ACAMIS College Counseling Event 2026
ACAMIS College Counseling Event
From Waitlists to What’s Next:
Spring Challenges in Global University Admissions
Utahloy International School Guangzhou
Friday & Saturday, January 16 and 17, 2026
Target Audience
This course has been designed for school counselors, administrators, and faculty who advise students and families in the process of applying to and matriculating at colleges and universities worldwide. At this time of the academic year, Grade 12/Year 13/senior year students will soon be receiving admissions decisions and there may be unexpected results and further actions to be taken by both the student and the high school to finish the college process. This workshop will also review worldwide university admissions processes and options to increase counselor knowledge and expertise in preparation for advising the next class.
Essential Questions
- How can I better advise and manage the expectations and anxieties over the admissions process in my school community during the late spring months of Grade 12 students?
- What is the advice for students who are still awaiting a final decision from a college or university?
- What happens if students do not meet their predicted IB scores?
- What strategies can help keep the student in the running?
- How are global politics affecting higher education opportunities around the world at this point in time?
- How do I wrap up the college process for each student and ensure robust data collection at the end of each year?
- How can I start to prepare the next senior class at this time of the year when they are still in Grade 11?
Over-Arching Goal
By the end of the workshop, participants will gain firsthand knowledge of recent trends and practices in different college admissions processes around the world, and how universities are handling late spring unexpected events such as students not meeting predicted IB grades, disciplinary actions by the high school in grade 12, and what may help waitlisted students at this time in the year. This workshop will also review the details of many worldwide university admissions systems to increase counselor knowledge and prepare counselors to be ready for the next senior class. We will also discuss the current global political climate also affecting higher education options around the world. Lastly, this workshop will help counselors understand how and what needs to be wrapped up at the end of each year’s college process in order to prepare for the next class.
For participants who have attended this consultant's previous ACAMIS workshops, this course will build upon previous knowledge. For new participants, this course will provide a university admissions crash course highlighting a counselor's role and responsibilities over the course of the entire academic year.
Workshop Outcomes
During this learning experience you will learn and practice how to excel in the following aspects:
- Understand what universities are looking for in applicants, as they will differ by country and by institution. Looking at the big picture at this time of year, counselors will better understand the waiting list process of the US, the clearing process in the UK, and implications of events that may affect student admission offers at this late time in the academic year.
- Compare the holistic American process with that used by UCAS and different university processes around the world and understand how counselors should continue to advocate for students after applications have been submitted.
- Specific country information will be provided to help calm anxieties and address misinformation held by your students and parents, especially implications of global political decisions that affect the higher education landscape.
- Gain confidence in supporting your counseling team, faculty members, and managing up with administrators.
- Learn about critical information your school needs to be able to provide colleges and universities around the world (even at this late time in the academic year) to best support the applications of your students, even after applications and transcripts have been submitted.
- Gather knowledge and identify opportunities to fill in knowledge gaps in order to prepare to advise the next senior class.
- Learn about how to create robust policies and protocol in order to conclude the college process at the end of each year.
Workshop Information & Price
Date: January 16 and 17, 2026 (Friday and Saturday)
Early Bird Registration discount is available until November 28th 2025.
ACAMIS Members
$400 USD per person. After November 28 the rate will be changed to $500 USD per person.
Non-members
$500 USD per person. After November 28 the rate will be changed to $600 USD per person.
Workshop Preparation
The expectation is that participants work in schools and play a significant role in advising, advocating for, and counseling students and families in the college admissions process looking to varied destinations around the world.
Program Agenda
This program is divided into four (4) modules, 2 modules will be covered on each day
Module 1 - The worldwide college and university landscape
Overview:
Given the breadth of tertiary education option across the world, high schools are charged with supporting students and families in choosing and applying to a manageable list of schools. Let’s look at the world context, current world politics affecting international student mobility and start with the US admissions system, its timeline, and implications of being placed on a waiting list.
