Juniors talk with college counselor David Olins after a small group meeting. PHOTO/TALENTED Lizzie Needham ’09

The College Counseling Office hosted its annual College Information Weekend on February 15-17. As the College Office concludes its work with this year’s seniors, who will receive decision letters from colleges in less than two months, the college counselors kick off the new calendar year with College Information Weekend, an event targeting fifth formers and their parents. The event also included special presentations for fourth form students and parents.

The weekend started for juniors on Friday night. Students met in informal small groups with their college counselors to discuss the specifics of the weekend, as well as learning ways in which they can better evaluate themselves in order to look for colleges that are a good “fit.”

The message of the entire weekend echoed the topics of discussion in students’ small group meetings: the goal in college admissions is finding the right institutional match for each student. “The most successful college applicants are the ones who take an active role in their own selection and application process. They are the ones who choose with thought and apply only to the institutions that they feel are right for them,” said college counselor, Tina Segalla Grant.

After registration and coffee Saturday morning, Director of College Counseling Dean Jacoby ’88 opened the weekend for students and parents gathered in the Paul Mellon Arts Center. He introduced testing coordinator Elizabeth Rodenhizer, office manager Carla Zanoni, and college counselors Jill Atkinson, Linda Schulz, David Olins, Chuck Timlin, and Tina Grant. Mr. Jacoby stressed the great resource the counselors are to students and encouraged parents and students alike to take advantage of the many services offered by the College Counseling Office.

The program segued into a panel discussion about the college application process featuring Lee Coffin, Dean of Admission, Tufts University; Ann McDermott, Director of Admission, College of the Holy Cross; and Elizabeth Pili, Assistant Director of Admission, Columbia University.

Mr. Coffin helped the audience to relax with an amusing anecdote about the experience of being surrounded by anxious parents during an international flight after he inadvertently revealed to another passenger that he was a college admissions officer. All joking aside, however, Mr. Coffin spoke about how difficult it is for admission officers to choose an incoming class from thousands of qualified applications. At Tufts University, Mr. Coffin has to whittle down over fifteen thousand applications to about two thousand acceptances. Ms. Pili chimed in that many colleges have an even lower percentage of acceptances than this figure. She then shed light on how colleges go about choosing which applicants to accept. Seeing “a thread” in an application of linked interests and extracurricular activities can often be a decisive factor in acceptance or rejection. Ms. McDermott outlined how standardized testing fits into the puzzle of the application. Finally, Mr. Coffin spoke once more about creating an application essay that truly highlights the student’s authentic, personal voice.

Despite the calm demeanor that the panelists exhibited, as well as the low-key opening remarks Mr. Jacoby delivered, parents and students still seemed anxious during the question and answer session that followed. Parents asked the panelists about the role of athletics in the admission process, the extent to which Choate students are simply competing against each other in the admission process, and whether colleges discredit the well-rounded student in favor of specialization. During the question and answer session, another student asked how important the “hook factor” is in gaining admission. Mr. Coffin responded that the best tactic for acceptance is to be true to oneself. As an example, he said that even a unique and well-qualified oboe player might be denied admission because the college’s band doesn’t have a vacancy in that instrument that year.

The panelists urged the students not to be overly nervous about the college application process, as daunting as it may seem. Mr. Coffin told the story of meeting a high school senior on the Tufts campus during spring revisits. The young man had gotten into twenty-three out of twenty-four schools after telling Mr. Coffin the past fall that he was almost positive he was going to apply early decision to Tufts. “I got nervous,” the student explained as the reason for submitting so many additional applications.

Echoing the sentiments shared by the college counselors the night before, the panelists advised students to do their research early and apply only to colleges that are of interest.

After the panel discussion, parents and students met in small groups with the students’ respective college counselors. Admissions officers from Fairfield University, Yale University, Columbia University, Quinnipiac University, and College of the Holy Cross spoke at the small group meetings and answered additional questions from parents and students.

Former Choate teacher Nick Strohl, now an Assistant Director of Admission at his alma mater Yale University, reassured students that although thousands of applications are received in a single year, each application is read and commented on extensively. He also reiterated the importance of keeping every part of the application in perspective and that the total application package is what schools are looking for, not one amazing SAT or AP score.

Fifth form parents then had lunch and additional discussions with their children’s college counselor, while fourth form parents dined in Ruutz-Rees Commons with Choate parents who had been through the college process and lived to tell the tale. “We were pleasantly surprised with the large number of fourth form parents who came to this event,” said Mrs. Grant. “College is a huge investment of time and money, and the decision to attend a specific college should be made cautiously and with purpose. Attending the College Information Weekend is a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the college admission process before a student has to make the important decision of where to apply.” She further explained that interest in the college process has increased as competition for college admission has become so prominent in the media.

The afternoon program on Saturday featured a session on standardized testing and Sunday’s information sessions included topics on financial aid, pursuing a fine arts major, and college athletics.

The College Counseling Office felt the weekend was successful in promoting a sound message about embracing the college process as a chance for self-discovery. “Parents or teachers may remember the days when it was possible for college applicants to visit the college of their choice, speak with the director of admission, and learn on the spot whether they would be admitted. Those days are long gone. Sheer demographics have led colleges and universities to develop more sophisticated selection procedures and marketing strategies,” said Ms. Grant. “Our college speakers really helped to set the tone for this weekend. The most important aspect of the initial phase of the college admissions process is making a critical appraisal of yourself, the student. Before you can begin to know which college or university is right for you, you must have a clear picture of who you are; your interests, your achievements, your strengths as well as your challenges you seek to overcome. This evaluation process will take much work and much energy. Choate is fortunate to have a group of highly skilled college counselors who will help students discover who they are and which colleges are best suited for them. We believe that the college admission process can be one of the most exhilarating experiences in a young person’s life,” Ms. Grant enthusiastically declared, “and we look forward to working with our counselees in the months which lie ahead.”