other financial awards at U.S. institutions. The list of universities and colleges below remains varied, an outcome that supports strong research, networking and a successful university visits program, despite all visits being virtual in the last two-plus years.
- Bates College (Davis)
- Brown University (Davis)
- Colby College (Davis)
- College of the Atlantic (Davis)
- Colorado College (Davis)
- Columbia University (Davis)
- Lehigh University (Davis)
- Lewis and Clark College (Davis)
- Middlebury College (Davis)
- Mount Holyoke College (Davis)
- New York University (Davis)
- Northwestern University (Davis)
- Ringling College of Art and Design (Davis)
- Savannah College of Art and Design (Davis)
- Stanford University (Davis)
- Trinity College Connecticut (Davis)
- University of California – UC Davis, UC San Diego
- University of Chicago (Davis)
- University of Oklahoma (Davis)
- University of Southern California
- Whitman College (Davis)
Other Locations
Pearson graduates also intend to attend homeland or other international campuses such as Ritsumeikan Asia Pacific University, Sciences-Po (Le Havre campus France)-UBC dual degree, New York University Abu Dhabi, UAE and institutions in Japan, Australia or New Zealand
Bridging Year Plans
At this point, about 20 per cent of students plan to take bridge years or semesters, including those who deferred their enrolment to Sept. 2023, others completing national service and those planning to apply for 2023 or later entry. Bridge plans include four students participating in Semester at Sea with UWC Davis need-based funding. Others are applying to universities, upgrading/completing academic qualifications, working, volunteering and potentially travelling.
Year 46 Students
Students who took a bridge year last year reported they will be attending these postsecondary institutions in September 2022:
- Camosun College (Victoria, B.C.)
- Macalester College (Davis) (Minnesota, U.S.A.)
- Princeton University (Davis)
- University of British Columbia – including full award Centennial Scholarship to a new Canadian
- University of Cambridge (post-National Service for an earlier PC Year student)
- University of Chicago (Davis)