Hi Seniors and Families,

Faculty meetings have begun, pumpkin spice lattes are on the menu at Starbucks, and we can't wait to see you next week! We spent the summer reading your essays, writing letters of recommendation, visiting colleges, taking a little bit of vacation, and meeting with all of you. As fall kicks off, we want you to be aware of all of the college-related resources that will be available to you. Please don’t feel like you have to remember all of this, but seeing it in one place can help as you plan ahead.

Grab a time that works for you—our calendars are available at all times (reminder: the links live permanently in Canvas, in case you lose this email). 

Ms. Hanig’s calendar

Ms. Warshauer’s calendar

Mr. Figueroa’s calendar

A few things to keep in mind:

• You may not miss a class to meet with your college counselor.
• Taking an E-block class? We’ve reserved Thursdays and Fridays from 3:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (Office Hours and after school) for you! Please email us to sign up for one of those times, as they do not show up as available in our calendar. 

Close to 100 colleges will visit Beaver this fall—and more are signing up every day! These visits are a great opportunity for students to connect personally with college admissions representatives. We will be providing more information about logistics and scheduling in a Class Meeting in September, but here’s what you need to know for now: 

• Sign up to attend these visits in Naviance (click on Colleges, then College Visits). You can also view the schedule in Canvas, Google Calendar, and on the screen in front of room 226. We are adding new colleges every day, so keep checking back! 
• Some colleges will visit during E-block. If you are enrolled in an E-block class, please check out our E-block Class/College Visit Policy. TLDR? If schools on your list are visiting during your E-block class, make a list of those schools and the dates/times they are visiting. Prioritize your top 2-3 choices. Check in with your teacher as soon as possible to see whether you can miss part of class for these visits—note that you do NOT have to stay for the full 30 minutes. It is perfectly acceptable to pop in, say hi, and let the rep know you have to run to class. You can also arrive late or write them a note. The priorities of your class come first, and it will not be possible to miss considerable amounts of class time to meet with college reps. 
• Wondering what to expect? Come ready to ask questions and hear the representative introduce their college. It might feel more like a presentation at times, and a conversation at others. No need to prepare or dress for the occasion, but bring your best selves! More details to come during Class Meeting!

We have many upcoming events to help you gear up and work steadily throughout the fall.

The Roadmap to Senior Year event (for parents and caregivers) is on Thursday, September 3 at 6:00 p.m. This will include lots of information about the timeline and logistics for senior year, with ample time devoted to the college process. Students will meet with the college counselors as a group during the first week of school.

College Work Day is Tuesday, October 13. Seniors have no classes that day, but you must be on campus in time for rehearsal/afternoon practice. We recommend you use that long weekend to visit colleges or work on applications.

Don't forget: a few schools have super early October 15 deadlines. These include UNC-Chapel Hill (early action), Georgia Tech (early action), University of South Carolina (early action), and University of Georgia (early action). As you dig into specific applications, please put these schools at the top of the pile!

In an ideal world, every student returns to school with green check marks in their Common Application, a draft of “the big essay,” and outlines for early round supplements. Not there yet? Don’t worry, we’re here for you! Grab a time on our calendars, and we’ll be ready to support you.

Massachusetts recently approved its first three-year bachelor’s degree pilot programs, allowing Merrimack and Suffolk to offer degrees requiring 94–96 credits rather than the traditional 120. The programs are part of a larger national push to rethink the cost—and structure—of a college degree, particularly as families increasingly question whether four years (and four years of tuition) should be the default. Massachusetts is starting small, but it likely won’t end here: other states and colleges are exploring similar models, making this a trend worth watching as higher education responds to growing pressure around affordability, access, and the value of a degree.

The testing conversation continues to move. Most interestingly, there is now faculty pressure within the University of California system to reconsider its test-free policy. Nothing has changed for the Class of 2027, but the UC system has been the most prominent example of a major system abandoning standardized testing altogether, so even having that conversation is notable.

Early Decision is facing new scrutiny. A federal judge ruled recently that a lawsuit against 32 selective colleges alleging that their Early Decision practices suppress competition and contribute to higher tuition prices can proceed. That doesn't mean ED is going away, but given how central ED has become to selective admissions, we are keeping an eye on it!

As always, please let us know if you have any questions.

BVR College Counseling

Cara Hanig, Juan Figueroa, Dana Warshauer