College Day at FWCD
September 26th 2022
This year’s College Day was back in-person on September 16, and the Sid W. Richardson Gymnasium was bustling with admission officers from 159 colleges and universities from across the U.S. and around the world. FWCD 11th- and 12th-grade students were joined by juniors and seniors from All Saints’ Episcopal School, The Oakridge School, Trinity Valley School, Breakthrough Fort Worth and the Young Women’s Leadership Academy. View a list of the attending colleges and universities.
During the college fair, college admission representatives spoke with students about their respective institution’s academic programs, campus life, and admission and financial aid processes. Students were encouraged to do preliminary research on the schools of interest so they could use their time to engage in meaningful conversations with the colleges’ representatives. “Students who know a little bit about a college and what they want from the college experience heading into the fair are better able to make the most of their time to get questions answered and find schools that might be a good fit,” said Director of College Counseling Kristin Larsen. “We also encouraged students to explore colleges that are unfamiliar to them.”
In addition to College Day, students had the opportunity to meet with college representatives in the College Counseling Office. More than 60 one-on-one or small group, in-person meetings took place in the College CUpper School, plus a few additional visits were hosted virtually. Visits typically last for half a class period, with the majority of these meetings being hosted in September and October. Juniors and seniors are allowed to attend these meetings, but if they will miss class, their teacher’s permission to attend must be secured in advance of the visit. Freshmen and sophomores may attend visits that are scheduled during their free periods. Sophomores, juniors and seniors are asked to register on Naviance, and freshmen are encouraged to check the visit schedule posted on the door of the College Counseling Office.
At FWCD, the College Counseling Office is dedicated to making the transition from high school to college a smooth and enjoyable experience. The primary goal of the office is to provide support for all students, helping each one find his or her appropriate match. The college counselors work closely with juniors and seniors starting at the beginning of the junior year with a college counseling class. Topics of discussion include understanding admission selectivity, standardized testing and college affordability as well as writing college essays and learning how college admission decisions are made. Larsen notes, “We expect our students to be knowledgeable and ready to navigate the college process no matter where they choose to apply.”
