Quite a few of our seniors were bearing down on their college applications this week, completing essays and forms in time for the November 1 deadline. At the same time, their teachers were busily writing recommendations to accompany those applications. The November 1^st date is the Early Decision and Early Action deadline for many colleges and universities, and a substantial percentage of the class will be submitting applications. (Look for a full report from the college office soon.) No doubt this created stress amongst our oldest students, but I have noticed that so far they have been handling it well. Because they have been chipping away at the process for the past two months, no one should have felt too much of a last minute “crunch,” even though the reality of pressing “send” on those on-line forms can bring a sense of terrifying finality!

 

We all know that college admissions is more competitive than ever. The total number of high school applicants, and the total number of applications sent continues to rise every year. But amidst the heightened anxiety, media hype and hyper-focus on resumes, we should step back and remember a few important facts about students at CA. First, everyone is going to a quality college, so rest assured that every student will find a home next year. Related to that, we want everyone to be open to a wide range of college options, knowing that all colleges have benefitted from the increased competition and have more quality students, professors, programs and facilities than ever before. Third, we hope students can pay attention to the factors in their control, like academic performance, and try not to worry about the factors that aren’t (good advice in life). And finally . . . they should listen to the wise advice of their excellent college counselors! Cathy, Mark and Sara are pros and know this process well.

 

So as this first big deadline passes, and another one looms on Nov. 15, I sincerely hope all our seniors will remain calm and confident, stay focused, keep a sense of humor, and continue to find ways to enjoy their senior year independent of all the college stuff. Everyone will find a great place to go to college next year and, because CA has prepared them very well, they will be successful at the next level.

 

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Still cheering on: the field hockey team, looking for its 70^th straight game without a loss and their fourth straight state title; the boys soccer team, playing in the state tournament against Heritage Christian with a chance to host two more playoff games; the volleyball team, playing host to a regional tournament this weekend; the co-ed cross country team, where both the boys and girls will run for state titles (first time ever both teams have qualified in the same year).

 

Looking forward to: many recitals for all the school’s instrumentalists, a basement theatre show, the fall choir concert at First Adventist Church, and the winter play (Shakespeare’s Twelfth Night).

 

Coming soon: Our major service event of the year, Students HOPE, on December 5.  CA will host around 1500 Denver-area citizens.