NU-Q workshop series gives high school students the competitive edge in university applications

Northwestern University in Qatar (NU-Q) will offer a college application workshop series over the coming months for Qatar’s high school students, featuring insider tips from admissions officers. This is the series’ fourth edition after successful workshops in past years. 

The “Get Ready!” Application Success Workshops, running from December 8 to February 9, aim to provide students with a competitive edge when applying to university, and introduce them to NU-Q’s journalism and communication programs.  

High school students who participate in the series, divided into four themed workshops, will learn effective methods for writing application essays, gain insight into what admissions officers look for in applications, and receive information on financial aid.  Each workshop will provide students with insight into a different aspect of the university application process. 

The workshops are free and open to all college-bound high school students and their families, whether or not they plan to apply to Northwestern, explains NU-Q Admissions Director Mounir Ouanaimi. “Northwestern believes it has a responsibility not only to advise its own prospective students on our college application process, but also to help prepare as many of Qatar’s young people as possible for academic success. We are here to help students navigate the application process,” he said. 

Ouanaimi added, “We are delighted to be able to provide such workshops to the young generations in Qatar. We understand that college applications can be quite daunting for high school students and therefore are happy to be able to partner with them and provide them insight throughout the entire application process.” 

The first workshop is to be held on Thursday, December 8. This workshop, titled “Application Essays 101,” will be run by the director of Northwestern’s Writing Center and will teach students how to break down complex subjects into creative and effective personal statements and essays. The essay section is a crucial aspect of every university application, and by the end of this workshop students will have a firm grasp on how to craft competitive applicant essays. 

A second workshop titled “A Decision Maker’s Perspective” will be held on Thursday, January 12, 2012. This workshop will give true insight into what the decision-making process of admissions officers. Students will have the opportunity to sit with Northwestern’s own admissions officers for advice on the application process.  

During the next workshop, titled “Discover Northwestern University in Qatar,” on Thursday, January 26, 2012, students and parents will learn about Northwestern’s Communication and Journalism programs in Qatar, and the various career opportunities that are available to NU-Q graduates.    

The workshop series will close with its final session on Thursday, February 9, 2012, titled “Financing Your Education.” This workshop will help parents and students understand financing opportunities at NU-Q and the financial aid application process.  Attendees will have an opportunity to speak with a financial services representative about merit and need-based financial aid. 

The “Get Ready!" Application Success Workshops are a part of NU-Q’s efforts to reach out to high school students in Qatar and teach them the ins and outs of what can be an overwhelming process in applying to universities. The series will cover the entire admissions process, with the intent to give students the tools to create a successful application.