Introduction to the College Process

Sarah Tarrant Director of College Counseling E-mail Tel: 212-497-6504 Fax: 212-497-6530

INTRODUCTION FROM SARAH TARRANT,
DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING

Dear Juniors and Parents,  

Take a deep breath, and for a moment—if only a moment—think about how thrilling it is to have made it to this point in your life.  Juniors, you’ve almost completed high school; you’ve had some fun exploring the world around you, making good friends, and learning about yourself, both in and out of the classroom.  Parents, you’ve raised a child who is nearly grown and almost ready to leap into the world beyond the protective walls (and area dividers!) of Calhoun.  This is a time that can be both exciting and intimidating.  For those of you who had to endure the trials and tribulations of applying to high schools, applying to college is quite different.  For parents who watched as older children weathered the college application process, this time around will be different, too.  Not only has the climate of college admissions changed subtly over the last few years, but it is inevitably a different experience for every student. 

Yes, getting into a good school is the final goal, whether your definition of “good” is an institution that has a top-notch performing arts program, one with a Division I powerhouse basketball team, a school with a renowned political science department, or a combination of the three.  A good school is defined differently for every student, and while some schools are extremely selective, admitting less than ten percent of all applicants, the majority welcome more than half of their applicants. Even with all of the competition and pressure surrounding this process, it is entirely possible for every student to find, apply to, and gain admission to a number of good schools that will be wonderful places to learn for the next four years. 

As you step into this process as a family, I want to encourage you to think not only about the final goal, but also about how you want to experience the year ahead. The amount of stress you endure over the next few months depends in great part on how you approach the adventure.  The reality of the population bubble of children born in the late 1980s/early 1990s does make the application process more competitive and anxiety-laden than it was even ten years ago, but much of the experience is within your control.  Try to avoid being unduly influenced by sensationalistic media, by know-it-alls at dinner parties, by SAT tutors who promise great improvement if you spend hundreds of dollars each week, and by ranking systems (such as the one used by US News and World Report) that are regularly denounced by colleges, admissions personnel, and college guidance counselors as inaccurate representations of the true value of each college.  There are voices of sanity and wisdom in this process, though they are often overwhelmed by the frenzied cries of the masses.  I will do my best to be a voice of reason for you, and a reliable resource as you sift through the often-conflicting messages by which you are besieged in your daily lives. 

In the next few months, I will help each student create a list of colleges, give advice on standardized testing, provide feedback on college essays, write a letter of reference for each student, answer any questions that students and parents may have, and help you keep everything in perspective.  Hopefully, this College Handbook will be a valuable reference throughout the process. 

This coming-of-age ritual is a rite of passage for students, and, just like any challenge, with the appropriate amount of introspection, wisdom, and diligence, this hurdle will be cleared gracefully, with a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Sincerely,

Sarah