Class of 2024 Formally Kicks Off College-Admissions Process, Looks Ahead to Spring Meetings

Top college admissions officers joined St. Margaret’s College Counseling Team to kick off the admission process for the Class of 2024 this week, as students and their families attended a fireside chat during the Junior Class College Kick-Off on Monday.

 

St. Margaret’s Director of College Counseling Elise Rodriguez moderated a discussion on the Hurlbut Theater stage with two college experts: Joanna May, vice president for enrollment at Smith College in Massachusetts, and Grace Chapin James, executive director of admissions at Washington University in St. Louis.

In a 45-minute conversation, the three shared advice with Class of 2024 families on approaching the admissions process. They discussed recent news and trends in college admissions, offered insight into college applications, and discussed the impact of evolving standardized-testing requirements to the admissions process, among many other topics.

“This discussion served as an opportunity to provide context for students and their families around college admissions as they prepare to embark on this process,” Ms. Rodriguez said. “We also spent time explaining all the resources available to students and families at St. Margaret’s that will help support them as they search for the right college fit.”

The College Counseling Office—including Ms. Rodriguez, Senior Associate Director Amy Warren and Associate Director Erica Huerta—also provided a sneak peek of the College Group Meeting (CGM) blocks that juniors will have built into their second-semester schedule beginning this spring. The Class of 2024 will have CGM seven times between January and April, either during their free block or during Wednesday tutorial, where they will meet in small groups with all three college counselors for important educational touchpoints about college admissions during the school day.

Topics planned for the CGM block include personal statements, researching colleges and universities, campus visits, drafting a common application, and more.

“The CGM block will be a great way for our team to meet with the Class of 2024 in smaller groups to review important aspects of college admissions,” Ms. Rodriguez said. “We are grateful that St. Margaret’s has been so supportive of finding time during the school day for these educational touchpoints, and we look forward to the first CGM block in January.”