On January 21st our College Counseling Team, comprised of Linda Schulz, Director of College Counseling, Bartley Sides and Lindsey Waters, Associate Directors of College Counseling hosted a College Experts Panel for students and parents of 9th-11th graders. 

 

More than 270 people filed into the Rooke Theater eagerly ready to listen to these experts;

Lee Ann Backlund, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, VP for Enrollment Planning, Sewanee, University of The South

Our Upper School students have heard the following many times, they must endeavor to build their story while in high school and each student’s pathway— academic, social, extra-curricular— will be unique.  To begin, the CCES Experts Panel echoed that goal, affirming that students should work to their potential and seek appropriate challenges, while striving to find balance between academic and extra-curricular pursuits.  The experts shared advice on choosing a curriculum in high school, how best to determine if a college is a “good fit”, what parts of a student’s application are most important in the admission process, and what families should know about affordability and the value of a college education.

 

Their advice was abundant, insightful, and the panelists had great chemistry, keeping the audience engaged and entertained.  They closed the Program with questions from the audience.  Freshman Austin George asked, "What is the difference between a government run school and a privately run school?"

For the second portion of the Program, 9th grade students and parents remained in the Rooke Theater to listen to our CCES experts, Amanda Beckrich, Upper School Assistant Director, John Zebell, 9th Grade Dean of Students, and Linda Schulz, Director of College Counseling. They spoke about students’ beginning to think about their story, and how the decisions they make now will ultimately affect their college process.  Students and parents asked, “How does a student find balance between academic and extra-curricular activities? Many 15 and 16-year-olds are not especially self- aware at this point in their lives.  In what ways does CCES help them to recognize their strengths, weakness and interests?”  They also discussed the Sophomore Project, pursuit of activities outside of CCES, the rigor of CCES and how that is recognized by colleges, and much more.

 

Meanwhile, 10th & 11th graders moved to the Upper School and attended 3 sessions (of their choosing) led by various college representatives.  Take a look at these remarkable options; 

Lee Ann Backlund, Dean of Admission and Financial Aid, Vice President for Enrollment Planning

Sewanee: The University of the South

Why an Honors College?

Patti Dinger, Regional Recruiter, University of Alabama

 

Pursuing a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) Major 

Bonnie Duncan, Admissions Counselor, Clemson University

 

Holley Springfield, Regional Admissions Advisor, Auburn University

Laura Sanders, Associate Director of Admissions, College of Charleston

Pathway to Pre-Med or Pre-Law 

Kerr Ramsay, Associate Vice President for Admissions, High Point University

 

Small College, Big School Experience 

Susan Abee, Admission Counselor, Samford University

Rhett Sapough, Assistant Director of Admission, Wofford College

 

Melissa Cline, Associate Director of Admissions, Furman University

Sara Sorenson, Assistant Director of Admission, Texas Christian University

Haley Downey, Assistant Director of Admission, Presbyterian College

Anne Evans, Assistant Director of Admission for Communication, Centre College

 

Federico Glitman, Associate Director of Admission, Lynn University

 

Maddie Rodnite, Admission Counselor, Rollins College

Lindsey Hoyt, Assistant Director of Admission, Tulane University

The Program concluded with a College Fair.  College representatives set up tables in the Upper School's 2nd floor commons where they had the opportunity to speak one-on-one with students and parents.

 

Click here to see photos from the College Experts Program.