Preparing Tartans for College, One Block at A TimE The expanded College Counseling Office’s comprehensive curriculum for Upper School students was enhanced even further with the introduction of the College Group Meeting block during the school day. BY RYA N WO O D
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he Class of 2023 tossed their caps high in the air at St. Margaret’s 38th Commencement Exercises in June, as streamers showered Chalmers Field in celebration. It was the 113 graduates’ last step at St. Margaret’s, as they headed off to 71 colleges and universities across the country and around the world (see page 30 for the full list).
their senior year. As the workshops concluded, the college-admissions process was already bountiful for St. Margaret’s seniors. By January of their senior year, more than 85 percent of the Class of 2023 had an acceptance letter in hand, and many already had been admitted as binding early-decision applicants to schools across the country.
This year’s class was well-prepared for the big decision that awaited them. St. Margaret’s College Counseling Office has always provided a comprehensive, individualized collegecounseling curriculum for each student throughout their Upper School years, yet the office expanded its touchpoints even more beginning with the Class of 2023. It’s the result of a reimagining of the Upper School block schedule to carve time out in the school day for college-admissions education.
Those touchpoints will continue for future classes, and were enhanced beginning with the Class of 2024 this spring. The meet-ups were rebranded as the College Group Meeting (CGM) block, and are designed to provide meaningful opportunities for the College Counseling Office to gather with students in small groups in addition to the one-on-one meeting times already in place throughout their Upper School years.
The Class of 2023 had five such workshops during community time blocks in the spring of their junior year, and even more during the fall of 24
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“Students naturally have different levels of understanding about the college-admissions process as they prepare to begin the journey. It was important for our team to meet with
Upper School students in small groups to review important aspects of college admissions collectively,” St. Margaret’s Director of College Counseling Elise Rodriguez said. “This provides an opportunity to normalize the information all students are receiving prior to the college-application period getting underway. By the start of their senior year, students will have a better understanding of college admissions and feel more confident navigating the process.” Before their junior year even begins, each student already has been assigned to one of St. Margaret’s college counselors, who will introduce students to the process and answer any questions at the end of their sophomore year. The College Counseling Office expanded to four counselors this year, as Ms. Rodriguez, senior associate director Amy Warren and associate director Erica Huerta were joined by associate director Ben Lah, allowing for even more individual time for students to receive guidance from St. Margaret’s in-house experts.