On Nov. 24 the College and Career Center’s annual College Panel assembly took place in the auditorium.
Each year the panel is made up Staples alum from the most recent graduating class. This year’s panel featured seven students from the class of 2010. The students were Matt Brill, who is now attending the University of Vermont; Catherine Coughlin, a student at Tufts University; Will Hardy, Connecticut College; Lily Talbot, University of Connecticut; Justin Rende, James Madison University; Lara Donahue, Colgate University; and Haley Schulman, University of Colorado at Boulder.
Each student introduced him or herself and spoke to the audience, a mixed group of seniors and juniors, about their college experiences thus far.
Overall the alums provided the future college freshman with advice about the college process and experience.
Senior student representatives from the Student Ambassador program asked the following questions to the alums during the assembly.
What is the most unique thing about college?
Hardy: “My college has a school wide Honor Code. This means that teachers will give you a test and walk out of the room. In college you have so much freedom.”
How and where do you spend your downtime?
Schulman: “It’s important to find things to keep you occupied. Go out and find things to do.”
Hardy: “I usually sleep, watch TV, play Xbox, or do work in my free time.”
Brill: “I have played pick-up games of basketball in my spare time. Naps are a big part of college too.”
Have you met your teachers?
Coughlin: “Professors are surprisingly personal.”
Talbot: “At a big school, like mine, you have TAs (Teaching Assistants). If you have them, get to know them because they are the ones who have inside information and help the professor with grading.”
What is it like going to school in Connecticut?
Talbot: “It’s good to make a quick trip home. I come home about every four to five weeks. When I do, my mom does my laundry and I get a home cooked meal.”
Hardy: “It doesn’t feel like I’m in Connecticut at all. You’re in a completely different world at college.”
When you were waiting for results from your school did you talk about it with your friends?
Talbot: “I think that you shouldn’t let college be the focus of your attention. You need one place with no college talk or else it becomes very overwhelming.”
Was the college you’re attending now your first choice? If not, how did you handle it?
Schulman: “It’s important not to get your hopes up about one specific college. Also keep in mind that it really shouldn’t matter what the town of Westport thinks about the school you choose to go to. Anywhere you go you are going to find a challenge.”
Donahue: “Anywhere you go you’ll make friends. Just keep an about mind during the process.”
Talbot: “If you don’t get in, it’s not a personal thing. UConn wasn’t my first choice, and it wasn’t my second choice either, but I’m really really happy.”
How did you choose your school?
Coughlin: “Academics are important, but making sure you fit in is more important. When choosing a school go with your gut feeling.”
What do you know about the college process now that you didn’t before?
Hardy: “It’s a crapshoot. Don’t let rejection or being waitlisted get to you. I don’t’ know of anyone of my friends at college who isn’t happy.”
