Some 50 educational leaders and friends of The Winchendon School gathered for a lively conversation in Manhattan earlier this month to discuss trends in college admissions and their potential impact for today’s middle and high school students. Our panel was lead by The Winchendon School trustee Manuel Carballo — who served as Middlebury College’s Director of Admissions before taking on his current post as Vice President of Oberlin College (OH) — and was moderated by Dr. Pola Rosen, publisher of Education Update.
Where Education is Heading
College Admissions–just like learning–isn’t all about test scores or the number of AP courses a student takes. Admissions officers at selective colleges and universities like Oberlin and Middlebury look for:
What Education is not
Middle and High School student education is moving away from:
- artificial and anxiety-inducing high stakes testing
- activities
- benchmarks
- checklists
these all work against student growth, happiness, and health.
The Take-Away
If we hope to unleash our students’ potential–and best prepare them for success in college and beyond–we should support them in their high school years to find and pursue their passions. When we do, great learning follows.
At The Winchendon School, we see that great learning happening every day. Our Signature Programs: Global Dynamics, ColLABs, and Service Learning all exemplify how these trends can prepare today's students for life beyond high school.
