On April 27, our Director of College Counseling Edward Dugger, hosted the Office’s annual and distinctive Friends Academy Inside College Admissions program. This year’s theme, “How to Crack the College Code,” focused on how an applicant can stand out among the rest. Mr. Dugger picked the theme because “this was one of the most challenging years that I can remember. Some of it is due to the pandemic and the test-optional environment made it very challenging.” Open to juniors and their parents/caregivers, panelists included College Admissions representatives from various institutions including, Webb Institute, Hobart & William Smith Colleges, Rice University, Washington University at St. Louis, and Bucknell University.
A unique college admissions program on Long Island, Inside College Admissions aims to create a learning circle between colleges, students and their parents/caregivers, and Friends Academy college counselors. “The last time we held this event in person was in 2019,” commented Mr. Dugger. “The opportunity to explore trends and patterns, as well as potential pitfalls by using the principles of Quakerism works to empower us all in the college process,” he added.
Additionally, the College Counseling Office personalized sessions for both students and adults. An interactive activity called "What Does It Take," asked juniors and their parents to rank what they believed were the most important factors college admissions counselors take into consideration when reading applications and making admissions decisions, which included Transcript, Extracurricular Activities, Standardized Test Scores, Essay & Supplements, and Teacher/Counselor Recommendation. Once each topic was rated, panelists reflected on the results and offered their insights into each area. And what are those key takeaways? “Strive for diversity in your college lists; aim for variety in size, location, and region,” shared Mr. Dugger. “Ultimately, students and their parents should always remain flexible.”