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Handbook UWC

The document provides tips for preparing for, applying to, and interviewing for UWC schools. It includes advice on gathering information, standout activities, contacting recommenders, grades, familiarizing with UWC values, writing strong essays, grammar checking, incorporating values, being creative in videos, and preparing for interviews.

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Hugo Vazquez
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56 views10 pages

Handbook UWC

The document provides tips for preparing for, applying to, and interviewing for UWC schools. It includes advice on gathering information, standout activities, contacting recommenders, grades, familiarizing with UWC values, writing strong essays, grammar checking, incorporating values, being creative in videos, and preparing for interviews.

Uploaded by

Hugo Vazquez
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as DOCX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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UWC Applicants Handbook

Feel free to add your own advice which you believe can help other applicants who will be viewing this
:)
NOT made by UWC.

Preparation Tips: (Tips for when you’re not applying yet but are preparing
to do so)

# Advice From
1 What I did was I created a google document filled with UWC’ 25 Applicant
tips and advice gathered from youtube
videos/brochures/and UWC websites to gain
information and prepare myself for the application
stage!

2 Do some activities and things that you’re proud of and Reading


that you can talk about in your application, or take on
more prominent positions in activities that you’re
already participating in

3 Think about who you can contact for recommendations,


what I did was make a list of potential recommenders
and contact each of them individually about the
recommendation

4 If you still have time, use it wisely to improve or gather


better grades, they make or break your application for
# Advice From
most national committees

5 Make a Youtube playlist with UWC vlogs or tips to


always have them close by

6 Try your best to be familiar with the UWC values and


the different locations beforehand, to enter your
application with a sense of readiness

7 Don’t give yourself too much pressure and don’t idealize


anything, but do try your best.

8 Contrary to the 5th advice in this table, do not rely on UWC ‘25 Applicant
the generic and cliched tips from YouTube. It is
considered to be a pet peeve within the admissions
team. (from what i’ve heard)
This is because even admitted students do not often
know what got them in, so take their advice only with
caution!

9 I got in even though i was very underprepared for my Successful Applicant


panel interview. I am not encouraging you to be
underprepared ‘cause I did have some awkward
moments in the interview. Instead, what I’m trying to
say is stay true to yourself and stay true to them! Also,
screwing up an interview is not the end of everything :)
You never know what they see in you :) Just show the
good and passionate side of your true self and they will
find the beauty of your personality and how it fits the
school.
Application Tips: (Tips for when you are currently in your application
stage)

# Advice From
1 If you have any essays, write down the prompts on little UWC’ 25 Applicant
post-it notes and paste them around your room, that’s
what I did and it helped me think of ideas throughout
my day!

2 What I did was write my answers to different essay UWC’ 25 Applicant


prompts on separate Google Docs – this helped me with
maintaining the word count as well as easy editing :)
also, a great way to preserve your essay answers in case
you can’t check them on the application website!

3 If you have an optional video portion (the Canadian NC UWC’ 25 Applicant


one did), try your best to fill it out with anything you
like that represents yourself :) don’t need to consider if
it’s “application worthy” or anything because imo
whatever represents you, represents you and you
# Advice From
should just embrace it whatever it is :D

4 Try to show yourself in your most unique way and stand


out as an applicant

5 Don’t be afraid to ask for a friend or a family member to


review your essays, it’s always best to ask for an
external opinion before submitting your application

6 While writing essays try to avoid using extravagant


words, just to appear more “posh”

7 Try your best to incorporate the UWC values into your


writings, you do not have to fake your way to it, just talk
about a topic in a scope that helps highlight the UWC
values, because that’s what they want to see

8 CHECK FOR GRAMMAR!! It shows the committee that UWC’ 25 Applicant


you care about the essays. I asked my English teacher
and my native language teacher to review my essays in
terms of grammar.

9 If you have someone reviewing your application essays, UWC’ 25 Applicant


make sure to include an introduction page, which can
make them familiar with the concept of UWC, mission,
values, etc. It’s important for them to understand what
you’ve written.

10 Explain your thoughts thoroughly, if the word limit UWC’ 25 Applicant


allows you to do so. They want to know what you think,
why you think that, what are you going to do about
# Advice From
that? They want to know you have ideas, solutions,
motivation, and not only your thoughts!

11 Regarding the video essay, try to be creative! You don’t


have to just sit in front of a camera and talk about
yourself, you can submit any video! (unless there are
requirements regarding the video essay)

12 Don't be afraid of the interviewers, they just want to get UWC '25 Applicant
to know you. They want to select you, and that's why
they chose your application out of hundreds of others!
During the group discussion or team activities, be
mindful of the fact that team spirit really matters to
UWC, that's why don't just focus on winning but show
that you would be a great classmate to be if you would
be attending UWC. If your interview is at UWC itself,
talk to a lot of current students and faculty members to
show them that you already fit in!

# Advice From

13 Begin preparing for the application process well in UWCSEA ‘26


Admissions Committee,
advance. UWCSEA has various entry points, so
Sanchuan Feng(Discord
research the specific grade level and campus you're User is Ops)
interested in, and understand their application
deadlines.

