A Distinct Advantage 2018

A D IS T IN C T ADVANTAGE

College Counseling at Berkshire

COLLEGE COUNSELING The College Counseling Office at Berkshire has tremendous success finding colleges and universities that best match each student’s talents, interests, and aspirations. College counselors are intently focused on knowing their students well and placing them in a position of strength to choose the school that is the best fit for them.

College counseling at Berkshire is rooted in an effective partnership between each student, his or her parents, and the college counselor.

Berkshire provides a level of expertise and service in the college process far surpassing schools of similar and larger size. Each college counselor works with an average of 22 students, giving Berkshire’s students a distinct competitive edge in the college process. This effective ratio allows our students to spend more time with their college counselors, providing them with greater guidance and resources to prepare them for their college application and selection process.

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70% B ER K SHI R E STU DEN TS A PPLY EA R LY A CTI ON OR EA R LY DECI SI ON

22:1 AVER A GE STU DEN T/ COU N SELOR R ATI O

Finding the “best fit” college or university is the final step in the student’s college process. Through extensive research and personal introductions to admission officers on campus and beyond, we provide students with an intimate experience and a thorough understanding of their schools of interest.”

—F. David McCauley, Jr., Director of College Counseling

“

The energy from the Berkshire faculty and staff is contagious!

More than anything, I’m just blown away by the students. They are dynamic, unique individuals, existing as one with the Berkshire community, the Mountain, and a common bond to achieve success.

Berkshire has brought their stories to life and for that I am grateful!”

—Mike Cameron, Senior Admission Officer Brown University

WINDOW ON BERKSHIRE is a unique event inviting admission officers from different colleges and

universities to meet with students and faculty for an in-depth campus visit.

College admission representatives have the opportunity to hear student presentations, attend classes, and question a panel of students about their experiences at Berkshire. Bowdoin, Brown, Columbia, Cornell, Claremont McKenna, Duke, Johns Hopkins, McGill, Northwestern, Rice, and Yale are among the list of colleges and universities that have visited the campus recently.

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I was struck by how ambitious and interesting the student research projects are. Some of them sound like they are at the graduate school level.”

—Kim Bartlett, Director of Admissions McGill University

110+

COLLEGE R EPR ESEN TATI VES VI SI T B ER K SHI R E EA CH Y EA R

FIFTH-FORM COLLEGE PROGRAM is a two-day

winter event designed to help juniors and their parents better understand the college process.

The Mock Application Review is an invaluable part of the program, during which visiting college admission officers assess mock applications from Berkshire. Parents learn first-hand how college application decisions are made, giving them an advantage during the lengthy, competitive process. Connecticut College, Davidson, UCLA, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), University of Notre Dame, Sewanee, University of Richmond, Skidmore, and Trinity have been among the recent college admission panelists.

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I always emphasize that students should reflect on their goals, aspirations, and strengths and use the college process as a time of self-discovery.”

—Andrea Bowler, Associate Director of College Counseling, Standardized Testing Coordinator

“

The greatest benefit of working with Berkshire’s College Office was the relationship that I had with my college counselor who supported and guided me through the entire process. My counselor’s relationships with different colleges and universities helped me to make a personal connection with the schools I was interested in.

I wouldn’t have made it to NYU without my counselor’s help!”

—Julie Kokot ‘17, New York University

L EAV I NG B E R K S H I R E F O R . . .

Bates College, Baylor University, Boston College, Bowdoin College, Carnegie Mellon University, Colgate University, University of Colorado at Boulder, Columbia University, Cornell University, Dartmouth College, Davidson College, Duke University, University of Edinburgh (UK), Emory University, EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University, Georgetown University, University of Michigan (Ann Arbor), Middlebury College, University of Notre Dame, Oberlin College, University of Pennsylvania, Pitzer College, University of Richmond, Sewanee: The University of the South, St. Lawrence University, Stanford University, Trinity College, Tulane University, U.S. Naval Academy, Williams College, Yale University, and more.

Every year since 2013, nearly 90% of the senior class earned acceptances to Barron’s Profile of American Colleges’ “Most Competitive” and “Highly Competitive” colleges and universities. berkshireschool.org/MatriculationByYear

MEET OUR COLLEGE COUNSELORS F. David McCauley, Jr. Director of College Counseling McCauley joined Berkshire School in fall of 2014 after a four-year tenure in Beijing, PRC at Beijing HS Number 4, and the Beijing National Day School. He has spent two decades in education with admission experiences at Hamilton College, RPI, and Creighton University.

He has served as a primary resource for educational research and has been quoted in the Chronicle of Higher Education, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, and The Lawlor Review, and has consulted the undergraduate admission offices of nearly 100 colleges and universities including Brown, Boston College, Bowdoin, Colgate, Johns Hopkins, and UPenn.

McCauley holds a bachelor’s degree in Spanish and education from Colby College and a master’s degree in educational leadership from St. Lawrence University.

