May 10
25
The college search is an educational process: a journey of self-discovery full of challenges, rewards, and responsibilities. It is well-known that far too many students do not receive the proper level of guidance or engagement from their own high school college counselor. Recent research has indicated that a single student receives only 38 minutes of assistance per year from their counselor. This leaves so many students and their families without the expert guidance and assistance they so desperately need. Mercersburg Academy is hoping to help fill that void with the launch of the Mercersburg College Prep Program.
Mercersburg Academy is an independent college-preparatory school in south-central Pennsylvania, which offers a rigorous academic program to 430 boarding and day students from 31 states and 33 nations. In small classes, students and faculty work eye to eye and mind to mind, as they deepen their understanding of their subjects—and of themselves.
Utilizing many of the same strategies, resources and philosophies which have led to the development of Rhodes Scholars, Olympians and even a Nobel Laureate as Mercersburg alumni, the College Prep Program seeks to assist students and their families navigate the college admissions process with a rigorous academy program. It is designed for rising 10th and 11th graders as a way to offer that same support, same focus and the same benefits over the course of an intensive, yet profoundly beneficial week.
Each student in the Mercersburg College Prep Program will obtain invaluable tools to help them navigate the college admission process. From interviewing and essay writing skills to college visits and resume building, the program is designed to give every participant an advantage as they search for the perfect fit. All students will attend sessions on mastering the techniques for completing college applications and writing effective and interesting college essays.
Additional program features include:
• Personal/Group Interviews
• Maximizing College Visits
• Interviewing Skills
• Application Process and Timeline
• Activities/Resume Building
• Essay Writing Skills
• Admission & Student Life
• College Visits (2 days)
• Test Prep
• Extracurricular & Leadership Seminar
• Panel Discussions
• Guest Speakers
• Financial Aid Seminar (w/ parents)
Mercersburg College Prep will visit the campuses of a variety of colleges and universities in the Mid-Atlantic. Each visit will include a group tour and an information session given by the college’s admission office. Mercersburg College Prep staff will also use these trips to emphasize the importance of properly planning and maximizing every college visit.
During the course of the week, participants will spend two full days visiting a range of schools in the area. One day will be spent in Washington D.C., visiting schools in an urban setting, like American University and Georgetown University. The other day will be dedicated to exploring smaller, liberal arts schools such as Dickinson College, or a rural state school like Shippensburg University.
Each student will be assigned a college counselor for the week and every participant will leave Mercersburg College Prep with a personalized college list. This list will be determined through one-on-one and group interviews as well as a thorough review of a student’s file. All students will leave with valuable resources and guidebooks with training on how to use them effectively.
Each participant in the program will receive four emails throughout the calendar year. Each email will include important updates and reminders, feature articles, college visit information, and much more. It is their way of staying connected and keeping participants informed long after they leave campus.
The program director is Bill McClintick, who is renowned for his work in the college admissions and counseling field. Prior to coming to Mercersburg in 1989, Bill was assistant director of admission at Hartwick College in New York, and associate director at Kalamazoo College (MI). In September 2008, Bill was installed as president of the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC); he had previously served three years as the organization’s vice-president for admission practices, and five years as its liaison to the NCAA.
Mercersburg College Prep also produces results. The college matriculation of the 2009 participants included:
• 43% enrolled in the “Most Competitive” colleges and universities as determined by Barron’s Profile.
• 24% enrolled in the “Highly Competitive” colleges and universities as determined by Barron’s Profile.
• 18% enrolled in the “Very Competitive” colleges and universities as determined by Barron’s Profile.
• 18% enrolled in one of the Top 50 National Universities and 28% in one of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Colleges as reported by U.S. News & World Report.
• 23% accepted in one of the Top 50 National Universities and 33% in one of the Top 50 Liberal Arts Colleges.
This year’s program takes place from July 11 through July 16. Slots in the Mercersburg College Prep program are extremely limited. For more information and registration details, please visit: http://www.mercersburgsummer.com/programs/college-prep/.