Essential Questions:
- What features and trends about American colleges and universities exist that lead to the very unique admissions process that students face if they want to go to America for an undergraduate education?
- How do American colleges and universities differ from those in the UK and options in Europe?
- What can students add to their application during the time they are on the waiting list or want to apply again in another year?
- How do I advise non-US citizen Grade 11 (and younger) students who want to consider the US for university study?
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will get an overview of the breadth of college options worldwide.
- Participants will get a comparison of how students must be counselled in different ways depending on where they are applying. How can you best manage giving specific advice and manage the understanding of all your stakeholders?
- Participants will learn that US colleges and universities care much more than academic strengths of a student. What else are they looking for?
- Participants will learn how to explain the concept of “college fit” to students and parents unfamiliar with the undergraduate colleges and universities in the US
- How do high school teachers and counselors help counsel students on application writing for different country systems?
- What is the US waiting list system and how does it work?
- How do students present themselves differently when applying to the UK and other parts of the world?
Module 2 - What does the end of a senior’s college process look like between now and graduation
Essential Questions:
- How do I ensure that I am wrapping up the college process for each of my graduating students?
- What data should I be collating for my school administration?
- How does the school ensure the data is relevant, timely, and accurate?
- How do I help others interpret college results data from our school community?
- Does every senior who wants to attend university next year have a school to which they are matriculating?
- Is every Grade 12 students on their path to achieving their post-secondary plan?
Learning Objectives:
- Counselors will learn about establishing policies and protocols so that the counseling office helps students close their college admissions and matriculation process.
- Counselors will know what data and and how to collect appropriate student data at the end of every year.
- Counselors will learn how to report data and manage up with your administrators/board in order to gain support of your college counseling process.
Module 3 - How to help students not yet done with their college process by graduation
Overview:
Counselors may need to troubleshoot during spring semester senior year as there will be implications of changing grades, schedules and activities of grade 12 students. Some work may be required of counselors extending into the summer, especially when there is still work required of the students and information required from the high school. The goal of this module is to have counselors better equipped to have conversations with students and their parents/guardians in order to guide them through the final parts of the college admissions process.
Essential Questions:
- What happens when a student's college process is not yet done by high school graduation?
Learning Objectives:
- We will explore late spring situations that will require a counselor's expertise to help ensure the student is a good fit with a college/university
- We will explore case studies on unexpected spring events.
- How to help students who will take a gap year.
- What are some country options that require a student to apply after school graduation.
Module 4 - Preparing the next senior class
Overview:
The goal of this final module is to ensure counselors feel confident in ending their work with the senior class and are ready for the next class. Everyone deserves a strong and healthy finish to the year!
Essential Questions:
- How to advise juniors who want to have a productive summer visiting and/or researching colleges
- What are examples of mental, emotional, and tactical preparation for the next school year and your next class of seniors
- What are some best practices to how to start working with Grade 11 students to prepare them for Grade 12?
- How do counselors help new incoming Grade 12 students to the school? How do you need to work with the students’ previous school for their college process?
Learning Objectives:
- Participants will learn practical information to share with students and families and a typical timeline of student responsibilities and school programming for Grade 12 students.
- Participants will be able to increase their capacity in how to develop a robust college counseling program.
- Participants will learn about networks, professional development opportunities, and key partners to have to better support your school’s college counseling reputation and knowledge base.
Speaker's Biography
Grace Cheng Dodge
Education: Graduated from Harvard University, MS in Accounting, MBA, and EdD from Northeastern University
Career: Head of School, Director of Admission, Associate Director of Admissions, College Counsellor, Director of College Counseling.
