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College. How we measure success.
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o A sampling of colleges and universities where our students were admitted over the past five years: American University Amherst College Babson College Bard College Bentley University Berklee College of Music Binghamton University Boston College Boston University Brandeis University Brown University Bryn Mawr College Bucknell University California Institute of Technology California Institute of the Arts Carnegie Mellon University Claremont McKenna College Clark Atlanta University Clark University Cleveland Institute of Music Colby College Colgate University College of William and Mary Columbia University
Cornell University Dartmouth College Dickinson College Drexel University Duke University Earlham College Emerson College Emory University Franklin and Marshall College George Washington University Georgetown University Gettysburg College Goucher College Guilford College Hampshire College Hampton University Harvard University Haverford College Hobart and William Smith Colleges Hofstra University Howard University Johns Hopkins University Kenyon College
Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Lehigh University Lewis and Clark College McGill University Middlebury College Morehouse College Mount Holyoke College New York University Northeastern University Northwestern University Oberlin College Pennsylvania State University Pomona College Princeton University Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Rhode Island School of Design Rice University Rochester Institute of Technology Sarah Lawrence College Smith College Spelman College
Stanford University Swarthmore College Syracuse University Temple University Trinity College, CT Tufts University Tulane University University of California – Los Angeles University of California – San Diego University of Chicago University of Maryland University of Massachusetts University of Miami University of Michigan University of Pennsylvania University of Pittsburgh University of the Arts Vanderbilt University Vassar College Villanova University Wake Forest University Wesleyan University West Chester University Yale University
575 Washington Lane Jenkintown, PA 19046 215.576.3950 www.abingtonfriends.net AFS is a coeducational college-preparatory school for students from age 3 through Grade 12, deeply rooted in Quaker values.
Abington Friends School
We advocate for students. Personal attention is a hallmark of college guidance at AFS. Because we know our students so well, and we know the path they have taken through high school, we can effectively advocate for each student with college admissions officers.
“ Our ultimate goal is an individual fit that suits the academic profile, financial needs and social goals that the students and their families have identified. We
“
don’t feel that we’ve found a good fit until all three of those are satisfied. Director of College Guidance
Loghain Train
East Coast / West Coast
89
%
of AFS graduates complete their undergraduate degree in four years or fewer, almost twice the national four-year graduation rate.
95
%
of AFS graduates maintain a B average or higher in college, compared to 42% of their peers.
When Loghan Thain visited Stanford University, he borrowed a bicycle after dinner and set off on his own to explore the campus. His curiosity led him from one building to another, pedaling down whatever path opened up in front of him. “I really got lost on the campus. There were so many things I just couldn’t miss,” he said. Despite losing his bearings, Loghan had found what he wanted in a college. “After my visit, I said, ‘This is a place I can see myself’.” The Director of College Guidance helped open Loghan’s eyes to consider an education on the West Coast. “I talked to the Director of College Guidance about how conflicted I was and she mentioned something I hadn’t considered. I’m an East Coast guy. But Stanford offered a chance to see a whole different part of the country.”
Loghan is studying economics and mechanical engineering at Stanford.
Relationships matter. At AFS, college guidance counselors spend a great deal of time with college admissions representatives, developing relationships that allow us to speak on behalf of our students, reiterating the strengths of our applicants and how we envision their fit with the college’s mission, community and applicant pool.
“ People ask what distinguishes the AFS College Guidance office. I tell them we develop relationships with the colleges and our students. We are able to
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Anne Silbaugh
Large or Small School? Anne Silbaugh applied via the regular-decision process to seven colleges, eschewing the early decision or early action path that some fellow seniors had chosen. “I totally didn’t know what I wanted,” she said. Large school or small? A city campus or some place quieter? She wasn’t sure. Anne said that the Associate Director of College Guidance at AFS was especially helpful in drawing up a list of colleges to consider. Three front runners finally emerged — Bowdoin College, Connecticut College and Carnegie Mellon University. “I was on the fence about CMU,” before visiting the campus, Anne said. “I was talking to my mom and I told her CMU would have to ‘wow’ me to get me to go there. They did. It really felt right.”
Anne is studying physics and math at Carnegie Mellon University.
articulate things very clearly and advocate effectively. Director of College Guidance
40
%
of AFS graduates receive an academic or athletic scholarship.
87
%
of AFS graduates will remain at their original college through graduation, compared to 40% of their peers.
The small school advantage. At Abington Friends School, our personal, thoughtful and laborintensive approach to college guidance is made possible by our size and the importance we place on knowing our students well.
“ There is no school that will prepare you better for what
“
is to come. I definitely had a leg up on other students. Abington Friends School Alumnus
62
%
of AFS graduates have been recognized for academic or extracurricular activities while at college.
of
Eli Russell
Say yes to Harvard? For Eli Russell, who earned a perfect score on his SATs and founded the award-winning National History Day team at AFS, the list of possible colleges included many of the nation’s top-tier universities. Eli applied via the early-action process to Yale, but his application was deferred to the regular admission round. After applying to 12 other colleges he was admitted to nine colleges, but not to Yale. He narrowed his choice to five, and then finally to just Harvard and Brown. “I knew it would be hard to say no to Harvard,” Eli said, but he worried about a culture of exclusivity and the selectivity of certain organizations on campus. He found himself weighing questions that went way beyond academics. “If I’m on a quest to be a compassionate person,” he asked himself, “will it be helped or hindered at this school?” A visit to Harvard helped seal the deal. “I sat in on an improv class and by the end of it I felt comfortable enough to jump into a scene!” Eli said.
Eli is pursuing his twin passions — history and theatre — at Harvard.
Chelsea Alexander (cover )
First choice, an HBCU! Chelsea Alexander was at school when she learned from her brother that she had been admitted to Hampton University and she could barely contain her excitement. “I ran in the hallway, a couple of laps. I was excited!” she said, breaking into a big smile. Chelsea said she hadn’t considered Hampton until the College Guidance Office suggested that she put it on her list. Now, Chelsea, who is planning a double major in sociology and political science, is thrilled to be going there. “I knew from the very beginning I wanted to go to an HBCU” — Historically Black Colleges and Universities — she said, “because I wanted to be surrounded by black excellence and to attend a university where I know my voice would continue to matter.” On her second visit to Hampton, she noticed that people were gravitating toward her. “I felt instantly like I belonged,” she said. “It made me feel welcomed.”
Chelsea is pursuing a double major in sociology and political science at Hampton University.