On January 5, 2023, the Germantown Academy College Counseling Team hosted a college panel, specifically for juniors and seniors, featuring alumni of multiple backgrounds from various colleges around the country. The panel gave students an opportunity to learn more about colleges from class size to locations to even different weather conditions at each individual school.
Colleges represented ranged from Syracuse, in New York, to James Madison University, in Virginia, and even as close as Villanova, which is located only about half an hour from GA. Many GA students came out of the panel more informed about the different learning opportunities offered at the different size colleges.
One Junior, who chose to stay nameless, said, “It was quite beneficial to hear the perspectives of college students who had recently graduated from GA.” They also mentioned how they were relieved to hear that GA classes prepared them for the future.
Another GA student from Washington House said, “I came into the panel concerned since I still do not know what I want to do for my career. It was quite relieving to hear that others are in the same position as me.”
The GA college panel hosted students in all different circumstances. Some of those students were athletes, some were artists, and there was even a student with gap year experience.
When asked whether a college panel is something GA should consider to do again in the future, Zara Bhatt ‘24 said, “Yes, I would like to see a college panel of alumni. I think it would definitely prove to be beneficial for all students, not just juniors and seniors.”
“With a panel of alumni, students would be able to hear about their transition from high school to college as well as their decision and application process,” Bhatt continues. “It would also be great if there were more variety of colleges represented, such as a range from a small liberal arts college to a large public university.”
It seems like a common theme throughout many juniors and seniors at the panel was that it was quite helpful, but a variety of more colleges would have been even more beneficial.
A student from Kershaw said, “As someone who is looking at a less traditional college path, the panel did not represent anything I was interested in, so some more variety in the schools represented would have been nice.”
Many sophomores were quite excited to hear that a college panel could be a potential option in the foreseeable future. One sophomore in Alcott Day said, “I can’t wait for a future college panel, as I am quite stressed about finding the right college for me.”
When current sophomores were asked if they wanted anything specific in their future college panel, one student said, “I think it would be really cool and beneficial if they did a college athletes panel to hear from students playing sports in D1, D2, D3 and club college athletics.”
Overall, the Germantown Academy College Counseling panel was quite a successful event with great potential for positive change in the future of GA students. Current GA students look forward to more panels like this one where they get to hear alumni express their opinions on their college experiences to better prepare the college students of the future for ample success.