Beyond Brazil

Brazil is opening up to the world faster than the Ipê tree blossoms. As much as tourists from the States, Canada, Europe and other places clamour to see the sincere beauty that is Brazil and its people, many Brazilian yearn to find a way to study abroad- be it during high school, for university, or graduate school. The role of the college counselor does not have a place in Brazilian institutional systems because entrance to university here is through testing- the Vestibular. Likewise, university admissions officers, although they may smartly have hired a Brazilian representative for those ever-growing amounts of brasileiro applicants, there is not much information to understand a students' educational background relevant to rigor. Like anywhere else in the world, high performing high schools (high performing is based on how many students do well on certain university entrance exams- and what numerical spot the tester achieved for their area of study- yes you can only choose one major prior to entering college here) have their reputation- and more often than not produce great thinkers- and excellent test-takers. The movement to create a whole child here in Brazil, based on experience, will take a few more Ipê seasons to grow. That much I can tell you. These kids are testing machines- and the three years of high school are repetitious of one another in subject, while they advance annually in depth. Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Sociology, Philosophy and Brazilian Social Studies make up the core. You will also find several English courses offered at lower grade levels- and more often than not- the high schools have outsourced a language program to help prepare students for the influx of English-based opportunities. Or at least look good on paper. Rarely will you find students that have done life-changing volunteer work or have leadership roles - and although you may find a fabulous soccer player- you may get a laugh if you offer to recruit them into what it means to be a soccer player in the States. After almost a decade in Brazil, I would like to see Brazilian schools become more educated on the process of studying abroad. I would like Brazilian parents to cut the cord and to be a little more giving of their children's inherent ability to adapt and add to other cultures, and I would like Brazil itself to foster the need to educate students on a more holistic spectrum- which includes finding articulation agreements between post-secondary schools here and there. The momentum for a movement of such magnitude needs to start with asking the right questions: Students ask: What is the process? When should I start? What value can I bring back to Brazil from studying outside? What does it mean to do volunteer work or be on a student council? Where do I find counseling that will build my skills? Parents ask: How can I give my child the best opportunities? How is the admissions process different from the Brazilian process? What will we learn through my child? What person or business is accredited in terms of counseling? Brazilian schools and educational governing bodies ask: What is a school profile? Who should guide our students? What is the importance of hosting educational fairs for study abroad? How can we support, galvanize and MODERNIZE our educational system? How can we look at transfer credits? What person or business is accredited in terms of counseling and how can we support the initiative? Universities: How do we read Brazilian applicant files? How can I understand a school's profile? Which schools are the most rigorous and what is the index used? What resources do the students have for getting more information about our university? Is it valuable to go visit Brazilian schools? If so, which one? Who will set this up? Where do I find the most recent trending articles about each school? Beyond Brazil there is a world ready to enlighten us- just as much as the sun tans our buns on Copacabana.Let's blaze the college trail together! My services to help you answer these questions and pose your own are officially open! Brazil College Counseling has officially launched. Please contact msemilydobson@gmail.com for more info.