Andrea Bowler Associate Director of College Counseling, Testing Coordinator Bowler came to Berkshire in 1999 and has held several positions including history teacher, form dean, and college counselor for 10 years. She currently serves as the associate director of college counseling, testing coordinator, and is the assistant coach of the girls junior varsity field hockey team. Bowler holds a bachelor’s degree in history from Kenyon College, a master’s degree from Hartford Seminary in Muslim Christian Relations, and a graduate certificate in College Counseling from UCLA. Paul MacKenzie Associate Director of College Counseling MacKenzie came to Berkshire in 2004 and has served as a college counselor for nine years.

In addition, he is the head coach of girls varsity crew. Previously, he taught at Cardigan Mountain School and Landmark School and coached crew at Wellesley College and Williams College. MacKenzie holds a bachelor’s degree in foreign service from Georgetown University and a master’s degree in liberal studies from Dartmouth College.

Kelley Bogardus College Counselor Bogardus arrived to Berkshire School in 2005 and has over 20 years of teaching experience with an emphasis in English. She currently teaches Advanced English, serves as a college counselor, and is the assistant coach of the girls varsity field hockey and junior varsity ice hockey teams. Bogardus holds a bachelor’s degree in English from the University of New Hampshire and a master’s degree in English from Middlebury College (Bread Loaf School of English).

Dan Driscoll College Counselor Driscoll joined Berkshire School in 2006 and has served as a college counselor since arriving on campus. He also serves as the School’s director of athletics and head coach of the boys varsity hockey team. Previously, he served as a history teacher and the director of admission at the Pomfret School and Winchendon School. Driscoll holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Connecticut.

CL ASS OF 2018 MATRICUL ATIONS

Babson College

Quinnipiac University

Bates College (3)***

Sacred Heart University*

Bentley University

Saint Anselm College

Bowdoin College*

Santa Clara University

Brandeis University

Savannah College of Art and Design

Bucknell University*

Sewanee: The University of the South*

Butler University

Skidmore College (2)**

Carleton College

Southern Methodist University (3)*

Carnegie Mellon University

St. Lawrence University (7)****

Coastal Carolina University

Trinity College (3)**

College of Charleston (2)**

Tufts University (2)**

College of the Holy Cross

Union College (NY) (2)**

College of Marin

University of California, Los Angeles

Colgate University (2)*

University of California, Santa Barbara

Columbia University (2)*

University of Colorado at Boulder (2)

Cuesta College

University of Connecticut

Dartmouth College (2)**

University of Connecticut, Waterbury

Davidson College*

University of Denver (4)**

Dickinson College (2)**

University of Maryland, College Park

Drew University

University of Massachusetts, Amherst

Elon University (3)**

University of Miami

Emerson College

University of Michigan (3)

Fordham University

University of Mississippi

Hanken School of Economics (Finland)

University of New Hampshire

Hobart and William Smith Colleges

University of Notre Dame

Iona College

University of Richmond*

Johns Hopkins University

University of San Francisco

Lafayette College*

University of St. Andrews (Scotland)

Lake Forest College

University of Southern California

Loyola Marymount University

University of Virginia

Marist College

Ursinus College*

Marquette University

Villanova University*

Middlebury College*

Wake Forest University (3)*

Mount Holyoke College*

Wentworth Institute of Technology

Monterrey Institute of Technology (Mexico)

Wheaton College (MA)

NYU Gallatin*

Williams College

NYU Stern*

Yale University

NYU Tisch* Northeastern University (2)* Pitzer College Plymouth University (United Kingdom) Princeton University Providence College

* Denotes Early Decision

THE COLLEGE PROCESS

TH I RD FORM (FRE S HMA N) YEA R

SIX TH FO R M ( SENIO R ) Y EA R

Form Deans guide students’ course selection,

Students continue to work on their

extra-curricular pursuits, and begin informal

applications and meet regularly with their

college conversations.

college counselor to: • Take any final standardized tests

F OURT H FORM (S OP HOMORE) Y EA R

Students are encouraged to attend Berkshire College Night where they have the opportunity to meet and hear from three college representatives.

Students begin their diagnostic testing for the ACT and SAT.

administered at Berkshire.

• Continue to meet one-on-one with their college counselors to determine the final college list for applications.

• R eview supplemental and additional essays.

• R eview all applications before they are submitted.

Students have the opportunity to visit college

F IF T H FORM (JU NI OR) YE A R

campuses and meet with over 110 college representatives who visit Berkshire annually.

Students take the PSAT administered at Berkshire.

Students attend Berkshire College Night and various college fairs. All students are encouraged to meet with college admission

College counselors introduce and advocate for students at the schools where they apply and counsel students for fit and matriculation once they have been admitted.

visitors on campus during their free periods.

Students are assigned a college counselor

berkshireschool.org/CollegeCounseling

who works one-on-one with them to: •

Take a self-assessment to identify

what is important to them.

•

Discuss their interests and goals

and p repare for interviews.

•

Create a schedule for standardized

testing and review their results.

• Create a preliminary college list to research.

•

Identify their teacher recommenders.

• P lan and confirm the student’s standardized testing schedule.

• Complete the Common App form and essay.

•

Coordinate college and university

visits during spring recess and

summer vacation.

245 North Undermountain Road Sheffield, Massachusetts 01257 collegeoffice@berkshireschool.org www.berkshireschool.org