Academic Guidance

Steven McArthur has recently been appointed the Academic Guidance Counselor. Steve has joined ISL with over 20 years of teaching experience in England, Malaysia and Thailand. He is originally from the UK and he has attained his degrees from Brighton and Exeter Universities. He has recently been an Assistant Principal at Bangkok Patana School, Thailand, where he has also been a Head of Year for the senior students. Steve has recently visited Universities in the US and Canada and he is looking forward to working with the students at ISL. Steve has moved to Switzerland with his wife, Jo, and daughters Sophie and Kiera. His main hobbies are sports and he is a keen football, squash and golf player.

The role of the academic guidance counselor is to:

• answer questions or concerns of students or parents (please stop by and see him and/or arrange an appointment for an extended visit)
• encourage students to attend college fairs
• meet and discuss options for further education and related topics
• encourage students to meet with representatives who visit ISL
• ensure that all students have help in their application process
• provide guidance in deciding between universities or programs within universities
• provide the necessary ISL documentation, transcripts, and recommendations that individual universities request
• encourage students to meet deadlines
• assist students with essays/personal statements
• facilitate the process of finding responses to questions that students have been unable to answer from their own research

The role of the academic guidance counselor is not to:

• choose universities for the student
• choose degree programs for the student
• meet deadlines that are specific to a university IF the student does not meet the internal deadline. (Completed applications should be given to the academic guidance counselor one full month prior to any external deadline.) NOTE: It is the responsibility of the student to be aware of university deadlines. These may vary between universities
• request the application
• complete the application

The role of the parents is to:

• be a supportive force in your child’s application process
• discuss with your child the various options/programs of studies, and universities/ countries that they will consider
• encourage them to meet internal and external deadlines
• discuss financial options - limitations inevitably exist
• maintain lines of communication with their academic counselor when questions arise

The role of the parents is not to:

• apply or complete university applications for your child
• write your child’s essays or personal statement
• choose your child’s degree program or university

The role of the student is to:

• research your options through college books, the ISL library, and the internet
• compile a list of potential colleges and programs before the end of the university year. Refine/revise the list over the summer and try to visit some of the universities. Please avoid university visits while school is in session.
• attend college fairs and meet with representatives who visit our school
• listen to the advice of your counselor, parents, and teachers
• work on personal statement or college essays (if required) and complete them well before the School’s internal deadlines
• be proactive (Do not sit back and expect the process to happen, take ownership!)
• meet internal and external deadlines