Q & A with Kelly Jorgensen

Director of College Counseling

This was your first year as the Director of the College Counseling. What have you learned?

There is something special here. There is a lot of potential for where we can grow this program and we can prepare students even more. My big buzz word is “intentionality,” and you will hear me use it all the time. The intentionality of moving through high school, the intentionality of taking classes, the intentionality of the college process. And I think if we can get our students to focus more on intentionality throughout the high school experience, it will help guide them to make more intentional choices in life and beyond Nichols.

What is your vision for College Counseling at Nichols?

Looking forward, we are making a very strong effort towards data collection, and while data does not drive where we apply, it certainly can help inform us and say how do our students look in the big picture. We plan to be much more intentional about data. Where did they apply, where are they getting in, where are the scholarship dollars coming from? We want to support our students in every way possible and having this information is just one way to guide their college decisions. In addition, we are doing parent coffees at every level, grades 8 through 12. We work with students in the junior year, but next year, we will start in the sophomore year. So, really it is the opportunity to meet with students, but in an age-appropriate manner. Our hope is to get more and more involved in grade level meetings, in advisories, and individual meetings. But, junior year, we sit down with students and families so we can all get on the same page.

How do you tailor college guidance for each Nichols student?

What we do here is look at trends, and part of my job is to educate our whole community of the current trends in college applications and admissions, and data. We want to ask where will our students be happy, how can they thrive, and then we can have honest and transparent conversations with students and families and trust the process.

Can you tell us about your Boot Camp?

This summer we are starting a Boot Camp, which I am very excited about. This is something I have done at two of my previous independent schools. It will start the first week in August, and it will move them through the beginning of the application, so by the time seniors step foot on campus in the fall, they have their main essay done, they have the application completed, they have their resume done, and they are set.

What are some differentiators of Nichols students?

I think two big things separate us. First is the Work of Life program and Research Scholars. These are something that allows a student to dig deeper in an experience that they are interested in, and it compliments their academic curriculum and application significantly. Another thing that separates our students is it is more common than not that our students have jobs. This rings so strongly in the college application process. Our students balance school, extra curriculars, and a job. That is immensely powerful. n