FROM THE DIRECTOR Dear Holderness Students and Families, In this handbook, you will find wisdom from past counselors, and students, guidance on approaching each step of the college process, and helpful “how-to’s”. I began my work leading college counseling in the summer of 2023, a watershed year in college admissions. Artificial Intelligence, such as Chat GPT doomed the “college essay is dead” at the start of the year, the Supreme Court of the United States ended affirmative action for college admissions in the summer, the PSAT went digital in the fall and the redesigned FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) came out very late in December. All of these disruptions to the college admissions process are significant and will take years to process. However, the uncertainty that made headlines, is, in fact, the norm in college admissions. There is no one perfect path that will assure admission to “X” college. At its worst, the college admissions process can undermine students’ sense of self, erode their confidence, and cause huge stress for families. I believe it is worth naming this reality. The costs of colleges and universities are profound. Importantly, though, the college admissions process can be a deeply reflective, exciting, and buoying process. The college counseling team is your partner in attempting to help you manage this process with sanity, confidence, joy, and ongoing support.
Kelsey Berry DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING
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