17/04/2026
Staff Presenter at University Admission Conference
Ms Junita Devi Sockalingam, ACS (International)’s Head of Higher Education and Career Services, did the school proud at the recent International ACAC Regional Conference held in Hanoi from 9 -11 April.
At the conference, hosted by Dwight School Hanoi, Ms Junita co-presented on Student Transitions from High School to University. She also represented ACS (International) at a school booth during the conference, which enabled her to interact with a variety of visitors and university partners.
In her presentation, she shared insights from two parent surveys conducted within the ACS (International) community. The surveys highlighted important parent considerations often not explicitly discussed during initial conversations between parents, universities, and counsellors.
Drawing on both these surveys, as well as survey insights shared by her university co-presenter and broader research, it was evident that besides admission outcomes, other important factors contribute to student success during and beyond university, including institutional fit, culture, location, having strong support with from the university/family and friends in the area, and the availability and engagement of professors. Some participants also referenced the halo effect, where students may over-rely on the perceived prestige of a university name without fully exploring the opportunities available to develop themselves.
These perspectives resonated strongly with the audience, which included university representatives and school counsellors, many of whom were also parents.
Ms Junita’s insights highlighted the importance of looking beyond admissions outcomes and focusing more intentionally on preparing students for independence and the realities of university life. Counsellors were also keen to adapt similar surveys within their own schools to encourage students and parent communities to think more broadly about factors that are not always immediately considered.
