University and Career Counseling

We are here to assist you as you plan your path to university and beyond. The university application process is both challenging and exciting, and requires good preparation.

University and Career Counseling

We are here to assist you as you plan your path to university and beyond. The university application process is both challenging and exciting, and requires good preparation.

Beginning in Grade 8 and continuing through Grade 12, we provide students with careful guidance on course selection and academic performance.

In Career Counseling, we

offer interest surveys and personality testing
assist in course selection geared toward a future career
show students how to research careers online and through books and magazines from the ISR library
encourage students to gain work experience and assist them with their applications for internships

In University Counseling, we

help students find out what qualifications are needed for their intended course of study and to get into universities worldwide
teach students how to choose a course of study and find the right university for them. Factors like location, university rankings, entry requirements, tuition fees, and application deadlines, application strategies and the application cycle are considered.
teach students how to write personal statements and college essays in special workshops
help students understand German university requirements for IB students

Advising and planning intensify in Grades 11 and 12 when students receive personal guidance from counselors at all stages of the university process:

Internships and work experience
Summer courses and programs
Personality tests
SAT, ACT, and other assessments
Career research
University essays and personal statements
Teacher and counselor letters of recommendation
Mock interviews
University and college visits
Preparing and submitting university applications and tracking offers

University and career counseling (UCC) is carried out in group sessions and individual meetings.

For parents and students from Grades 8–12, we hold evening information sessions. Individual appointments can be requested by students and/or parents through ucc@isr.school.de.

We are proud of the varied destinations our graduates choose, which include top universities in North America, the United Kingdom, Europe, and Asia.

Please feel free to contact us anytime. We are here to help!

Internships and work experience

At ISR, we highly encourage our students to gain some work experience while they are still in school. We feel that work experience is an excellent tool in the process of choosing a career. Students will benefit in many ways:

Work experience is a reality check of their dream job and will help them to decide if a certain career is really for them.
They get a taste of ‘adult life,’ which will further their personal development and broaden their horizons.
They can make contact with potential future employers.
They will enhance their university application by showing real passion and commitment to the course they want to study.

Depending on the student’s age and pre-experience, as well as the company’s circumstances, work experience can be anything from a Taster -Day (‘Schnuppertag’), during which a student accompanies a professional on his daily business, up to a 3-week-internship with a specifically assigned project.

The UCC office provides individual help with the research of potential companies or institutions and the ways to approach these employers. Support is also given with the preparation of application documents.

Here is a selection of the internships ISR students did and the course they were interested in studying at university:

Airbus – aerospace engineering
Bain & Company – economics and international business management
University Clinic Düsseldorf (Institute of Virology) – biomedical sciences
Audi (Controlling) – economics/finances
Porsche (Production) – international business management
Rolls Royce – electrical engineering
University of Cologne (Institute of Nuclear Physics) – physics
E.on – engineering
Rheinische Post – political sciences
Süddeutsche Zeitung – journalism
Farm in Romania – agricultural engineering
Pediatric and psychiatric ward in a hospital in Thailand – medicine and psychology
Artist’s workshop – fine art /animation
Various architecture firms – architecture and civil engineering

Summer Courses and Programs For Middle and Upper School Students

The summers are an excellent time to explore your interests, get involved in extracurricular activities and to branch out and try some new things. University taster courses, internships, language courses, leadership camps, outdoor programs – the list of ideas to spend the summer meaningfully is endless. In the UCC office, we have a lot of flyers and brochures that can be picked up. Below is also a list with some ideas:

Oxbridge Academic Programs for a college-style summer experience for 14–18-year-olds: www.oxbridgeprograms.com
Oxford Study Courses, IB Summer Schools at MIT, Cambridge, Harvard and Oxford, UK University Tour: www.osc-ib.com
International Summer School of Scotland, St. Andrews: www.summerschoolscotland.com
U.S. Space & Rocket Center Advanced Space Academy for 15–18-year-olds: www.spacecamp.com
Johns Hopkins University for High School Students: www.jhu.edu/summer
The University of Pennsylvania, Penn Summer for High School Students: www.sas.upenn.edu/summer
Broadreach: Adventures Abroad for middle school, high school & college students: www.gobroadreach.com
Summer School at Columbia University: columbia.edu
Summer Discovery Programs in the U.S., England, and Spain: www.summerdiscovery.com
Jr. Discovery Programs for Middle School Students: www.jrdiscovery.com
English Speaking Union in the UK: www.ourworldenglish.com, a debating experience
Student Leadership Conferences in the U.S. and Europe: www.futureworldleader.org
Global Young Leaders Conference in Washington, D.C., New York City and China: www.envisionexperience.com
New York Film Academy Summer Camps for Film and Acting for Ages 10–13, 14–17 in Hollywood, Paris, London, Florence, Harvard: www.nyfa.edu/summer_camp
Oxford Royale Academy at University of Oxford for 16-18-year-old students: www.oxford-royale.co.uk
University of the Arts London: short courses for 16-18 year olds: www.arts.ac.uk
Talented Youth Summer Program, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology: http://cty.jhu.edu/summer/international/

University and College Visits

Universities and colleges from around the world visit ISR

The UCC Office offers regular opportunities to meet with university and college representatives from around the world.We host a wide range of university events that includes university fairs for all Upper School students (Grades 9–12), mandatory class sessions (Grade 11) and visits for specialized schools that are optional for the students and are scheduled in the UCC office. These presentations may include business schools, art academies, hotel management schools or schools from geographic areas other than Europe and North America which are destinations for a majority of our students.In our selection of university visits, we aim to cover both state and private schools and to include a large variety of schools with regards to the majors offered, as well as the size and the location.All visits are hosted during the school day and are announced well in advance in the classrooms, on the UCC board, and in the Weekly Update.

Trips to External University Events

We also take students to selected events in the area, such as the British Council University Fair and International College Night. In addition, students should check the UCC board for university and career-related events in the area. Fairs like EINSTIEG, Berufe live, VOCATIUM, as well as open days of German and Dutch universities, are regularly announced on the board and in the Weekly Update.

University Offers

The following is a list of universities and colleges that have accepted ISR students from 2010–2023:

Australia

University of Melbourne
University of New South Wales
University of Queensland
University of Sydney
University of Technology Sydney

Austria

Modul University, Vienna
Sigmund-Freud-University Vienna
University of Vienna
Webster University Vienna

Bulgaria

University of Varna

Canada

University of British Columbia
University of Toronto

Cyprus

European University of Cyprus

Denmark

Copenhagen Business School

France

American University of Paris
Ecole Polytechnique Université Paris-Saclay
EDHEC Business School
ESCP Business School

Germany

EBS Oestrich Winkel
EBS Wiesbaden (Law School)
EMBA Düsseldorf
Cologne Business School Mainz
FU Berlin
HS Neuss
ISM Frankfurt
Jacobs University Bremen
Kühne Logistics University, Hamburg
Macromedia HS Köln
Munich Business School
Ruhr-Universität Bochum
RWTH Aachen
TH Köln
TU Berlin
TU Clausthal
TU Darmstadt
TU Dortmund
TU Kaiserslautern
TU München
UMCH, Hamburg
Universität Bonn
Universität Duisburg/Essen
Universität Düsseldorf
Universität Frankfurt
Universität Freising/Weihenstefan
Universität Göttingen
Universität Hamburg
Universität Heidelberg
Universität Hohenheim
Universität Kiel
Universität Köln
Universität Konstanz
Universität Münster
Universität München (LMU)
Universität Passau
Universität Rostock
Universität Siegen
Universität Trier
Universität Tübingen
Universität Wuppertal
WHU Otto Beisheim School of Management, Vallendar
Zeppelin Universität, Friedrichshafen

