May 13, 2021
Dear LREI Community,
Hello, all. It was wonderful to see so many of you at the art auction earlier this week. I have to admit to having been, at first, a wee bit unsure about being with a larger group of others in person. However, it sure was nice to see each other outside of our Zoom boxes. (A reminder that vaccination makes these in-person events safer for all and is now available for all 12 and older, no appointments necessary – turbovax.info.)
We are quickly approaching many other end-of-year celebrations including those gatherings at which we will recognize the many accomplishments of the members of the class of 2021. Just so exciting! But first, let’s look back and think about the twelfth graders’ experiences over the past year. In March of ‘20, just ahead of what was planned to be a busy spring, a time filled with their first college visits and long-awaited events, including the eleventh grade trip, we went home on lockdown. Not only was this a disappointment, it marked the beginning of a changed and changing high school experience, and some of these changes impacted the search for their next educational home. Just as their college process was beginning, it nearly vanished. College visits were cancelled for the year, so were standardized tests, in-person interviews, visits by college reps, athletic seasons and recruiting, etc. Plans and strategies changed for our students and for all students. Some of these alterations will remain and others will evolve, surely impacting the process for the current 11th graders, though they had more clarity as they began the process than did the class of 2021.
So hats off to the seniors. We are certainly proud of your successes. We also want to acknowledge the patience, resilience, good humor, and hard work that led to this point. Well done! Hats off, as well, to Carey Socol and Kellen Howell, our co-directors of college guidance, for their resourcefulness, wisdom, and expertise. Thank you, Carey and Kellen.
I invite you to read this year’s college/university acceptance list and the list of the schools in which our seniors have enrolled. We are so very proud of their options and choices. That said, what are we looking at, exactly, when we examine these lists? A few thoughts:
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In these lists, we see a wide-ranging list of schools representing the environments needed to meet the goals and hopes and dreams of a diverse group of learners; a group with a variety of interests, experiences, pasts, presents, and futures.
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We see the outcome of a college process during a year in which many colleges/universities had unprecedented numbers of applications from a wider population of high school students. Though there were also significant drops in application rates from a variety of demographic groups.
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We are seeing application rates, early applications, acceptances, deferrals, and regrets influenced by national changes in standardized testing requirements, the variety of ways in which colleges and universities adapted to these changes, and to other adjustments in the application process.
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As always, in the outcome we see choices made based on options, finances, value, values, geography, and on and on.
Reflecting on this last bullet, it is hard to overestimate the complexity of this decision for students and their families, especially this year, and while Carey and Kellen do a fantastic job of leading through the process, it can be hard and fraught. We continually look for ways to make it less so.
I invite you to hear from Carey and Kellen and a panel of seniors on Tuesday, May 18th, 10:00a.m.-11:00a.m. You can find a link to this event here.
Again, congratulations to the seniors. You successfully navigated a very different college application year and are all headed to terrific schools. Job well done! For now, back to your senior projects, you still have work to do and we are all looking forward to seeing your presentations. And, of course, prom and graduation – here we come!!!
Be well,
