Policy

The University Applications Counseling Office (UACO) assists students in their efforts to gain a place at a tertiary educational institution commensurate with their academic aptitudes and career and other aspirations. Students from all ATHENS COLLEGE (Athens College and Psychico College) secondary education units are entitled to the UACO services.

The official language of the UACO is English. As such, all communication (oral and written) with applicants is conducted in this medium.

Counselors help students create balanced University lists in order to maximize their chances of admission. The UACO offers students guidance as they prepare for university studies, recommends appropriate university/course choices based on criteria which secure the best “match” between the applicant and the institution(s). These criteria include academic (i.e. suitable subject combinations, grade requirements, pre-admission test scores, etc.), as well as others (i.e geographical location-urban/rural, cost, size, facilities).

The Counseling Office considers University applications process one of high pedagogical value, as the process entails transferrable life skills (taking initiative, researching, heeding advice, following guidelines, accepting the merit of constructive criticism, adhering to deadlines, respecting others, showing ability to self-reflect, etc.). As such, students are expected to have full ownership of their applications.

The UACO does not submit applications by proxy. As such, Counselors expect the applicants’ full involvement in the process, given that the applicants’ interaction with their respective Counselor(s) is vital in the compilation of the school report. The Counseling Office liaises with the school authorities and the tertiary education institutions only. The Counseling Office will not disclose grade transcripts, school grades/grade predictions, reports, and reference letters to any third parties. Grades/grade predictions, and letters of recommendation can be sent directly to the University/ies the students have chosen to apply to only.

Universities have specific course requirements, and/or additional supplementary documentation depending on the discipline/country to which the student is applying. It is the applicants’ responsibility to do the necessary research before deciding.

All decisions made by Universities are final and cannot be challenged by Counselors.

The UACO does not replace the students’ own research of requirements institutions may set for admission onto courses (additional supplements or other forms, admission tests, age, financial requirements, portfolios, auditions, and their respective deadlines).

Adhering fully to the application deadlines set by the school is imperative as it allows for the students to work effectively in producing a good quality application and Counselors in allocating fairly their time and effort across the entire applicant cohort.

Students are expected to book appointments with their respective Counselor(s) themselves. If parents wish to attend the scheduled meeting the students will have to inform their parents about the date and time of their appointment and notify the Counselor(s) of their parents’ attendance.

Counselors communicate with students exclusively via the School email ([email protected]). Students are expected to open and read their emails regularly and respond accordingly. The School email is also used in all University applications, where an email is required.

Universities communicate with the applicant directly, either through a designated portal or email. Students are required to monitor such notifications/decisions and inform their respective Counselor(s) in a timely manner.

The Counselors are responsible for compiling the School Recommendation (UK/Europe) or the School Report (US/Canada), using information from the applicants’ teachers, school records, coaches, employers, and other sources. Counselors aim to create a comprehensive, accurate, and candid profile of the prospective student. These letters include information required by Universities for their evaluation of the student. These may include academic potential and transferrable skills as well as information regarding the applicant’s overall conduct including any extenuating circumstances, physical or learning differences, disciplinary issues, and any other relevant information.

Grade transcripts and the Apolytirion grades are issued by the UACO with the sole purpose of them being submitted directly to the Universities in support of a student’s application there and as part of the application process per se.

Transcripts are not issued directly to students, except if the applicant has been working with a UACO Counselor for this particular University. Where such a need arises, the UACO can provide transcripts in English sending them directly to the respective institution(s).

Official translations of documents other than transcripts (e.g. Greek Apolytirion, school curricula, past examination papers, etc.) are the responsibility of the student and should be obtained from certified external translation services only.

Predicted grades are issued by the relevant school Faculty, and are disseminated orally by the Counselors to the students. The Counseling Office is not in any way involved in the way the Faculty arrives at these.

Students are expected to seek information relative to University admissions by actively and regularly consulting the UACO notice boards, the UACO announcements on MS Teams and ManageBac, the IB DP Bulletin and/or the Lykeion Weekly Calendars (Καλαντάρια).

The UACO organizes in-house workshops, hosts presentations by Universities, and conducts certain admission tests. Student accommodation, travel itineraries, as well as financial aid/fee, loans’ applications, and private appointments with institutions and the issuing of visas are the responsibility of the students and their parents.

Students are also expected to seek such information from the source, by attending presentations held at the College by University representatives/admissions officers and other local events. University presentations during the school day are for students only; those after the end of classes are open to parents as well.

Students are assigned Counselors alphabetically, based on the first letter of their surname in Greek.

                                                                                                                                 (Updated November 9th, 2022)