2024 International ACAC Conference Sessions

Join us for an interactive and informative session exploring the invaluable role of Counselor Advisory Boards (CABs) in fostering stronger partnerships between universities, high schools, and independent counselors. In this session, we will delve into the significance of CABs, their structure, functions, and the myriad benefits they offer to both parties involved in building a greater understanding of the current landscape of “both sides of the desk” and emerging student needs.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)

All

Strategy

The Netherlands has been a popular destination for international students for some time now. In this session we will update you about the current developments in higher education and what they mean for your students. This from the perspective of a research university, university college, university of technology and a university of applied sciences.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual

Europe

Regional Updates

Let’s have an open and frank conversation about the importance of demonstrated engagement. We’ll discuss why it’s important for students in the process and go beyond the obvious to also explore how tracking this data can help support (or not) high school-university relationships, future travel planning, and overall admission strategic plans.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual

All

Strategy

With the world around us constantly changing, we’re seeing new information about career development coming out of the World Economics Forum and new UN Sustainable Development goals – how does this change the way we guide students in their path towards higher education and postgraduate life? Increased selectivity and perceived heightened competition are pressuring students and their families to fit a certain mold rather than pursue their authentic interests and intrinsic motivations perpetuating not only a dangerous mental crisis but also false information about university admissions and career advice. How can we as counseling and admissions professionals come together to shift this paradigm and return the narrative back to messaging rooted in authenticity? Join us for a discussion on how we can reshape the way students share their stories in their applications to reflect genuine representation and to focus on personal development over personal gain.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)

All

(Looking Toward) the Future

Explore the multifaceted role of AI in college admissions with our panel of college counselors. This session will dissect AI's mixed blessing in easing student application burdens while potentially hindering personal touches. We'll explore the impact on list-building, essay writing, and how colleges are employing AI in enrollment management and admissions practice. We’ll also share a starter AI toolkit – that’s up to date as of this year's International ACAC conference! – that you can start using in your practice straight away.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)

All

Innovation

Cambridge International, the College Board, and the International Baccalaureate all offer rigorous programs that prepare students well for higher education. Representatives of all three organizations will share updates and discuss student mobility trends in our different curricular offerings. Please join a conversation about how we can best serve your schools and universities. Our focus is putting students first and supporting you.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)

All

Advocacy

Curriculum trends and updates

International recruitment & admissions have recently undergone dramatic shifts.

This highly interactive panel discussion will focus on ways in which leading universities are adjusting & adapting to major convulsions in the international student landscape, particularly in regard to changes in international student demographics & decision-making. We will highlight best practices to engage students, families, & schools in the most dynamic regions in the Global South (e.g., SE Asia, South Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, Southern Cone, etc.), while still sustaining connections to established source countries in the Global North (e.g., Northeast Asia, Europe, the MENA, etc.). Leading experts from bellwether institutions will share innovative approaches to international outreach & selection through a strategic enrollment management lens. Unique data-driven insights, drawing from Cialfo's proprietary database, will be explored.

Intermediate
Experienced

Post-Secondary (College & University)

All

Data

International Enrollment Management (focusing on regions, including South & Southeast Asia, sub-Saharan Africa, and the Southern Cone.

New study destinations are springing up around the world. While diversity of choice is essential and this is an exciting time for finding the perfect fit for every student, it presents a huge challenge to overworked counselors trying to master the nuances, hurdles, and pros and cons of each location. After decades of focus on “mainstream” destinations, perhaps the biggest challenge is just knowing what questions to ask!
We offer Prague as an instructive case study. The Study in Prague Consortium comprises the seven public universities in Prague, Czech Republic, which together offer more than 50 undergraduate and 100s of graduate programs taught in English in a safe, clean, and beautiful city with excellent employment opportunities. However, these programs are not a good fit for all students, and this session will provide clear guidelines for finding the students who are ready for their “Czech Dream” while also unpacking how different the timelines, application process, and academic cultures can be from the US-UK model.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual

Europe

Representation (i.e. diversity, inclusion, region-specific)

The million-dollar question on top of many U.S. higher education leaders' minds is will Chinese students return to the United States after dramatic falls during the pandemic? The answer is yes, but the reality is much more complex than that as many factors that could potentially push Chinese students away to U.S. 's competitor nations. Come learn about these shifting factors based on a doctoral study that explores the key contemporary factors that influence Chinese students' decisions to study in the United States from the vantage point of school-based college counselors. Industry experts will also share effective recruitment strategies in the complex post-pandemic world in China.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Post-Secondary (College & University)

East Asia

Case Studies

Have you ever found yourself standing at the crossroads, between students who have the luxury of choice and students who have no choice at all? Join us for a candid session designed to resonate with every counselor who has ever grappled with the intricate balance of supporting both well-resourced and under-resourced students within the same cohort. This panel will share lessons learned and hard-earned wisdom, gleaned from years of work in the field. Leave with tips on how to support student populations from both ends of the socioeconomic spectrum, while preserving your own sanity, authenticity, and integrity.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)

All

Student Equity (i.e. access, affordability, resources)

The school profile and the transcript are essential documents that go along with the student's application. These documents represent the school and give context to the student's performance throughout high school. It is important for school counselors to think about the accuracy of each document and the information that would be supportive of students' applications and useful to colleges and universities as they consider each candidate's application. In this session, we will review the critical components of each and provide suggestions for collaborating with school officials to enhance understanding and produce good profiles and transcripts that highlight the strengths of the school and the applicant.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)

All

Advocacy

Ignorance is bliss until it comes knocking on your door with confidence.

Applying to university is a complex process, often one that involves a whole family, but for some, this includes multiple applications, various platforms, different deadlines, testing and many essays. We know that many families don’t truly know what it involves until they are lost in the sea of essays, by which point, their well-being has been compromised, and the damage will take much longer to heal than the time it took to create.

Good guidance brings in the factor of well-being, whether it's in our job description or not. That can mean saying no to students, parents, applicants and even senior leadership.

When is it in the best interests of a student to tell them "no?" Is that different when working as a counsellor, an admissions officer, an IEC or a school leader? How best can we frame a "no" to make it a positive outcome?

This session will give you the backing and examples of why no can be the right and only answer.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Post-Secondary (College & University)
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)

All

Strategy

The Executive Director for International Education at Global Affairs Canada will be joined by a colleague from the English Language Institute at Seneca Polytechnic and member of Languages Canada`s Board of Directors to provide an overview of why international students should choose Canada for their post-secondary and language studies. Focus of the session would be on the abundance of high quality education options across Canada, that include internship and co-op options and world class research opportunities. Emphasis would also be placed on the education pathway options between different levels of study, including language pathways, how to apply for a Canadian study permit & visa, and Canada`s post-graduate work permit program for those looking to work in Canada after their studies.

Beginner
Intermediate
Experienced

Secondary (High School) & Individual
Organization (For-Profit, Non-Profit, CBO)

Canada & U.S.

Regional Updates