The past academic year has been a busy one for the U.S. College Counseling Office. Between 2000 – 2015, up to 31% of the IB graduates and a small number of Lyceum graduates chose to attend some of the finest colleges and universities in the U.S. Most of the students were able to do this on financial aid packages; ranging from 50% to 100% of declared student need. Along with good grades, many schools look for summer experience – internships and college-level coursework – to determine financial aid awards.
A U.S. college summer experience is something that an Anatolia student can aspire to, well before high school graduation. During the summer of 2015, over 90 students from our school were accepted to programs ranging from 2-6 weeks long, 36 of them on scholarships that amounted to a total of $145,987. Research-based and hands-on activities, which range from taking blood samples from crocodiles to building robots and tracking the stars through power microscopes, are the kind of experiences our students – and prospective colleges – are looking for.
Anatolia aspires to help all our students grow through accomplishment and experience, to build their resumes and to gain pre-professional skills, by offering mentorships and service learning projects. Last summer, 18 students volunteered at a private clinic, shadowing doctors and becoming familiar with the daily routine of the patients. Another 14 students volunteered at the City-run tourist information booths, using their foreign-language skills and knowledge of their town to answer questions and help visitors. Many students chose to continue their volunteer work throughout the year at one of the two dozen NGO’s which partner on a steady basis with Anatolia College, benefiting both our students and our community.
Narek Alexanian ’15
Anatolia pushed me to understand and use my strengths in dynamic ways. The teachers, the counselors, and the extra activities all help us to explore and develop our personalities to their fullest potential. It’s an experience you won’t find at any other school.
Markos Markakis ’16
Leaving the excellent quality of academics aside, Anatolia’s treatment of extra-curricular activities was crucial to my success. (That) helped me define my interests and goals and hone skills such as teamwork and perseverance.
Ioanna Mantzouridou ’16
At Oberlin College’s Summer program, I learned how to cooperate with people from all around the world for a common goal. But most importantly the whole journey made me a more independent and self-aware person.
Georgia Koutsoura ’17
The Summer Programs helped me a lot with public speaking skills and strengthened my verbal ability. These programs are an amazing opportunity that Anatolia students should definitely take! There is no more productive and exciting way to spend your summer.