Grace Cheng Dodge is retired as Head of School of Taipei American School, Taipei, Taiwan. She is also a former Director of Admission at Wellesley College. Prior to joining Wellesley in 2015, she was an Associate Director of Admissions at Harvard in charge of training all admissions officers to assess applications. From 2009-2012, she took a professional leave from Harvard and spent three years at Taipei American School as a college counselor and Director of College Counseling. TAS sent approximately 70% of students to the US for college. Grace returned to the TAS College Counseling office in 2018 before assuming the position of Deputy Head of School in the 2019-20 academic year. Dr. Dodge served as Interim Head of School during SY 2020-2021 before her selection as the 15th Head of Taipei American School.
While at Wellesley, Grace was selected to be a US Department of State Office of Overseas Schools/College Board Overseas Schools Program traveler to western Europe. In this capacity, she traveled to various international and American schools, presenting to lower, middle, and upper school communities of expatriate children and parents on developing the whole child and mastering the building blocks to being a successful student in an American school system.
Grace has presented worldwide on subjects such as college application essay writing and has been active in EARCOS (East Asia Regional Council of Schools), NACAC, (National Association of College Admission Counseling), IACAC (International Association of College Admission Counseling) and national College Board Forums. She was Chair-Elect of the New England College Board Regional Council before relocating to Taiwan.
Grace is a graduate of Harvard University with a cum laude degree in applied mathematics. She holds an MS in accounting, MBA, and EdD from Northeastern University. She is certified as a PreK-12 administrator by the District of Columbia Office of the State Superintendent of Education. Prior to entering the field of education, she was employed by PwC LLP as an auditor of independent schools, and she remains a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
Grace is currently an independent consultant to international schools in order to train counselors, heads/Directors, and boards to better understand university admissions processes around the world.
Recommended Transportations and Hotel
Recommended Transportation
AIR:
From Airport: Baiyun International Airport (CAN) is well-connected (<30 min by car)
Use Didi (China's Uber, via Alipay) or taxis from Parking Lot 8.
TRAIN:
High-Speed Trains to Hong Kong:
Frequent trains from Guangzhou South Station (1 hour away) and Guangzhou East Station (<30 min away)
Boarding starts 20 minutes before departure.
Booking apps: Railway 12306, Alipay, or Trip.
TAXI:
Local Transport: Didi is recommended for ease of use.
Recommended Hotel
Holiday Inn Guangzhou South Lake
Address: No. 320 Tonghe Road, Baiyun District, Guangzhou
Price: ¥488/night, includes breakfast.
Booking Process: Contact Peter directly through WeChat to secure this rate.
Notes:
Just 10 minutes by car from UISG campus.
This hotel is far from Guangzhou downtown and other amenities!
Host School
Utahloy International School Guangzhou (UISG) is Guangzhou’s oldest International Baccalaureate (IB) continuum school, offering the full IB Programme (PYP, MYP, and DP) from early years through Grade 12. As part of a global network of over 5,700 IB World Schools, UISG is committed to delivering a challenging, internationally minded education that prepares students for success in a rapidly changing world.
Our dedicated educators foster a nurturing and inclusive environment where students develop into compassionate, critical thinkers and responsible global citizens. With a focus on holistic growth, UISG supports each student’s academic, creative, and personal development through a wide range of co-curricular activities, arts, and athletics.
Committed to educational excellence, UISG empowers students to thrive in their future pursuits and make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.
Dr. Daniel Mullen
Head of School
Utahloy International School Guangzhou
800 Sha Tai Bei Road, Bai Yun District, Guangzhou
Refund Policies
If notice of cancellation re the registered participant/sponsor is received:
- 30+ days pre-event: 80% of fee is refundable
- 15-29 days pre-event: 40% of fee is refundable
- Less than 15 days pre-event: no refund
Online PD Programs - No refund will be granted re participants commencing an online PD program and withdrawing part way through. Course material fees (re DiSC surveys, book fees, etc) are not refundable once access is granted.
Refund Due To PD Event CancellationIn the event of cancellation of a conference, workshop or online PD program, we will fully refund the registration or sponsorship fee(s) paid. However, we will be unable to refund any travel, visa or accommodation expenses incurred or course material fees where access has been granted.