On February 17, EducationUSA Pakistan’s annual networking hi-tea brought 50 high school counselors and 20 visiting representatives from U.S. higher education institutions (HEIs) together. Held at the Marriott Hotel in Karachi, the event served as a dynamic platform for networking, collaboration, and professional development.
Game-based learning in action
This year, Team EducationUSA added a special twist in the form of an interactive learning activity titled U.S. Admissions Snakes & Ladders. Designed to mimic real-world admissions challenges, the game encouraged collaborative problem-solving among participants.
As counselors and HEI reps rolled the dice, they encountered either one of these three outcomes:
- Snakes representing common hurdles in the admissions process.
- Ladders representing opportunities and best practices.
- Question marks representing case studies requiring critical analysis and discussion.
Teams energetically worked together to navigate the board, strategize solutions, and exchange expert insights, making the learning process both fun and effective.
“This was one of the most engaging professional development activities I’ve participated in,” said Ume Aman Sadia, the counselor from Alpha College. “The format was such an innovative way to learn about the nuances of U.S. admissions and the cases we discussed will definitely help me think critically about advising students in various situations.”
Tackling big problems
Throughout the game, participants debated solutions to student cases they encountered in real life. These included (but weren’t limited to):
- The student struggling to create extracurricular impact: A student was involved in multiple extracurricular activities but wasn’t sure how to present them in a meaningful way. Counselors and university reps discussed how to craft a compelling application narrative, emphasizing leadership and impact over quantity.
- The student considering a career change: An A-level student wanted to switch from pre-medicine subjects to the social sciences but was confused about how to justify this transition in their application. In this case, the discussion centered around how to highlight transferable skills and build a strong case for the new field of study.
- The financially constrained applicant: A high-achieving student who could only afford a small portion of tuition sought guidance on maximizing financial aid and scholarship opportunities. Experts shared insights into need-based and merit-based aid options at different institutions.
“It was fantastic to see Pakistani counselors engaging with U.S. HEI representatives in such a collaborative setting,” said Daniel Whitmer, the representative from Indiana University Bloomington. “The case studies accurately reflected the challenges students face and I’m sure the insightful discussions will help many applicants in the future. Well done, EducationUSA Pakistan!”
