They are very good at verbalizing the things that CAN and WILL make a difference. All of the following statements are direct quotes from former ISM students.

• “Take SAT I/II and TOEFL in Grade 11 so that they are out of the way.”
• “Don't take it easy in Grade 11, thinking that there's plenty of time to get sorted out in Grade 12 - there isn't!”
• “Get into the habit of doing school work after school. If you plan it properly you can get your work done and play.”
• “Socialize with a wide variety of people. If you speak a language other than English, try not to hang around with others with the same language all the time. It cuts you off socially and doesn't do your English any good either.”
• “Start thinking about and planning your Extended Essay early (IB folks).”
• “Try to participate in extra-curricular activities - they're fun and you need them.”
• “If you don't understand something in a lesson, ask the teacher because, if you don't, you probably won't understand the next point either.”
• “Don't let work pile up. It will only make you feel guilty and miserable.”
• “Use private study periods constructively - you don't get back time you waste.”
• “If you don't like a course, speak to the teacher and get advice.”
• “Don't make hasty judgments about teachers. They know what they're talking about and the best way to learn is to cooperate with them.”
• “Make sure YOU know what YOU need for your IB and academic diploma courses - it avoids problems later.”
• “Don't moan about something if you haven't tried to do anything about it.”