Laughter circulated the dining hall at Archer’s annual Junior College Kickoff Tuesday, Jan. 23, from 7:30-9 p.m. Director of College Guidance Ivan Hauck explained to the Class of 2025 and their families that most independent school students apply to anywhere from 15-20 colleges. He then shared that the average Archer student applied to seven.
“What?” a parent in the audience exclaimed.
The event marked the beginning of the college process for the Class of 2025. Associate Director of College Guidance Shalyn Tharayil presented alongside Hauck. Tharayil said the objective was to have a place where students and parents could get all the same information about the process.
“Most of our students have met with us,” Tharayil said. “We looked at their junior questionnaire, where they tell us more about themselves and what they’re looking for … Then, this kickoff event happens with parents, and then the next step is a family meeting in February.”
According to Tharayil, Archer’s college process is unique compared to other schools because they begin working with the junior class early. She said the purpose of this early start is to help alleviate anxiety before students begin writing college essays over the summer.
“What’s cool about this presentation is it’s a bit more interactive than our other ones. We actually go through sample essays; we do a really cool case studies activity where students and parents get to see two real students’ applications and see how universities evaluated them,” she said. “It gives [them] more of an understanding of the admissions process from a college side, and it’s not just spitting out numbers and data.”
A predominant concern for the counselors during this time, Tharayil said, is misconceptions and rumors about the college admissions process. Junior Maya Acutt attended the event with her parents and said it was “incredibly helpful” in answering her questions and alleviating some of the stress she was feeling.
“It honestly got rid of so much stress for me,” Acutt said. “Something that Mr. Hauck said was … ‘Everyone is going to feel behind at some point,’ so that was comforting in a way.”
Having parents attend the event was important for open communication during these next few potentially stressful months, junior Presley Forest said.
“I think it’s really important that it is a family discussion so that everyone understands what the juniors are going through and what the parents need to do in order to support them,” Forster said. “It’s important that everyone gets the news together … so that they will know how to communicate with each other.”
According to Tharayil, Archer’s guidance is also set apart by its unique incorporation of college guidance into the human development curriculum. This helps ensure students do not fall behind, and information is covered slowly and clearly for all students by breaking everything down into smaller steps. Second semester junior year, HD becomes a space for students to become more educated on the college process and dedicate time to working on their essays and applications.
Tharayil explained how she and Hauck view the process from a psychological lens, too. She recalled students telling her the introspective process helped them discover a lot about themselves.
“Mr. Hauck and I both have a background in not just college admissions, but also counseling as a whole. So, our focus is not just … getting you into college, but it’s about the emotional management and supporting you through it. For us, both are equally important,” Tharayil said. “I think what we both love the most about it is seeing that growth within each student as they go through it.”
