What a difference a Fall makes! We welcomed 85 college admissions counselors to chat with our juniors and seniors in person this year with only a handful of colleges opting to do an online session. Colleges ranged from high specialized art schools to polytechnic institutes to universities in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, all of our seniors attended the 9th Annual College Application Workshop that spanned two days at the start of the year. We were able to host a virtual college panel with representatives from all over the country (University of Chicago, Pitzer College, Oberlin College and University of Toronto) rather than relying exclusively on local colleges to speak with our students.

We also welcomed the news that almost every four-year college in the United States remained test optional for the Class of 2023, so students could choose whether they wanted to submit ACT or SAT scores. Eighty-eight percent of our seniors applied “early,” which breaks down to 78% of seniors applying under a non-binding Early Action plan and 50% applying under a binding Early Decision plan. This is an uptick in early applications over the past five years.

With the pandemic mostly behind us, we’re making strides in college counseling for the better. Our students feel supported and heard. Many are grateful that a standardized test isn’t a factor that could negatively affect them in this process. In the end, our students will be admitted in droves to the colleges they’ve applied to just like in years past.