FOR international school seniors, this is the year they decide where their interests lie and which university meets their needs. Then comes the all-important application. Tan Weiyun reports.

Next fall, many international school seniors will be university freshmen overseas, so this is the crucial year putting all that college-prep and advanced placement to use and deciding what they want and where they want to go.

In many of Shanghai's international schools, the preparation work have begun, so students will be ready for college work.

Here's a look at a few schools and their college preparation.

"Concordia offers students a personalized, student-centered university/career search program that starts in Grade 9 and becomes more specialized as students advance through high school," says Jason Holly, a counselor of Concordia International School of Shanghai.

The program includes annual grade-level meetings in which families and counseling staff discuss grade appropriate goals and information about college searches. Concordia offers a short SAT/ACT preparation class every summer immediately after the school year concludes.

All Grade 11 students take a quarter-credit college and career planning class, "Gifts, Goals, and God," which helps students evaluate their values, interests, personality and skills. These students and their parents take interest surveys and meet individually with counselors to discuss possible universities and career ideas.

Counselors hold one-on-one meetings with Grade 12 students early in the year to formulate application plans. They organize two application workshops to help students with the application process and their personal statement, a requirement for all universities.

Students of all grade levels are encouraged to attend information sessions conducted by more than 100 universities that visit Concordia each year.

The Western International School of Shanghai (WISS) presents the full International Baccalaureate (IB) program, which prepares students in various ways for Western university education.

"They begin their post-secondary experience with the 'tools' of good students, most importantly with successful time-management skills. They understand the intense demands of university courses. They are able to work independently, and are experienced with the required skills for labs, essays, research projects, and so on," says Tom Marling, deputy principal and diploma coordinator of WISS.

"On a personal level, students develop an appreciation of different cultures and individuals from their experiences in a true international environment in Shanghai, which gives them the maturity and sensitivity to be positive contributors to their university communities," Marling says.

Yew Chung International School of Shanghai (YCIS) also offers preparation.

"On top of assessing each student's interests and abilities, and giving standardized tests to measure their college readiness, we offer individual guidance in course selection, career paths, and appropriate college selection on an ongoing basis throughout a student's secondary school career," says Larry Eckert, a university guidance counsellor of YCIS.

"Also, students take a course specifically designed to integrate the college experience with career preparation and success. Regular communication, through avenues such as parent-student conferences, ensures that decisions made are well-planned and agreed upon by all parties involved," Eckert says.

The rigor of the IB program at the Dulwich College Shanghai and the focus on meeting deadlines within the program hone time-management skills needed to succeed at university.

"The Theory of Knowledge and Extended Essay help develop vital critical thinking and communication skills. The broad range of subjects studied in the IB is good preparation for the broad-based education they will encounter during the first year of an American university program," says John Huart, a career and university guidance counselor at Dulwich.

Engineering, business, medicine and art are the most popular university majors, says Douglas Willard, head of University Guide Counsellor of Shanghai Singapore International School (SSIS).

Factors affecting students' choices for universities and majors are diverse, observes Dr Vincent Evanno, DP program coordinator for SSIS.

"Many students base their choice on university ranking. The location is a very important factor, too. They might choose some regions of the world because they feel they will have a better education there. But the location can also depend on family reasons, or on the language spoken in the country. Other factors like university fees and scholarships may influence students," Evanno says.

Many expat students in Shanghai will choose to further their study in the United States and Europe, so those whose secondary education is a Western-style curriculum will have a relatively smooth academic transition.

Marling from WISS observes that personal qualities are crucial for university success, such as being self-motivated, resourceful and actively engaged in the learning process.

Eckert from YCIS says the type of student who does well in a Western university should be willing and able to adapt to different environments and to welcome and accept challenges in life.

"This person is very motivated to improve themselves, and most likely planning their future career in a world setting," says Eckert. "They are looking to expanding their views about people, places and things and also willing to consider a variety of viewpoints different from their own. This student has developed a unique sense of consideration and empathy for others in the world."

Huart from Dulwich finds a slight increase in the number of expat students interested in applying to Chinese universities.

"We have had students apply and gain admission to, Chinese universities. Those who have talked to me about staying in China to study usually cite a desire to continue exploring Chinese culture and refine their language skills. They view strong Mandarin skills as a valuable asset in the future," says Huart.