College Advising Update

12/11/2024

Sarah Kramer, Director of College Advising

December greetings from the college advising office! Below are a few updates for your family.

Summer 2025

Many students in grades 9-11 have started to ask about how they should spend their summers. Multiple options abound, so we wanted to share some ideas with you.

Volunteer in your community - this is an opportunity to spend some time in your own backyard and serve others.
Get a part-time job - if it works with your family schedule and obligations, being accountable to someone other than your parents is an excellent way to demonstrate initiative and independence.
Rest - sometimes the best thing we can do is recharge our batteries. You know your child, and if relaxation and vacation is the antidote to a tough year, there is always a benefit in unscheduled time.
Take a class or enroll in a summer program - there are options to study on college campuses in the U.S. or abroad as well as online/virtual courses that students can take. Interested in something not offered in your Upper School curriculum? Explore it this summer.

The college advising office has a list of summer programs on college campuses for students and families interested in this possibility. Keep in mind that some require an application (including a teacher or counselor recommendation and a transcript), a minimum age (e.g. rising seniors), and/or high cost, especially if the program includes room and board.

Why are we telling you this in December? Planning begins now for some of the options above. Please let us know if you have questions.

Class of 2025

In the next two weeks, several members of the Class of 2025 will receive decisions on their college applications, particularly if they applied under an early decision, restricted early action, or early action plan. In a perfect world, every student will be admitted to their first-choice college. In the real world, we will see a mix of celebration and disappointment.

Please remind your children that what a college decides about them is not a success or failure on their part. Colleges are shaping a class, and even our students who did everything right might not get the response they are anticipating. We have trust in this process and believe students will find their perfect fit between now and May 1, and we stand ready to help them through the ups and downs of December.

Reminder: if you are applying for financial assistance, the CSS Profile – required by many private colleges and universities – is already open for submissions. The FAFSA is also open. Each college where your child applies will outline its financial aid process on its website. You will also be able to find a Net Price Calculator, which will outline the anticipated cost of attendance for your family.

Class of 2026

Work with juniors began in November with an overview of the college admission process and continued last week with one-on-one conversations.

Thank you to the parents who attended Junior Parent Night on Tuesday, December 3. We provided an overview of the college search, application and decision process. Parents have been asked to complete a questionnaire to help Mrs. Kramer get to know their child and family even better. We appreciate your insight into your son or daughter and look forward to learning more about your children through your eyes.

College Conversations

We will host our second annual College Conversations on Thursday, January 30 at 6:30 p.m. when we will hear from panelists Caroline Randall, Assistant Vice President of Enrollment, St. John’s College, Santa Fe, NM; Elena D. Hicks, Assistant Vice Provost and Dean of Admission, Southern Methodist University, Dallas; and Brandie Eneks, Director Freshman Admissions, Texas A&M University, College Station. Students in grades 9-11 will hear from these college admission leaders during their advisory and club time, and you are invited to attend the evening discussion.

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College Advising Update

Trinity School of Midland