On August 21st, the college counseling department hosted an afternoon application workshop for Sixth Formers. The event provided practical support, clarification, and guidance as students navigate the busy fall college application season.
Students could choose to attend two of the three one-hour sessions, each covering an important aspect of college applications: the Common Application, supplemental essays, and the Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS).
Each session was led by members of the college counseling office: Mr. Jeremy Branch and Mr. Damian Long led the Common App session, Ms. Elizabeth Downing led the supplemental essay session, and Ms. Karen Ley led the STARS session.
In the Common App room, students continued to set up their accounts, fill in their college list, and provide all necessary information.
“I thought it was useful,” Sixth Former Ryan Shams said. “The college counselors helped me get things organized.”
Meanwhile, in the supplemental essay room, students explored strategies for the two main types of supplemental essays: the “why this college” and the “how will you contribute to this community” essays.
“The advice here was really useful, and it’s helped me write supplemental essays this past week.”
Ryan SHAMS ’26
“The advice here was really useful, and it’s helped me write supplemental essays this past week,” Shams said.
The STARS session helped students navigate the difficult process of self-reporting grades for schools like Penn State and the University of Pittsburgh, which are on many students’ college lists.
“I attended this room because I wasn’t able to figure out how to use STARS while working on my applications this summer,” Sixth Former Seth Virmani said. “I think the STARS workshop should be mandatory because many public universities use this system, and its website is very confusing.”
Virmani thinks the college counseling office could help clarify other parts of the application as well.
“I think an event discussing early-decision or early-action applications would be very helpful,” Virmani said. “It’d also be nice for the college counseling office to talk about letters of recommendation, and to help students fill out the school-specific information,” Virmani said.
In general, the event allowed students to ease into the college application process and the school year.
“It was nice and relaxing, and it was good to be able to see some classmates again before the school year started,” Shams said.
Shams recommends that students attend college counseling events in the future.
“If you’re available, I think you should go to events like these,” Shams said. “They definitely help set you up in the right direction.”
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