Hong Kong

Hong Kong University of Science and Technology
The University of Hong Kong

Italy

American University of Rome
Università Bocconi, Milan

Ireland

University College Dublin

Japan

Keio University
Musashinao Art University
Nagoya University
Tama Art University
Waseda University
Hokkaido University
University of Tsukuba
The University of Tokyo
International Christian University (ICU)
Sophia University

Latvia

Riga Stradins University

Lithuania

Vilnius University

Malta

University of Malta

Norway

BI Business School

The Netherlands

Avans University of Applied Sciences
Einhoven University of Technology
Fontys University of Applied Sciences
The University of Groningen
The Hague University of Applied Sciences
Hanze University of Applied Sciences
HAN University of Applied Sciences
Leiden University
Maastricht University
Rotterdam School of Management-Erasmus University
Tilburg University
The University of Twente
Utrecht University
The Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam
Erasmus University College
Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR)
Fontys Hogeschool in Venlo and Eindhoven
Free University Amsterdam (VU)
Hanze Hogeschool Groningen
Hogeschool of Arnhem in Nijmegen
Hogeschool The Hague
Hogeschool van Amsterdam
Hogeschool van Rotterdam
Hogeschool van Utrecht
Hogeschool Zeeland, Vlissingen
NHL Stenden
NHTV Breda
Radboud University Nijmegen
Rotterdam School of Mgt. (RSM)
Saxion Univ. of Applied Sciences
TU Delft
TU Eindhoven
University College Amsterdam
University College Maastricht
University College Roosevelt
University College Tilburg
University College Twente
University of Amsterdam
University of Groningen (RUG)
University of Maastricht
University of Tilburg
University of Twente
University of Utrecht
Utrecht University College
Wittenborg Hogeschool

Spain

ESADE, Barcelona
IE University Madrid/Segovia
University of Barcelona
Universidad Europea Madrid
CEU Cardinal Herrera Valencia
La Salle Universitat Ramon Llull

South Africa

Cape Peninsula University of Technology
University of Stellenbosch

Switzerland

ETH Zürich
Franklin College, Lugano
Hochschule St. Gallen
Hotel Institute Montreux

United Kingdom

University of Hertfordshire
University of Huddersfield
University of Hull
University of Kent
University of Law
University of Leeds*
University of Leicester
University of Liverpool*
University of Manchester*
University of Middlesex
University of Nottingham*
University of Portsmouth
University of Reading
University of Salford
University of Sheffield*
University of Southampton*
University of St. Andrews
University of Stirling
University of Strathclyde
University of Surrey
University of Sussex
University of the Arts, London
Univ. of the West of Engl., Bristol
University of the West of Scotland
University of Warwick*
University of West London
University of Westminster
University of Wolverhampton
University of York*
City, University of London
De Monfort University Leicester
Durham University
Falmouth University
HULT International Business School
Imperial College London
Keele University
King’s College London
Kingston University London
Lancaster University
Robert Gordon University
Royal Holloway, University of London
The Glasgow School of Arts
The London School of Economics and Political Science
The Queen’s University of Belfast
The University of Bath
The University of Edinburgh
The University of Essex
The University of Exeter
The University of Glasgow
The University of Greenwich
The University of Hertfordshire
The University of Leeds
The University of Liverpool
The University of Manchester
The University of Reading
The University of Southampton
The University of St Andrews
The University of Warwick
The University of York
University College London
Aberystwyth University
Anglia Ruskin University
Aston University, Birmingham
Bangor University
Bath Spa University
Birmingham City University
Blackpool and Fylde College
Bournemouth University
Brighton and Sussex Medical School
Brunel University London
Canterbury Christ Church University
Cardiff Metropolitan University
Cardiff University *
City University
Coventry University
Durham University*
Edge Hill University
Edinburgh Napier University
European Business School, London
Glasgow Caledonian University
Glyndwr University, Wrexham
Goldsmiths, University of London
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh
HULT Business School, London
Imperial College London*
King’s College London*
Kingston University
Lancaster University
LCA Business School, London
Liverpool John Moores University
London Metropolitan University
London School of Economics (LSE)*
Loughborough University
Manchester Metropolitan University
Middlesex University, London
New College of the Humanities, Univ. of London
Newcastle University*
Northumbria University, Newcastle
Nottingham Trent University
Oxford Brookes University
Plymouth University
Queen Margret University, Edinburgh
Queen Mary, University of London*
Queen‘s University, Belfast*
Regent’s University London
Robert- Gordon- University, Aberdeen
Royal Agricultural College
Scottish Agricultural College
Sheffield Hallam University
SOAS, University of London
St. Mary’s University, Twickenham
Staffordshire University
Swansea University
Ulster University
University Campus of Football Business, Wembley
University College Birmingham
University College London*
University for the Creative Arts
University of Aberdeen
University of Abertay, Dundee
University of Bath
University of Birmingham*
University of Bournemouth
University of Bradford
University of Brighton
University of Bristol*
University of Cambridge*
University of Central Lancashire School of Medicine
University of Derby
University of Dundee
University of East Anglia
University of East London
University of Edinburgh*
University of Essex
University of Exeter*
University of Glasgow*
University of Greenwich

