College Application Boot Camp Leaves Students Prepared and Confident
Greta Cunningham '23
August 28, 2023
The counseling department kicked off August with its annual College Application Boot Camp. Run by CDH college counselors Laura Nelson and Mitchell Reynolds, the camp aims to prepare rising seniors with the resources and understanding to navigate the college application process with confidence.
This year, boot camp was held from July 30 to August 2 with three-hour sessions available in the morning or afternoon. 118 students participated.
Boot camp is just one piece of the comprehensive college preparatory programming CDH offers.
“We start relationship-building and talking about the college search process during the winter of students’ junior year,” Nelson said. “That allows students time to formulate ideas about what schools could be good options and then discuss the differences between looking at selective schools versus target schools versus safety schools and what that means for each individual student based on their grades and what kind of program they're looking for.”
During the fall of junior year, families receive a letter outlining the steps of the college admissions process. They are then invited to a grade-wide meeting to go over the timeline. A similar meeting takes place at the beginning of students’ senior year, this one tailored to understanding financial aid. Students have the opportunity to meet with college representatives during the CDH College Fair in the spring of their junior year and in small groups during college rep visits to CDH each fall.
By starting applications during boot camp before the start of the school year, students can work on their application materials before they’re a competing priority with school work and extracurricular activities. The first wave of early decision and early action deadlines are due November 1.
“I definitely think there was a huge benefit in starting the college application process over the summer. I am taking harder classes this fall and doing dance, so balancing college applications with school, work, and a sport would be a lot,” said Johanna Fitzel ’25. “Boot camp walked me through everything we need to do to apply. I’m almost halfway done already and feel at ease.”
The timing of boot camp also allows students to get right to work on the Common Application, which is released every year on August 1. Students learned how to create their Common App account and discuss the importance of different sections of. the applications
Much of camp is dedicated to the Common App’s personal statement essays. CDH college counselors walked them through the different prompt options and topics they can choose to write about. They then instructed students on brainstorming and how to best execute their writing. This year, a panel of college representatives from Iowa State University, Michigan Technological University, St. Olaf College, and the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University also spoke to students about the different essays they’re reading and what they’re looking for when they review applications.
“The essay can be one of the most daunting parts for students,” said Nelson. “Going through each part of the process with the added perspective of college admissions representatives really helps. By the end of camp, students get to leave with a revised draft and know they’ve written something they can use for their applications.”
CDH English teachers Steven Tacheny and Shelia Malone-Povolny were also available to offer feedback on students’ writing and go through strategies to strengthen their work one-on-one.
“I loved having teachers there who had done this before,” said Fitzel. “They really boosted my ideas, and now I feel really confident in what I’ve written.”
Students also further defined the list of schools they plan to apply to, determined which extracurriculars to include in their applications, learned how to develop a resume, and explored scholarship opportunities.
“Sorting through the application process with professionals truly made the process much more manageable and much less scary,” said James Summers ’25.