Unionville High School

JUNIOR COLLEGE EVENING

MEET THE TEAM

Kat has over 15 years of experience at Haverford College. For the last 5 years Kat has served as the Director of Admission. She currently supports students from parts of Asia and Northern CA, OR, WA, CO and Manhattan. Previously, Kat was Senior Associate Director of Admission and Director of International Admission at Haverford. Kat’s ties to the college run deep having graduated from Haverford as well.

Rachel Zdebski is a Senior Assistant Director of Admission at Quinnipiac University and the regional representative for the Mid-Atlantic region. Originally from Kennett Square, PA, Rachel earned her bachelor’s degree from Penn State University and her master’s from Point Park University. She previously worked at both institutions, supporting freshman and transfer admissions as well as event coordination.

Haverford College

Kat Abels

Quinnipiac University

Rachel Zdebski

Northeastern University

Christie Ruggieri

As Director of Global Enrollment Strategies at Northeastern University, Christie oversees the recruitment strategy for NU’s 3 global campuses with students from 110 countries and all 50 states. Prior to Northeastern, Christie spent 11 years in Drexel University’s Office of Admissions with her final role as Interim Director of Undergraduate Admissions. While working for Northeastern in Boston, Christie lives locally in South Philadelphia.

​

The College Admissions Game

What Colleges Are Looking For

Finding a Good Fit, Building a Strong List & Applying to Colleges

The Role of the Student & The Role of the Parent

What’s Next

Panel Q & A

AGENDA

Making the Most of Your Campus Visit

THE COLLEGE ADMISSIONS GAME

WHAT ARE COLLEGES LOOKING FOR?

RACHEL ZDEBSKI

Quinnipiac University

Senior Assistant Director of Admissions rachel.zdebski@qu.edu

​

WHAT ARE COLLEGES LOOKING FOR?

Academics

Personal

• GPA Upward trend in grades
• Challenging courses within curriculum
• Strong performance in core courses
• Meet all pre-requisite requirements
• Test scores

• Essay

​

• Activities Leadership/Awards

​

• Letters of Recommendation

​

• Demonstrated Interest

​

• Diversity (think beyond just race/ethnicity)

​

• Additional Information

​

• Supplemental Materials (portfolio, audition, essay, video, etc)

Kat Abels

Haverford College Director of Admission kabels@haverford.edu 610-896-1080

FINDING A GOOD FIT, BUILDING A LIST & APPLYING TO COLLEGE

THREE MAJOR DECISIONS IN THE

COLLEGE PROCESS

• You decide where to apply

• Colleges decide whether or not to offer you admission

• You decide where to enroll

​

​

​

​

​

WHERE TO APPLY? A PROCESS OF DISCERNMENT

• Some more practical considerations:
• Size & location
• Programs (both academic and extracurricular)
• Mission of school: academic, cultural, social
• Testing policies
• And a biggie: Financial Aid

​

​

WHERE TO APPLY? A PROCESS OF DISCERNMENT

• Allow yourself the time for engagement
• Make the most of virtual opportunities!
• College visits at Unionville
• If you are able, make the most of in-person opportunities

​

​

WHERE TO APPLY? A PROCESS OF DISCERNMENT

​

​

• ​

​

WHERE TO APPLY? A PROCESS OF DISCERNMENT

SOME QUICK TAKEAWAYS

• More selective does not mean better

• Reflect and find threads of meaning in your life
• Get out there and explore

• Give yourself the space to change your mind

​

• Be open to a college you had not heard of before (the college probably has not heard of you yet either)

​

• If you use rankings, be a smart consumer and allow yourself to make decisions using other metrics including your gut

YOUR COLLEGE LIST SHOULD BE...

COLLEGE ADMISSION IS NOT A PRIZE TO BE WON,

BUT A MATCH TO BE MADE.

• Intentional and reflective of your priorities

• What do I need? What do I want? What can I afford?

• Admissions is not an “odds” game

• Adding more schools to your list does not make you more likely to be admitted somewhere

• Is this an institution you can see yourself attending, if admitted?
• Are you able to articulate what is exciting to you about this place?
• Are you open to spending the time necessary on the application?

• Balanced and realistic

• You want to leave the process feeling whole
• Applying takes time, energy, and resources
• Listen to your counselors
• Look at data: recent class profiles, common data set, Naviance

• The majority of institutions you are applying to should be in the likely (sometimes referred to as secure or safety) and realistic (sometimes referred to as target) range

• If you stack up academically, there are other factors (often called institutional priorities that may be in play)

YOUR COLLEGE LIST SHOULD BE...

ADMISSION PROCESS FRAMEWORK

Be true to yourself

• Get and stay organized

• Admission and financial aid deadlines are important
• Schedule time to check in about the process as a family

• Do research and build relationships

JUNIOR WINTER/SPRING

• Work hard in your classes!
• College research and virtual and/or in person visits! SAT/ACT testing (optional)
• Ask two teachers for letters of recommendation
• Begin thinking about and drafting your personal statement
• Create a Common Application account

SENIOR SUMMER/FALL

Senior Fall

Rising Senior Summer

• Continue to forge connections, build relationships, and make visits
• Finalize your personal statement
• Finalize your application list and application round choice (ideally)
• Begin/continue working on your Common Application

• College/university-specific supplements and other institution specific opportunities

• Interviews, arts supplements, merit scholarship applications

• Financial aid applications
• Continue to work hard in your classes!

SUBMIT YOUR ADMISSION AND FINANCIAL AID APPLICATIONS BEFORE THE DEADLINE(S)!

Christie Ruggieri

Northeastern University

Director of Global Enrollment Strategies c.ruggieri@northeastern.edu

​

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR VISIT

ROLE OF THE STUDENT & ROLE OF THE PARENT

MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR CAMPUS VISIT

• Before Your Visit
• Book Visits Early!
• Plan Your Travel Logistics
• If interested, contact Departments
• Prepare Questions

​

• During Your Visit
• Connect with Staff and Students
• Eat in the Dining Hall
• Observe the Community
• Explore Beyond the Tour

• Self-reflection: Identify interests, goals, and values to shape your college search
• Research: Explore colleges, programs, campus culture, and resources that align with academic and personal needs.
• Be proactive: Take initiative to visit campuses, attend fairs, and connect with admissions.
• Engage in decision-making: Make informed choices about potential colleges based on fit,goals, and priorities.
• Stay Organized: Track deadlines, scholarship opportunities, and required materials.
• Own the process: Lead your journey while seeking support from parents and advisors when needed.

ROLE OF THE STUDENT IN THE COLLEGE SEARCH

• Support emotional well-being: Offer encouragement, reassurance, and a calm presence throughout the process.
• Offer guidance and advice: Help evaluate options, finances, and long-term goals together.
• Assist with research: Help find schools that align with the student's interests and values.
• Be a sounding board: Listen to the student’s thoughts and concerns, offering a balanced perspective when necessary.
• Provide logistical help: Assist with college visits, application deadlines, and forms.
• Encourage independence: Foster decision-making skills while maintaining open lines of communication.

ROLE OF THE PARENT IN THE COLLEGE SEARCH

• Junior Planning Conferences

• Family meetings with your school counselor
• Schedule after you have attended your Junior Seminar
• Early February through end 3rd marking period

• College Testing Evening

• Compass Educational Group
• January 7th, 6:00pm

• Junior Seminars

• Small group nuts & bolts sessions
• Required for all juniors considering applying to college
• January 5th - February 2nd

NEXT STEPS

RACHEL ZDEBSKI - KATE ABELS- CHRISTIE RUGGIERI

Q & A

Thank you!

JUNIOR COLLEGE EVENING