14 Familiarize yourself with the admission requirements


on the UWCSEA website. Each grade level may have
slightly different criteria, so make sure you meet them.
# Advice From
15 Ensure you have all the necessary documents, such as
the Communist Manifesto, teacher messages,
standardized test scores, and any other required
materials ready in advance. Do NOT bring your dildo to
your interview.

Interview Tips: (Tips for when you are preparing for the interview)

● Do yourself a favor and bring some water with you, gives you easy access to
an on demand break, and helps relieve some stress.

● Try to make new friends near your home or at school, as practice.


● If you are introverted, try hanging around a friendly extrovert and study
their social tactics.
● Be confident, and know your application well, so you don’t stutter when
asked about a topic you have discussed in your application.
● Have some knowledge about world events and events going on in your
country
● Know yourself and be authentic
● I’d say prepare yourself, but don’t learn stuff just to say it. Prepare yourself
because you want to be direct and tell them exactly what they asked you.
For example, the question “Tell us about yourself” is really common in my
NC, so you could prepare some bullets you should talk about when you
answer it.
● ALWAYS, no matter WHAT interview it is, ask questions! Always come
prepared with a few questions to ask your interviewer at the end of the
interview. You want these questions to reflect genuine interests, so make
sure they aren't easily Googleable or common sense. Asking good, specific
questions will show you are dedicated and interested. This is difficult for
UWC, because each UWC is different, so spend some time thinking of
various questions to ask your interviewer. (Unless you're only applying to a
couple UWCs through the GSP, try to ask questions about UWC as a whole
instead of just one UWC, because your interviewer will be more lucky to
have an answer + it'll show you’re interested in the UWC movement rather
than just one school.) Searching up “questions to ask your interviewer” can
give you some question ideas, but try to come up with your own. (From
UWC applicant that has spent lots of time both being interviewed and
interviewing others)
● Send your interviewer a follow-up email after your interview thanking
them! It leaves a good impression and it's nice to do in general :) it's also a
perfect place to ask any questions you didn't get to ask during your
interview
● Here’s a link to some of my interview tips and tricks I’ve collected; enjoy
UWC - Interview preparation
● The interview is exactly like a conversation so take control of how it is
going. Briefly mention stuff that you want them to ask you more about.
This will allow you to say what you want them to know.
● Prior to the interview, record yourself answering questions they might ask
on the voice recording app on your phone. You can relisten to them before
your interview. This will help you remember your answers more than if you
wrote them down! You also won't panic if you forget a part.
● Adding to the previous point, brainstorm little details about yourself and
your interests. There could be anecdotes, self-challenges, obstacles, or
hobbies that you forgot happened. It sounds silly but it will help you talk
more in the interview! Lifesaver.
● Arrive for your interview in advance
● First impressions have a high impact, Take care with the way you dress and
groom yourself to show the interviewer that you are taking the interview
seriously. The interviewer will be especially concerned with your
Appearance.
● Another staff member who greets you may not be your interviewer but: you
can bet that the interviewer will ask about their impressions of you. Sit up
straight, look them in the eye, smile, and converse respectfully, with them.
Ask a question or two or make some small talk. Make them want to tell the
boss that they like your personality and that you would fit in.
● Greet the interviewer with a warm smile and look them in the eye, this
shows confidence and readiness
● Turn your cell phone off or on vibrate, and avoid trying to look at it at any
interval.

Group Stage Tips: (Tips for when you are prepping for the group stage)
- You do not have to be the person speaking at every given moment,
sometimes listening is more valuable than saying something
- Be yourself! Don’t talk like you want to be in UWC, talk like you are really
living the moment.
- Be understanding, respect everyone’s opinion and express your thoughts
and ideas! You should talk, yes, but you have to listen and understand
what people are saying before you said.
- No need to be perfect. Don't hesitate to ask questions if something is
unclear or beyond your knowledge. UWC is about openness and
willingness to improve and develop, show it to your NC - uwc'24 student
- If you have a different or unique opinion and you really believe in your
idea, don’t change it just because other people think differently from you -
uwc’25 applicant
- It doesn't matter if you take the lead, as long as you're engaged and
contribute to the discussion - LPCUWC '24 student
- Knowing little details about UWC that you can contribute to the discussion
will show that you have done your research!
- You don't know what the group activity is but keep a pencil and paper with
you just in case they come in handy.

General Tips: (Advice for the whole process; emotions, grades, peers, etc.)

- Don’t feel pressured to tell your peers that you applied or what stage of the
application you’re at – take it at your own pace and you don’t even have to
tell anyone at all if you’re not comfortable with it! -uwc’25 applicant
- This whole process does need effort, you can not expect to go through
without putting at least some dedication to your work. -uwc’25 applicant
- Take it slow and be patient, but take it seriously and be dedicated. Use the
time you have to give them everything you got! -uwc’25 applicant
- Easier said than done but don't get way too attached. Not to a specific
school and not to UWC in general. - uwc '25 applicant

IB Tips:
- Online textbooks not only save you money but they can be easily accessed
anywhere. Make sure to locate all your textbooks online to make life easier!
UWC-life Tips:
- It's only going to be 2 years, so make the best of it! - LPCUWC '24 student

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