A couple weeks ago, Germantown Academy hosted the Alumni Panel. GA hosted several recent graduates, ranging from the class of 2020 to the class of 2023. These alums were invited in by the college counseling team.
They were in a panel where they were asked questions by the college counseling team and the juniors and seniors. This was to help the juniors and seniors ask questions or need guidance with them currently navigation the college application process.
In 2023, the college admission process changed drastically. The Supreme Court got rid of the affirmative action process, removing race and ethnicity from factors of the admission decision. Many colleges have also made it optional where you do not have to submit your SAT or ACT scores.
“This process would have been more beneficial for the seniors if it was before they went through most of their admissions process,” senior Shae Sawyer-St.Clair ‘24 said. “This process definitely helped the juniors though, for when they go and apply to colleges.”
During the recent changes in the admissions process it has been a different experience for seniors applying to college this year.
“The seminars were extremely helpful,” senior Grace Petersohn said. “The interview seminar helped me the most because it did not just apply to college, it also helped me with other things. That seminar will also help me in the future when applying for jobs and internships.”
College Counselor Karen Mason also believes in the value of this year’s college seminars.
“We did multiple workshops: one for seniors on self-reported academic records,” Ms. Mason said. “This is where you have to import your transcripts into electronic form. We did a workshop on this to help students with this and raise awareness of this because without this their applications would be incomplete.”
“We did a workshop for the ‘why us’ essays, affirmative action, and interviews. We are trying to do more that students can opt into doing, so they can learn more than just what they hear about in college seminar classes.”
College Counselor Jonathan Na from also talked about the things the college counseling team is doing to help students navigate the college admissions process with all of the recent changes.
“We are counting on our robust process to work with each student to prepare them for the college search and application process,” Mr. Na said. “This includes bringing back many alumni who are freshmen and have gone through a similar college admissions landscape last year. Also staying up to date with all of the changes.”
“We are collaborating with other college counselors, especially those working in independent schools, all across the country and abroad, including GA’s Curriculum Partnership Program who are working with Chinese students from the Capital Normal University High school,” Mr. Na said.
To Ms. Mason, one thing stood out from the panel.
“It’s not about one school, there’s so many options out there, don’t fool yourself into thinking there’s only one place you can go.”
Mr. Na had a favorite piece of advice of his own.
“Stay open-minded in the process. A first choice school is not the only fit.”
This panel was extremely beneficial and will hopefully help the GA students. The college counseling team is adapting to the recent changes and is helping the GA students.