“UWC makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.”
UWC (United World Colleges) is comprised of 14 colleges spread throughout the globe and is united by the mission statement:
- UWC Adriatic, Italy
- UWC Atlantic College, UK
- UWC Costa Rica, Costa Rica
- UWC Dilijan, Armenia
- UWC Li Po Chun, Hong Kong
- UWC Maastricht, Netherlands
- UWC Mahindra College, India
- UWC Mostar, Bosnia
- UWC Pearson College, Canada
- UWC Red Cross Nordic, Norway
- UWC Robert Bosch College, Germany
- UWC South East Asia, Singapore
- UWC-USA, USA
- UWC Waterford Kamhlaba, Swaziland
Have I mentioned that we also do the IB (International Baccalaureate)?
PS: If you’re unaware about the UWC movement as a whole, this video is a good starting point: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRn_FTgcJv0
Hi! My name is Josephine Foong and I am currently a second year at UWC Atlantic College and I’m here to briefly run through the application procedure.
In order to get into a UWC, students are required to go through an application process with his/her National Committee (NC). This is similar to the Malaysian NC. You begin with an application form (along with instructions) which can be found on the Malaysian NC’s website http://uwc-my.org/UWCNew/, and admission is a selective process. Upon submission of completed forms that comprise your general information, financial requirements, preferences, and some briefs to write – you then submit your application via post or deliver it to the office yourself.
Trust me when I say this was a nerve-wrecking experience.
The confirmation email stating that I was accepted to move on to the next round, was probably one of the best emails I’ve received. The next round is an individual interview. If anything, it was definitely one of the most daunting interviews I’ve had thus far. I’m not allowed to say anything specific regarding the content of the interview, but imagine being placed in the ‘hot seat’, in front of five people who listen to your every word and then use your own words against you. So, you should be knowledgeable about issues both locally and globally, be able to think on the spot and try not to sound stupid during the process.
Personally, I came out of the interview room feeling defeated and felt like my chances of entering a UWC were over.
Maybe someone in that room saw something that I didn’t, and I ended up receiving another email two weeks later saying that I passed the individual interviews and advanced into the group interview round.
The group interview was a lot less formal and more relaxed than the individual interview. Here you’ll meet the rest of the applicants that have made it thus far. You’ll be separated into smaller groups and separated again into two different rooms where two different activities take place – you either start the day with teamwork-related activities (which were very entertaining to say the least) or you’ll start it with a discussion-based activity where members of the National Committee throw prompts and issues for a group discussion to take place. The group interview lasted for about 6 hours and I was absolutely knackered after it.
With this, the NC makes the final decision – you’re either in or you’re out.
If you get in, you’ll receive a confirmation email inviting your parents and yourself to an informal interview to inform you which college you’ve been sent to alongside a Q&A session and the financial aspects of it all.
Note that you don’t choose which college you go to, because when you apply – you apply to the UWC movement as a whole.
Trust me when I say it’s an experience of a lifetime: Good Luck!
Josephine Foong is an aspiring entrepreneur/photographer who is currently doing the IB at UWC Atlantic College. She’s usually seen with her camera and flip flops. Kinder Bueno makes her very happy.
