12:00-12:55 PM
How to Tackle the College or Gap Year Application Process? Ask an Admissions Panel!
Do you have questions about the application process, ways to support your high schooler as they embark on applications, or even the importance of extracurriculars now and after high school? This panel of local admissions officers will answer your questions and more, offering insightful guidance for parents and students alike.
Panelists:
David Beaton – Quinnipiac University
Scarlett Bittner – University of Massachusetts Amherst
Susie Hanks – Union College
Paul Hovey – Fairfield University
More about the panelists . . .
David Beaton is the Associate Director of Undergraduate Admissions at Quinnipiac University. Born and raised in Chelmsford, Massachusetts, Dave began to work in Admissions in 1994. He has served in various capacities at Quinnipiac’s Admissions Office since 1998.
Dave recently retired after 25 years of service as a firefighter and accepted a full-time role in the Quinnipiac Admissions Office. Currently, he is the Territory Manager for Middlesex, Essex, Suffolk, Norfolk, and Worcester Counties in Massachusetts, visiting high schools and reviewing undergraduate applications. He is proud to work alongside his wife, Elizabeth, who is the Associate Director of Financial Aid at Quinnipiac University.
Scarlett Bittner (she/her) is an Assistant Director of Admissions at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. She’s been working in Admissions at UMass Amherst since her undergraduate days, where she graduated with a degree in Theatre, Education, and Psychology. After graduating, Scarlett worked part time with Admissions for 5 years while also working at Disney World. She’s been back home in Massachusetts and full-time with UMass Amherst for 3 years, where she travels to high schools in Eastern MA.
Susie Hanks is Director of Admissions for Programming & Partnerships at Union College in Schenectady, New York.
A graduate of Lehigh University, Susie Hanks has spent her entire career in higher education admissions, first at her alma mater and then at Union College, where she is currently the Director of Admissions for Programming
& Partnerships. She has 40 years of experience in higher ed admissions.
Paul Hovey is Director of Transfer Admission and Campus Visit Experience at Fairfield University in Fairfield, Connecticut. He has been at the University for 11 years. During his tenure, he has overseen first-year admission from various parts of New England, including MetroWest Boston. In his current role, he remains involved with first-year admission but also oversees transfer admission and all aspects of the campus visit experience at the University, including general campus tours, major-specific events, and large-scale open house programming for admitted students.
1:00-1:45 PM & 2:00-2:45 PM
The Digital SAT, The ACT, and YOU: What Families Need to Know About College Admissions Testing
College admissions testing is changing quickly – and for many families, it’s never been more confusing. With the rollout of the digital SAT, the new Enhanced ACT, and the continued evolution of test-optional policies, parents are often left wondering how testing fits into their student’s college plan.
This workshop provides families with clear, practical guidance to help them make smart, data-informed decisions. We’ll break down the key differences between the SAT and ACT, discuss the most current trends in testing, establish guidelines for a smart testing timeline, and provide a framework for a strategic preparation plan that helps students earn scores they are proud to send to colleges.
Travis Minor is the founder and CEO of Open Door Education, a trusted tutoring and test preparation organization serving Acton, Massachusetts, and surrounding communities since 2011. He holds a B.S. in Secondary Education from the University of Vermont and an M.Ed. from Harvard’s Graduate School of Education. A founding board member of the National Test Prep Association, Travis is a nationally recognized leader in admissions testing and has helped thousands of students navigate the SAT and ACT with clarity, strategy, and confidence..
1:00-1:45 PM & 2:00-2:45 PM
College Essay Writing in the Context of an Ever-Evolving Admissions Landscape
For many students and their families, even the idea of application essays elicits feelings of pressure and overwhelming stress. It doesn’t have to be that way. Confusion and misunderstanding regarding what constitutes a good essay and how to approach the essay writing process are often the source of this anxiety. AI and evolving admissions practices complicate matters even more.
In this session, we will discuss and debunk the myths that surround college application essays, and then talk about how to confidently support your student throughout their essay writing process.
Rebecca St. Mary brings over twenty-five years of brand strategy, marketing research, and higher ed experience to her role as Director of Educational Consulting at JBG Educational Group and Counseling Alliance. Her passion lies in working with students to explore and identify their “best fit” schools, shape and communicate their personal brand story, and navigate the application and admissions process.
JBG Educational Group and Counseling Alliance, based in Medfield, Massachusetts, provides virtual and in-person tutoring, educational and career consulting, executive functioning support, life coaching, and counseling services to meet the needs of a diverse clientele.
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