The world is your oyster
The driving force behind the Academic Counselling department is our steadfast commitment to helping students reach their true potential and becoming who they want to be. Securing a place at a competitive university is an integral part of this process and this requires much more than good grades in school. The academic landscape is one that is subject to many changes, and as a department we are adaptable and responsive to the changing needs of our students. For these reasons, we strongly encourage everyone to make use of the school’s Academic Counselling resources.
Our Academic Counselling provision is designed to provide:
To do this, we make ourselves readily accessible to both students and parents, whilst also delivering a structured higher education and academic counselling provision at key points in our students’ academic careers:
In Year 2, we help students select a language between French and German.
In Year 3, we help students select GCSE options. Currently, all students take 10 GCSEs, where 5 are optional subjects. A presentation is made to students in the morning, followed by two afternoon presentations to parents, run in Greek and English. We also produce the Years 4&5 Curriculum and Options booklet, in collaboration with the Academic Faculties. These presentations are followed by an extensive period of one-to-one appointments, where parents are usually present. The time set aside for year 3 is mid-January to end of February.
In Year 5, we help students select GCE A-Level options. Currently, all students can take up to 5 GCE A-Levels, with 4.5 being the norm, and where all subjects are optional. A presentation is made to students in the morning, followed by two afternoon presentations to parents, run in Greek and English. We also produce the Years 6&7 Curriculum and Options booklet, in collaboration with the Academic Faculties. These presentations are followed by an extensive period of one-to-one appointments, were parents are usually present. The time set aside for year 5 is mid-January to end of February.
During the options season for Years 3 and 5, we help co-organise the Annual Education Fair with the Student Brotherhood Council, where students get student-to-student advice and are able to see textbooks and notebooks of students currently studying that particular subject. Moreover, we organize various career-related activities throughout the year that allow students to improve their decision-making skills and make informed decisions with regards to their subjects, taking into account the world of work.
In Year 6, we help students make the final adjustments to their curriculum, and prepare for University applications, which take place in Year 7. We deliver presentations relating to competitive admissions at top Universities such as Oxford and Cambridge as well as to demanding courses such as Medicine and Law. Moreover, we advise students on how to constructively spend their summer going into Year 7 with summer work, extensive reading and suitable programmes in order to present a more competitive application package to Universities in the forthcoming application season.
Please follow the link for information on the June 2024 Presentations
Finally, in Year 7, we assist students with every aspect of the University applications process. Our students are encouraged to apply to any country they want and to as many countries as the wish. The provision of services is abundant and it includes personalized career and advising session on a one-to-one basis with the student (parents are also welcome) to discuss grades, potential, course and university options Moreover, we offer workshops on personal statement writing, presentations for studying in various countries, open house visits by past graduates who share their experiences as well as University visits. Our provision for interview preparation for various courses is a point of pride for our department and the exceptional results of our students in all areas, including Medicine and the Flying Start PwC programmes are a testament to that. We are also the first school to have delivered a full-fledged MMI training circuit for Medicine, Dentistry and Veterinary Science in 2017. We close off the year with helping students see to every need relating to their move from the Academy to University such as accommodation, financial matters and pre-departure briefings.
Our students have the opportunity to learn and to mature within our community, but the Academy is only part of the journey, and not the destination.
We therefore offer a comprehensive service that covers all aspects of the University application process – application forms, accommodation, tuition fee loans and any other needs that may arise in individual applications. We are able to assist students throughout their University applications in any country of the world.
One of our major points of pride is how well we prepare our students for the most competitive courses by providing a one-of-a-kind service in interview coaching. By using our extensive databank of questions, which we have collated from feedback we receive from our students, we can accurately predict questions and thus prepare students, giving them their best chance at success. We train students for Medicine, Dentistry, Veterinary Science, Physiotherapy, Pharmacy, Engineering, Law and the prestigious Flying Start programmes, at top Universities such as Oxford, Cambridge, Imperial, and UCL. We are proud to be offering Multiple Mini Interview (MMI) coaching as well, the most popular method of interviewing for Medicine and Dentistry, not only by providing students with previously asked questions, but also by being the only school in Cyprus which runs a full MMI simulation with 10 stations since 2017.
Career prospects is something that all students should consider early on and our career counselling services aim to help our students make more informed and better career choices, an integral part of self-development and self-awareness
Below are some examples of concerns that students bring to our office:
We offer students information about the required undergraduate courses relating to specific careers, as well as the required further academic (postgraduate) and occupational training needed to fully qualify for specific jobs.
We also arrange work placements and shadowing for our students to allow them to directly experience workplace situations. The scheme is geared towards Year 4 and runs in the beginning of July, but students from higher years are also accommodated upon request. The counsellors also arrange for work experience and presentations relating to specific careers, often in collaboration with school clubs, and the organisation of a Careers Fair is on the development plan for future years.
Please follow the link for information on our June 2024 Career Awareness workshops
Our door is always open to every student and parent who may need advising on academics or information on courses and careers.
Visit us!
Our office is located in the Weir building, next to the staff room.
Call us!
Our numbers are +357 24 746 360 (Mrs Litsa Theophylou) and +357 24 746 390 (Mrs Fotini Nicolaou) and +357 24 746 385 (Mrs Effie Christou) or you can reach us through our secretarial support at +357 24 746 375 (Mrs Athena Michael Kakouri)
Email us!
Our emails are:
Litsa Theoplylou: ltheophylou@academy.ac.cy
Fotini Nicolaou: ffnicolaou@academy.ac.cy
Effie Christou: efchristou@academy.ac.cy
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