Friends of the Adviser Meeting
by Karl Sloane, IBDP Coordinator
Dear Students and Parents,
This time of the year for graduating students in 2025 and 2026 can be a very busy and somewhat apprehensive time as university selections are being discussed and online applications are being made.
Recently I had the great opportunity to attend the Friends of the Adviser meeting, which focused on higher education opportunities in the United States, hosted in collaboration with EducationUSA at the Marriott Hotel.
One of the central topics discussed was the importance of choosing universities not just based on academics but also on personal preferences, such as climate and location. Students are encouraged to consider how these factors might affect their overall study experience. For example, some U.S. universities are located in colder regions, which may not suit everyone. Chris Johnson at Arizona State University via Zoom explained in detail the process of university applications and what students can and cannot do during their time of study but emphasising the great opportunities that USA has to offer undergraduates. A key takeaway was the flexibility of changing majors and specialising to suit the needs of undergraduates.
Several U.S. alumni joined the meeting to share their personal stories of switching fields during their studies, reinforcing the idea that students can adapt their academic journey as their interests evolve.
Additionally, the session highlighted the benefits of starting at community colleges, which offer smaller class sizes and a more personalized learning environment. This can be an excellent stepping stone before transferring to a larger university.
My sincere thanks go out to Dimas Samudra (EducationUSA Medan Adviser), Lilis Su’adah (EducationUSA Aceh Adviser), Chendani Budhi (EducationUSA Indonesia Manager), and Bernard Uadan (Principal Officer, US Consulate for Sumatra) for their continued support in providing valuable insights and guidance to our students and their continued warmth support to the MIS community
Looking forward, MIS is planning a University Day where we hope to collaborate further with EducationUSA.
If you have any questions relating to University courses here in Indonesia and, or overseas, please do not hesitate to email me: karl@mismedan.org.
