At LICS, our University and Careers Guidance Counsellor provides assistance to students throughout the Secondary School. In terms of helping them navigate their educational and career choices, we have designed a comprehensive counselling programme. It encourages our learners to explore their interests and strengths, develop careers preferences, prepare necessary skills and knowledge, and support them to make well-informed decisions.

We aim to deliver the concept of “Best-Fit” for Higher Education, as we believe all individual learners are unique.  Over the course of the year, LICS students meet with our counsellor during weekly careers lessons (Year 12 and 13 students only) and have access to individual meetings and such supportive initiatives as our annual careers carousel. We provide guidance to younger students and families as they are considering which courses to choose for A-Levels and IGCSE. We welcome our parents/guardians to schedule meetings with the counsellor and participate readily in our university-related information sessions. During recent years, we have invited worldwide universities to visit our school and talk to our students. We have adjusted to include virtual visits for the 2021-2022 school year.

Should you require guidance regarding your son/daughter’s post-secondary plan, please don’t hesitate to contact us through gsmiley@lics.sch.zm, or 
schedule a meeting here.

Meet with Our Counsellor – Mr. Gabriel Smiley

Hello! I joined LICS as the College and Career Counsellor in August of 2021. Prior to coming onboard, I worked as a Director of College Counselling at independent and public schools in the New York Metropolitan area for over 10 years, including at Poughkeepsie Day School, Wooster School, and the Young Women’s Leadership School of Brooklyn. I believe that focusing on “fit” between a student and an educational institution is the most important factor in the university search and application process. I seek to help students identify their strengths and preferences as they prepare to move on with their educations, and find universities that are well suited for their interests.

I hope to encourage students to realize they already have many strengths and positive attributes as well as a developed value system. These attributes will not change radically depending on the institution they choose to attend, rather they will flourish at a carefully chosen university. My goal is for students to see university as a step towards a fulfilling, healthy, and prosperous life.

I received my Bachelors of Business Administration from The George Washington University, and my Masters of Public Administration from Baruch College of the City University of New York. I also have completed the Harvard University Summer Institute on College Admissions as well as a Foundations and Framework College Counseling Certificate from The Options Institute in New York City.

Finally, my two children, William and River are happily attending LICS in the Pre-Primary and Primary Schools (and my wife is their parent rep). We are all very happy to be a part of the LICS community.