At Silicon Valley International School (INTL), we understand that college is more than just an academic goal—it’s the beginning of a lifelong journey of learning, exploration, and success. Through INTL’s college preparation program, we strive to help every student find the right path, wherever in the world it may lead them. Besides the academically rigorous International Baccalaureate Programmes and a wide array of extracurricular activities, INTL High School students are provided with the guidance and resources they need to navigate the college admissions process and thrive in higher education.
INTL’s college fairs exemplify our dedication to preparing students for their future academic journeys. Recently, universities from four different countries visited INTL for two mini-college fairs. INTL hosted institutions from California, across the U.S., and even internationally, giving our students exposure to diverse global opportunities in higher education. INTL is excited to continually expand the list of colleges and universities that visit our campus. Each year, INTL brings in a range of schools, allowing our students to hear from institutions that align with their passions, goals, and dreams. Besides prestigious domestic institutions, INTL has been visited by such renowned international schools as Duke Kunshan University (China), École polytechnique (France), Constructor University (Germany), Trinity College (Ireland), Bocconi University (Italy), Imperial College London (UK), and many more.
Additionally, INTL ensures that our faculty is equipped with the tools they need to write strong and impactful recommendation letters that best support our students’ applications. In the competitive landscape of college admissions, letters of recommendation play a crucial role in providing a more personal and in-depth perspective on a student’s character, academic performance, and potential for success. Recently INTL High School and Diploma Programme faculty participated in a valuable virtual workshop with Marie Vivas, Senior Recognition Manager for the US and Canada with the International Baccalaureate Organization (IBO). Hosted by INTL, this workshop focused on best practices for writing letters of recommendation. Marie’s expertise was invaluable, offering our faculty up-to-date strategies on how to best advocate for our students.
In this workshop, teachers learned how to highlight the qualities and achievements that make each INTL student unique. From focusing on academic rigor to emphasizing the student’s personal growth throughout their IB journey, the session empowered our faculty to contribute meaningfully to our students' success in the admissions process and to become even stronger advocates for INTL students.
Our college counseling program is especially valuable because it operates in tandem with the rigorous academic foundation provided by the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma Programme. As Linda Lee, Upper School English Language and Literature Teacher, reflected, “There's no secret that the Diploma Programme is pretty intense, and I think all students who enroll in it are really brave. The Diploma Programme is amazing because it pushes students to think analytically in everything that they do. At the end of the program, students are more than ready to tackle the obstacles that they need at university. And time and time again in my career, students have come back after graduating from the Diploma Programme, and they always say that they are just leaps and bounds ahead of their classmates when they go to university. And they say the two years of super hard work totally pays off and they don't regret it whatsoever.”
INTL believes that every student’s path to college is unique. With that in mind, our college counseling program is designed to provide personalized guidance that reflects the goals, interests, and strengths of each individual student. INTL High School students and their parents meet regularly with the college counselor, who offers expert advice on course selection, extracurricular activities, standardized testing, and college applications.