Counseling
WAB Counselors are available to assist students and families in dealing with a wide a range of personal, academic, and social issues.
Counseling services at the Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) promote personal well-being, healthy relationships and the successful balance of academic, extracurricular and community involvement for WAB students. WAB’s comprehensive counseling model offers guidance in all aspects of school life, from the first day of class to preparing for graduation, applying to universities and preparing for life after graduation.
Elementary School
The WAB Elementary Counseling Department works closely with students, parents, teachers, mentors, learning support, English as an Additional Language (EAL), and administration to support the success and well-being of all students.
The core of school counseling is personal, social, and emotional well-being. All counselors in the ES Counseling Department are professional school counselors.
A comprehensive school counseling model includes support in the following domains:
- Academic - time management, organization, strengths-based approach, assessing student abilities, interests, and achievements to help them make decisions about their future.
- Personal - personality development, family issues, individual counseling and responsible decision-making
- Social - friendship issues, relationship skills, healthy lifelong strategies
- Global Perspective - inclusion, diversity, Third Culture kids, international lifestyle and global perspective.
Elementary School Counselors are also responsible with classroom teachers for developing and facilitating our WAB social-emotional learning and child protection curriculum. This learning is delivered across all grade levels.
Middle School
The WAB Middle School Counseling Department works closely with students, parents, teachers, mentors, learning support, English as an Additional Language (EAL), and administration to support the success and well-being of all students.
The core of school counseling is personal, social, and emotional well-being. All counselors in the MS Counseling Departments are professional school counselors.
A comprehensive school counseling model includes support in the following domains:
- Academic - time management, organization, strengths-based approach, assessing student abilities, interests, and achievements to help them make decisions about their future.
- Personal - personality development, family issues, individual counseling and responsible decision-making
- Social - friendship issues, relationship skills, healthy lifelong strategies
- Global Perspective - inclusion, diversity, Third Culture kids, international lifestyle and global perspective.
Middle School Counselors provide monthly ‘Parents as Learners’ workshops focused on the developmental changes of the teenage years and how to maintain positive family dynamics.
Middle School Counselors are also responsible with mentors for developing and facilitating our WAB social-emotional learning and child protection curriculum. This iterative program is delivered across all grade levels and follows the CASEL competencies.
High School
The High School Counseling Department works closely with students, parents, teachers, and mentors, and is part of WAB’s Student Support Services which also includes Learning Support, English as an Additional Languge (EAL), and Educational Psychology
We use a comprehensive, holistic model, meaning each counselor works within all the following domains:
- Academic/University – Academic planning and graduation requirements, university advising, college essays/personal statements, course selection, scheduling balance, study skills/time management, testing advice, surveys, career profile, and college research.
- Personal - Personality development, counseling, family issues, guardianship, self-harm, responsible choices, etc.
- Social - Friendship issues, relationship challenges, and healthy lifelong choices and strategies.
- Global perspective – Inclusion and diversity, third-culture kids, international lifestyle, and global perspectives.
High School Counselors provide regular Parent workshops focused on the developmental changes of the teenage years and how to maintain positive family dynamics. They also create and facilitate a comprehensive social-emotional learning and child protection curriculum. The program is delivered across all grade levels alongside mentors and follows the CASEL competencies.
All counselors in the HS Counseling Department are professional school counselors. To best support students and continuously learn about best practices in the field, our counselors are active members of external associations, such as International School Counselor Association, International Association for College Admission Counseling, and the National Association for College Admission Counseling.
University and Career Counseling
The transition from High School to university and beyond is an exciting and important time for our students, their families and our staff.
The Western Academy of Beijing is committed to supporting our High School students not only to make that transition, but to enter the world with confidence and success. Our counselors offer guidance in all aspects of preparing for life after graduation.
We involve parents every step of the way and help students individually to make informed decisions and discover what university or college is right for them. Guidance is given in all aspects of the application process, from writing stand-out essays to understanding admission and financial aid processes.
University Application Support
WAB’s dedicated counselors take the initiative in supporting students with university research and applications. These conversations about future pathways begin when WAB students enter high school.
WAB offers a wide range of resources and a comprehensive program. Our grade 11 and 12 students complete our University Counseling Curriculum which assists them and their families with future planning. The counseling department has a large selection of international reference guides, university catalogues, and admissions testing materials. Furthermore, our counselors are all members of the Int’l ACAC, the International Association for College Admissions Counseling.
Our counseling department involves parents every step of the way and helps students and families to make informed decisions and discover what university, college or future is right for them. Guidance is given throughout the application process, from exploring universities and majors and writing stand-out essays, to understanding diverse admission processes. High School Counselors also offer a variety of workshops on different universities destinations around the globe.
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World of Work Program
The World of Work program offers students in the High School work experience opportunities, developing life skills, and preparing to make informed choices about their future learning.
Every High School student at some stage will have the opportunity to participate, ensuring that WAB is equipping students with the skills and knowledge needed to meet the demands of the 21st century.
Career Fair
This half-day High School event serves to broaden our students’ horizons and deepen their understanding of a variety of professions.
Past WAB Career Fair panelists include professionals from:
- Architecture/Arts & Design based creative industries
- Business/Finance/Law
- Engineering/Research & Development
- Entrepreneurship (starting your own business)/NGOs
- Government/Diplomatic Affairs
- Health/Medicine
- Hospitality/Customer Relations
- Journalism/Media
- Marketing/Public Relations (PR)
- Performing Arts/Dance/Music/Theater
University Visits
WAB welcomes visitors from universities around the world. We regularly host university fairs and visits which bring over 125 university representatives from around the world to our community to ensure direct contact. Parents and students are strongly encouraged to attend these presentations.
WAB gave me the skills I need for higher education. I definitely would not be where I am today without WAB.
Information for University Admission Representatives
Western Academy of Beijing (WAB) is a leading non-profit, independent, English-language, coeducational school for children of foreign nationals. Founded in 1994, WAB, an IB World School, prides itself on innovative and highly qualified teachers, world-class facilities, a diverse community, a warm and supportive environment and a service-oriented culture. Students from over 50 countries are the focus of WAB’s learner-centered atmosphere and are encouraged to take their place as responsible citizens of the world.
Both the International Baccalaureate (IB) Middle Years Programme curriculum (MYP) and the IB Diploma Programme (IBDP) are offered in the High School. Every WAB graduate earns an accredited Western Academy of Beijing High School Diploma and over 90% of our students also graduate with the full IB diploma. As a requirement of the WAB High School Diploma, all students commit to global citizenship projects. Our students also engage in the community by joining WABX extracurriculars and China Studies experiences. Each student is encouraged to take the most challenging courses in which they can be academically successful and engage in the community to reach their maximum potential.
- Learn more about our High School: WAB High School Profile - 2022-23 (PDF).
- See which universities our seniors are being accepted to: WAB Class of 2022.
- Bilingual directions to the WAB High School campus are available here.
Accreditations and Memberships
Learning Support is part of WAB's Student Support Services. To find out more about other support services click the buttons below:
