College Reps' Visits Help CA Students Through Decision Process

By Sara Purviance
Associate Director of College Counseling

Each fall, the Colorado Academy College Office is abuzz with visiting colleges seeking face time with CA seniors. This year, 160 colleges have visited or have scheduled visits to CA. There is a particularly high traffic week in which the three college counselors set up shop in a larger space (this year it was in the Campus Center since Welborn House is being renovated) to better host the large volume of visitors. Seniors are encouraged to still be in “shopping mode” in the fall, and they regularly check out schools they are just starting to learn about, in addition to the favorites which they’ve been researching for months. Open-mindedness is key to developing a thoughtful and balanced college list.
 
College representatives regularly tell the College Office how much they love visiting CA (and many of them have been doing so for years – even decades!). Gary Ross, Vice President and Dean of Admission at Colgate University talked about what sets CA applicants apart: “The level of academic preparation and the way in which they have been accustomed to learning. You can just tell that students here are taught by faculty members who encourage them to be active contributors to classroom discussion. That is such a great fit for small colleges who are seeking that engagement and a genuine desire to learn in our students.
 
Learning can take you out of your comfort zone, and CA students don’t shy away from this to be challenged and fully engaged.” Leonard Satterwhite, Senior Associate Dean of Admissions at Washington & Lee University says, “There is a good sense of community at CA. I like the fact that students seem to know each other. I can tell that they genuinely like CA – they are energetic and enthusiastic about their experiences here.”
 
For college representatives, visiting high schools is the best opportunity to understand the atmosphere of a high school, the culture of the students, and the spirit of the school. It gives essential context in which to read students’ applications. Emily Moloney, Senior Assistant Director at University of Miami adds, “Every single student [at CA] says that they want close relationships with their professors. They clearly know that’s important for their success from their experiences at CA.”
 
Students, too, love to connect with college representatives on their own turf. They ask great questions, and use it as an opportunity to learn more about campus communities and the application processes. Senior Arianna Goldman says, “The many college representatives that visited CA this fall provided valuable guidance and support, which helped me understand their respective schools and how to navigate their admission process. [The visits made] the college process even more exciting and far more manageable. Associating a face with a name, especially for schools I had not yet visited, helped establish important relationships with the representatives who would actually be reading our applications in the coming weeks.”
 
“I loved learning about different colleges and what they have to offer, and felt so lucky that I didn’t even have to leave my school to do it!” says Senior Sophie Sileo.
“They were all so friendly, answered all of my questions, and always left me excited about their school. It was a huge relief to connect to the human side of the college application process, and going to the meetings definitely alleviated my worries  about finding a school that will be the right fit for me.”
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