United States

Clarkson University
HULT International Business School
Miami University
Northwestern University
Purdue University
The Georgia Institute of Technology
The Ohio State University
The University of California, Berkeley
The University of Denver
The University of Iowa
The University of Maine
The University of Michigan
The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities
The University of New Hampshire
The University of NotreDame
The University of Vermont
The University of Wisconsin–Madison
The University of Southern California
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Denver
University of Arizona, AZ
Arizona State University, AZ
Baruch College (CUNY), NY
Baylor University, TX
Bentley University, MA
Boston College, MA
Boston University, MA
Bryant University, RI
Case Western Res. University, OH
Chatham University, PA
Clark University, MA
Colorado State University, CO
College of William and Mary, VA
Columbia College Chicago, IL
Connecticut College, CT
Cornell University, NY
Dickinson College, PA
Duke University, NC
Elon University, NC
Fairfield University, CT
Florida Atlantic University, FL
Franklin and Marshall College, PA
Hannover College, IN
Hawai’i Pacific University, HI
Hofstra University, NY
HULT Business School (San Franc., CA)
HULT Business School (Boston, MA)
Illinois Wesleyan University IL
Indiana University- Bloomington, MA
Lasell College, MA
Lehman College CUNY, NY
Lycoming College, PA
Marist College, NY
Martin Methodist College, TN
Michigan State University, MI
Newbury College, MA
Northeastern University, MA
NSU Nova Southeastern Univ., FL
Oklahoma City University, OK
Pace University, NY
Penn State University, PA
Princeton University, NJ
Purdue University, IN
Rutgers University, NJ
Sarah Lawrence College, NY
Siena College, NY
Suffolk University, MA
Syracuse University, NY
Temple University, PA
Texas A & M, CS
Trinity College St. Antonio, TX
Univ. of California Berkeley, CA
Univ. of California Los Angeles, CA
Univ. of California San Diego, CA
Univ. of California Santa Barbara, CA
Univ. of California Santa Cruz, CA
University of Colorado Boulder, CO
University of Denver, CO
Unversity of Hawai’i, Manoa, HI
University of Kansas, KS
Univ. of Massachusetts Boston, MA
University of Miami, FL
University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI
University of New Hampshire, NH
University of Notre Dame, IN
Univ. of North Carolina, Wilm., NC
University of Pennsylvania, PA
University of San Francisco, CA
University of Southern California, CA
University of Tampa, FL
University of Texas, Arlington, TX
University of Vermont, VT
Virginia Institute of Technology, VA
Washington College, MD
Wheaton College, MA

Please note
University names which are printed in bold letters are part of the Times Higher Education Ranking Top 200 worldwide. Universities that have a * after their name are part of the prestigious UK Russell Group. These British universities have a reputation for excellence in their research and teaching.