By Emily Berty, director of college counseling, and Ivy Mitchell, assistant director of college counseling
As college counselors, we invariably find ourselves in lengthy discussions about current trends in college admissions. Whether discussing the future of test-optional admission, the outlook for the (now optional) science section of the ACT, or the use of AI in the college process – we have opinions. We can also be quick to reminisce about the “good ol’ days” and our own college searches – the days in which you researched colleges using the “Fiske Guide” and (gasp) completed paper applications by hand and mailed them to colleges. While our individual searches were drastically different – one guided by the athletic recruitment process and the other by financial aid – two experiences were shared: the college application process may have been much simpler, but we had little to no guidance, save the limited experience and support of our families.
20th Century College Search
Ms. Berty, the Class of ’99. For me, college offered an opportunity to continue playing volleyball, the sport I loved. Academics were secondary, and my dream job was to work for the FBI (if I didn’t make the Olympic volleyball team, of course). I sent physical letters to nearly every college coach in Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. When I received a letter in response, I followed up with a VHS tape of my skills and game footage. My parents supported me in visiting D1, D2, and D3 campuses, spending overnights with teams, and meeting coaches and players. I never once considered academic fit – only athletic – and I never spoke to my high school counselor about any of the colleges that contacted me. I mailed in paper applications to most of my schools and was even profiled in the local newspaper for being part of a test pilot of a new “World Wide Web” application platform at what would become my alma mater.
Pursuing a Debt-Free College Experience
Mrs. Mitchell, the Class of ’12. My parents did not fully experience post-secondary education but were insistent that their children would. My dad always said, “A lot of things can be taken from you, but no one can take away your education.” So, I always knew I was going to college, but my parents had a conversation with me very early on that I would need to finance my own way…and debt was not an option. I was driven and ambitious, so throughout high school, I participated in everything that sounded interesting, both academically and extracurricularly. When it was time to apply for college, I found my counseling office unhelpful, so I spent months leading up to senior year researching my schools, what I needed for application materials, and what I needed to be eligible for the heftiest scholarships at each institution. I practiced filling out paper applications all summer so that I would feel ready to fill out the real ones in the fall. My parents helped where they could; they proofread, took me on college visits, and encouraged me every step of the way. They just had no idea how the process worked. I submitted my applications and simply informed my parents and counselor after the fact. Ultimately, I chose to go to the school that offered me the biggest scholarship package and was able to obtain my undergraduate degree almost entirely debt-free.
Mrs. Mitchell, center, with two friends
Navigating the Modern College Search
The college admissions process has changed dramatically over the last few decades and with increasing speed. News coverage often focuses on highly rejective schools – those admitting fewer than 10% of applicants. It celebrates students admitted to 50 colleges and/or every school in the Ivy League without discussion of the financial cost, time, or effort required to submit copious applications. Seniors post reaction videos to their college admission decisions. What used to be a private process has become a conversation starter at extended family gatherings and ubiquitous across social media platforms.
Students often spend hours reflecting upon their lived experiences, values, interests, and identities in order to write personal essays that illustrate how they will enrich their future campus community. They bare their souls to application readers who may spend only minutes skimming these intensely personal submissions. Some schools might require a video introduction or a personal interview. Others will accept research briefs, art portfolios, or a performing arts audition. Students must secure letters of recommendation from teachers, their counselor, and sometimes peers or community members. Deadlines creep up as early as October, meaning senior year is more often dominated by the application process. NCAA, which governs collegiate athletics, now allows students to transfer between institutions with greater ease, making recruitment for high school students increasingly competitive. Tuition costs have skyrocketed, and college financial aid offices are working hard to recover from the delays and glitches associated with the 2023 overhaul of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). If that’s not enough, students face a moving target in regard to standardized testing guidelines at their schools of interest. Did we also mention the ACT will be redesigned next spring?
How We Empower an Informed College-going Population
Motivated by our disparate college search processes, we have developed a comprehensive curriculum that arms students with the knowledge, guidance, and support necessary to explore and discern the best pathway for themselves. We strive to foster awareness of the variety of post-secondary options available, as well as an appreciation of individual strengths, passions, and values.
When we begin our work with 9th graders, we want them to see Wellington’s upper school as a setting to feed their curiosity, both inside and outside the classroom, a space to explore how to learn academically and personally. As our curriculum progresses, we ask students to reflect upon their identities, values, and where they can be the most successful and fulfilled versions of themselves. We encourage students to see the college search as the next step in their educational journeys, one built around them but not defining them. By exposing students to the vast array of post-secondary opportunities that exist, we cultivate a college-going community of knowledgeable decision-makers.
By the 11th grade, students begin to tackle the logistics of the application process. We break down components of the Common Application, the platform used by the vast majority of our students, into manageable chunks so the process becomes less daunting. We walk alongside students and families through senior year, developing a thoughtful college list and crafting and submitting applications that effectively tell their unique stories. And in the midst of a process that may be inherently tumultuous, we seek to create a space where students feel seen and supported, as well as empowered to take informed ownership of their processes.
The reality is that a young person can only enroll at one school. And, at the end of the day the Wellington College Counseling Team wants their future college to be a place where they will thrive, grow, and belong as an individual and as a scholar. Therefore, we will continue to encourage students to view college as a next step in their journey, not the pinnacle of their young lives. We will remind them to enjoy senior year and do our best to ensure their final year of high school is not defined by the college application process but instead full of memories with friends and teachers. Our college search processes may have differed, but our desire to do better for our students and families is foundational in our work as we help students find their purpose and realize their potential for tomorrow’s world.
Each year, our graduates make us proud as they select and enroll at an impressively diverse group of colleges and universities across the country and abroad. Check out our 2023 and 2024 graduation booklets to learn more about our recent alumni and where they will continue their journeys toward success.