It’s that time again!
Today is the day. (Today being Tuesday, May 1, when I began writing this note.) For those of us who have children who are members of the class of 2018 this day means only one thing. By the end of the day virtually all of our students will have selected the college that they will attend in the fall. (There are a few students who have been granted extensions.) For some, they are attending the school that they were headed towards since the first day of the application process or before. For others, they are off to someplace that emerged late on. Linked below are a list of all of the colleges to which our students have been accepted and a list of those that they will attend. I am so proud, we are so proud, of the class of 2018! They worked hard, they are leaders, they participated in all aspects of the community, and they are off to great schools.
What did these students do to get here? While it is fine to think about college and even to discuss it with your children at an early age, we don’t think kids need to really dwell on their college plans before high school. (That said, this TV moment prompted my family’s first conversation with my oldest son about college when it first aired.) This doesn’t mean younger students can’t dream, have goals, think about interests, etc., but the process does not really begin until later on.
In ninth grade the focus is on the student’s grades (“There is nothing more important than your transcript,” says Carey Socol, LREI’s Director of College Guidance) and finding extracurricular activities that they really enjoy and are meaningful. Both of these are true in tenth grade, as well. In addition, there is a college gathering for parents in the spring of tenth grade. Kellen Howell, Assistant Director of College Guidance, has great ideas about this gathering for next year; she is always tinkering with our college guidance process. It improves every year. Some families visit colleges in ninth or tenth grade. Can’t hurt. As Carey says, “There is no such thing as a bad campus visit.” You might try this, even with your eighth grader, if you find yourself near an interesting university campus. Students also get the opportunity to take both the PSAT and the PRE-ACT test in 10th grade to begin the process of choosing the best test for them going forward.
Eleventh grade brings more testing and test prep classes, attending some of the 70+ college rep visits, a whole-grade college trip, weekly college class, parent meetings, more visits, etc. Lots going on. This all continues into the first semester of 12th grade, although by this time the students are applying and writing essays, as well. And while it seems to go on forever, by sometime in the fall, the work ends and if you apply early, the whole adventure ends quite suddenly. If you apply regular decision by Jan. 1, for most, the waiting begins. 
We are so proud of the seniors.
We are so grateful to Carey and Kellen.