"You meet quite a mix of people at Kent. And it's good because they are not the same as the friends you had back home..." Read More
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College Counseling
As coach of the mountain biking club, I could probably come up with some cliché about teaching kids... Read More
Welcome to KENT College Counseling
It is hard to imagine what can happen in just eighteen months. Over the course of the fifth and sixth form years students will spend much time in reflection, thinking deeply about who they are, who they want to become and where they are going to spend the next four years. They will spend hours with their college counselor researching the 2,582 four-year colleges in the United States, not to mention the many great schools abroad. They will travel countless miles to visit numerous college campuses. They will have interview, take standardized tests, scour the internet and engage in serious contemplation about their future. They will agonize over personal statements and work tirelessly on a seemingly endless pile of applications.
At the start, this may seem like a daunting task, but our students are not alone. While this is their process and these are their applications, the college counseling team stands ready to support every student each step of the way. The College Handbooks (Winter Handbook, Spring Handbook, Fall Handbook, and On Writing the College Essay) are one such source of support. We encourage you to take the time to read them thoroughly, even more than once. Much experience and wisdom has been poured into these pages. Nearly every question you may have is probably answered somewhere in this handbook.
Applying to college can be an overwhelming process. When asked how to manage the stress and anxiety brought on by the application process, Wylie Mitchell, Dean of Admissions at Bates College, offers, "Control that which you can control."
What can you control? You can control deadlines. You can be organized. You can be informed. You can be prepared. If you ask any Sixth Former what they might have done to improve the process, you will surely hear a resounding chorus of, "Start early! Stay on top of it! Begin your personal statement over the summer!"
Ultimately, do remember what a privilege this is. Many in the world would love the opportunity to continue their education. So, use the time wisely and take advantage of the support we offer. As stressful as it may be, this is such an exciting milestone in your life, one to celebrate and appreciate. Give yourself and the process the respect and the work they deserve. You will take out as much as you put in. Rest assured, you will find your place.