Over 50 colleges and universities sent representatives to Derryfield on April 18, for a college fair hosted by the College Counseling Office, that gave both sophomores and juniors the opportunity to be introduced to a wide range of schools. The majority of the attendees came from around New England, but there was also representation from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, and the Washington, DC area. The event was well-timed to get both juniors and sophomores thinking about the diverse array of college options that are available to them after graduation.
Before the event, Rebecca Kosakowski, Director of College Counseling, and Jill Teeters, Associate Director of College Counseling, met with the sophomores and juniors to discuss both the purpose of the event and how to communicate with admission officers. For some, it was their first experience meeting with college representatives. Kosakowski and Teeters encouraged students to “sample the buffet”– and to talk to a variety of school representatives in order to broaden their range of options.
Teeters noted the event was as much about “equity–allowing all students to connect with potential colleges during the school day,” as it was about getting the students to start to think about “life after Derryfield.”
Kosakowski said the first-time event was extremely well-received–she heard from both students and parents that the low-risk, introductory nature of the fair allowed students to be introduced to a wide array of schools in a low-pressure environment.
For their part, the admission officers praised the preparedness and enthusiasm of the students. They were particularly impressed by the student volunteers who greeted them in the driveway, brought them to their assigned tables, and answered questions about Derryfield.
