College Counseling

Tera Sweeting Upper School College Counselor

May 1st is National College Decision Day! National College Decision Day is when all college applicants across the country make their final decision on which school they will be attending in the fall. Students sign a letter of intent to enroll and submit their deposits. Such an exciting time of year! We look forward to the celebration as our Class of 2023 graduates select their right fit college. We will keep you posted on their acceptance and decisions, starting this month with the college decision updates you will find on the next page.

There is something very special about planning for the future, whether researching colleges, scheduling classes, exploring internship opportunities, or planning one's summer. Finding the right fit college does not happen overnight, and getting to May 1st comes with dedicated preparation. It is with this in mind that we consistently encourage students to explore their interests, develop new skills, gain hands-on experience, get a taste of college life, and try out college classes. Preparation is critical to a successful future and career, and it is never too early.

In fact, at the end of February, I had the opportunity to foster this exploration with our 4th and 5th graders. Learning from others is key, and I was supported by several of our high-achieving high school students. Together we conducted college activities that were both fun and educational. Our day included a college trivia game and a very immersive game of University Mystery. Our 4th and 5th-grade students were tasked with picking a “mystery” college for our scavenger hunt, which included researching the college’s majors, opportunities such as study abroad, internships, degree offerings, and mascots. After returning from Spring Break, I will continue further exploration, now with our middle and high school students. I will be hosting a few Lunch and Learn sessions and making classroom visits to aid in their preparation for the future. This year I will be hosting our 2nd annual Junior Jumpstart day, where our 11th-grade students will begin to finalize their college list, draft their college essays and make their final preparations for the application season. As a reminder, once our students are in 12th grade, they are all enrolled in a college course with me, and each day we meet as part of their regular schedule to complete college applications, finalize essays, work on interviewing skills, and much more.

Parents, I encourage you to explore summer opportunities if you have not already done so to aid in this process. Click here for a list of options. The opportunities are endless, so together with your child, explore, as summer is a wonderful time to extend the learning.