Doha, Qatar: January 11, 2010: As Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) prepares for its flagship workshop for high schoolers on January 13, students and parents who attended previous workshops have spoken of the benefits.
The latest workshop, held in December, helped students to craft effective application essays. Patricia Seapy, director of Northwestern’s Writing Center, gave the “Application Essays 101” presentation. According to Seapy, application essays are “the single most important part of the application package”. As she gave the students tips on how to perfect their essays, she encouraged them to “stand out and be unique.”
Sara Bader, a graduate of Al Wakra Secondary Independent School for Girls who will be applying to study in 2011, said that she believed the “great tips” would help her to submit a more competitive college application.
Mary Kouzoujian, whose daughter Karen is an 11th grade student at Qatar Academy, said: “I am very happy and relieved that these workshops are being held. It will be very useful for my daughter who is soon going to be applying to university.”
During the workshop, students practiced writing their own personal statements and analyzed sample personal statements and essays, gaining an understanding of the do’s and don’ts of essay writing.
The upcoming workshop on January 13, entitled “Discover Northwestern University in Qatar”, is an informational session that will profile the University’s programs in Communication and Journalism and the range of career opportunities that Northwestern graduates around the world enjoy.
It is the penultimate session in the “Get Ready!” Application Success workshop series, which is designed to help students submit more competitive college applications. The workshops have been running weekly since December 9th, and will finish on January 20th with a session on financial aid. Attendees will have the opportunity to learn and ask questions about applying for aid from the various available sources.
NU-Q Admissions Director Mounir Ouanaimi reported that the sessions have been “extremely successful” with an increasing number of students and their parents in attendance. Approximately 115 people attended the latest workshop on application essays, with around 90 people in attendance at the first workshop.
The workshops, which are free and open to all college-bound high school students whether or not they plan to apply to Northwestern, are part of the university’s efforts to help prepare future generations of young people in Qatar for academic success. Many parents have attended and found the sessions valuable, as well.
Throughout the workshop series, university staff and faculty, along with NU-Q students who serve as “admissions ambassadors”, have been on hand to advise students and parents and answer questions.
The final deadline for applications to Northwestern University in Qatar is March 1, 2010; the application fee will be waived for those submitting their applications by February 10, 2010.
The final two workshops will be held on 13 and 20 January, 2011 from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. in the Forum room at Northwestern University, located on the top floor of the Carnegie Mellon building in Education City. For more information on this and other events, visit: http://www.qatar.northwestern.edu/newsandevents/page.aspx?id=175828
