The Season of Change

by Dan DuBois, Academic Director

This is the season of great change and new beginnings. The weather is softening and warming and all seems to be in the midst of change and possibility. It is also the time of year when students receive letters of possibility from colleges and universities, for acceptance into the next matriculating class. For many students, this is the time they receive the first reflection from the outside world that their work, struggles, and commitment to change have been successful. For some, the dream of going to college previously seemed to be disappearing into a fog of confusion and impossibility. It takes the integrated support and work of many individuals to make this new beginning possible.

Our teachers encourage, support, create clear expectations, and challenge the intellect, creativity, and curiosity of our students. They do this day in and day out while maintaining an awareness of the individual needs, challenges, strengths, and interests of each of their charges. The magic of this process and its subsequent transformation become possible only when our three realms—student life, counseling, and academics—work in a synchronized effort, and the student, as well as the family, is willing to embrace change.

This was a very active year for students applying to colleges: 32 students applied to more than 179 colleges and universities over the past several months. This process allowed for an accounting and documentation of their individual successes, encompassing academic success, a renewed sense of identity, and a clarified sense of purpose and determination. The application process requires between six and twelve months of thoughtful work. Since many ASR families and students come to the school having all but abandoned hope that their college dreams would be realized, all require nurturing, patience and realistic advice.

In a traditional college preparatory school, students and parents enjoy a three or four year process leading toward college. ASR families have been jolted out of this track and must be guided back, carefully and within limited time constraints. Two people are especially prominent in this work at ASR: Peter Stevens, College Counselor, and Martha Baldwin, Academic Administrative Assistant. Their work has been tireless and a credit to ASR.

Peter has been with ASR for many years, as Dean of Academics for five years and then as College Counselor since 2004, providing services for both independent school placement and college counseling and planning to ASR students and families. Peter is an independent educational counselor and a member of IECA (the Independent Educational Counselor Association) and NACAC (the National Association for College Admission Counseling.) He has also been a volunteer with the Peace Corps and Headmaster for American schools in the United Kingdom and Switzerland as well as Denver, CO; Portland, OR; and Toledo, OH.

A selection of colleges offering admission to ASR Graduates in 2009:

Indiana University
Ohio State
Wisconsin State
Tulane
Florida State
North Florida State
West Florida State
Florida Gulf Coast
Pace
Cal Poly Tech
University of Colorado/Boulder
Endicott College
University of Illinois
University of Kansas/Lawrence
University of Missouri/Columbia
Colorado State
Drew University
Washington and Lee
Pratt Institute/MWP Utica
Alfred University
Clemens
SUNY/ Purchase/New Paltz/Albany/Buffalo/Fredonia
Massachusetts College of Art
University of the Arts
School of Visual Arts
Manhattan College
Philadelphia University
Hofstra
Franklin Pierce
Keene State
Ithaca College
Evergreen State College
Marymount College
University of Rhode Island
UNC Greensboro
Eastern Carolina University
University of Alabama/Tuscaloosa/Huntsville

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