Attendees of OACAC Regional Institute at YK Pao School's Secondary Division
YK Pao School hosted the first-ever Regional Institute by the Overseas Association for College Admissions Counseling (OACAC) in Shanghai on August 17-18. Attended by over 200 OACAC members from 16 countries, the event was a valuable exchange opportunity and included panels on a variety of topics including the current state of international education, international admissions, as well as standardised testing and recruitment in China.
Giacalone delivers welcome speech to attendees
The OACAC Regional Institute helps prepare college and university counsellors to advise international students on their journey to post-secondary education. According to the President of OACAC Joe Giacalone, "China is a popular discussion topic in higher education. It is imperative that we have a focused, thoughtful, and honest conversation specific to this region so we may better serve the students we advise."
YK Pao School Co-Founder Philip Sohmen and OACAC President Joe Giacalone
The Regional Institute also included an additional college fair held at Pao School’s Primary Division on August 16, which gave students and parents a chance to speak individually with admissions representatives from 58 post-secondary institutions in 13 countries. Panel presentations offered helpful college search and application tips on essay writing, extracurricular activities, interviewing, how to stand out in a competitive applicant pool and much more. Representatives from testing organizations such as the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the College Board, and IELTS also shared their knowledge and experience.
YK Pao School Secondary Division Executive Principal Paul Wood and Giacalone
Executive Principal of Pao School’s Secondary Division Paul Wood expressed his enthusiasm for the event, stating: “Events like this OACAC Regional Institute are great opportunities for high schools and universities to become more familiar with each other’s philosophies and goals. They also help everyone develop a shared awareness of the various application processes around the world and how students can best pursue those applications.”
Pao School Director of University Counselling Rhonda Leshman speaks to attendees
The Overseas Association for College Admissions Counseling (OACAC) is the world’s premiere organization for professionals engaged in international college counselling and admissions. Its 2,400+ members represent 106 countries and over 1,300 unique institutions and organizations. OACAC is a non-profit organization, and is an affiliate of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC).
