Under ordinary circumstances, the college admissions process can be daunting for students and their families. However, as we continue to face the defining global health crisis of our time, this process is continually undergoing significant changes, leaving many wondering where to turn. The Shipley School’s College Counseling team is here to help, with the following tips for navigating the college admissions process amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Shipley’s college counseling program is as much about self-discovery as it is about choosing a college. Though it may feel daunting at times, the college process is an opportunity for students to explore their interests, strengths, and goals while building skills for doing research and making wise decisions about the future. At Shipley, the process can yield unexpected lessons and results. We asked six members of Shipley’s Class of 2019 to reflect on their college counseling experience and share what they learned.

Research shows that Social Emotional Learning (SEL) programs like Shipley’s Social, Emotional, Ethical Development (SEED) program can positively impact children’s mental health, social skills, and academic performance. (Taylor, Rebecca D., et al. “Promoting Positive Youth Development Through School-Based Social and Emotional Learning Interventions: A Meta-Analysis of Follow-Up Effects.” Society for Research in Child Development, Inc., 2017, https://doi.org/10.1111/cdev.12864.) That’s why we devote class time in each grade to this important subject area. In Shipley’s Lower School SEED classes, teacher Betsy Leschinsky (“Mrs. L,” as her students affectionately call her) uses storybooks to anchor her lessons. 

As a mindfulness teacher, the most common question parents ask me is “How can I get my child to do mindfulness?” Believe it or not, the most common reflection students have for me is “How can I get my parents to do mindfulness?” As it turns out, the answer to the first question is in the realization of the second question. Our children sense the stress felt by the trusted adults in their lives and wish for it to be better.

Let me set the stage for you: I’m at home, and I’m going into the other room to talk to my son. I step inside, and he’s on his laptop working on something. He sees me, and then it’s swipe swipe – a completely blank screen. Our conversation is shut down before it’s even started. While the concept of how to spark parent/child communication is nothing new, the role of technology is. This is an everyday situation that even just a few years ago, I never would have thought of. As our world grows and changes, we have a whole host of new things to talk about – and one of them is how we can better talk with each other.

In my twenty-five years as Head of School, I have watched seven presidential elections unfold. In more than two decades, no election season has been as tumultuous as in 2016. As November 8 draws closer, the tensions run hotter, and I think of the passionate young Americans who are experiencing politics at this level, center stage, for the first time in their lives. In what I would consider the most polarizing political climate I’ve experienced, I find myself asking: What are we teaching our children about compassion, thoughtfulness, and understanding?