The event featured representatives from 15 out-of-state colleges, including American University, Bard College, Brown University, Syracuse University, and the University of Arizona.
Story by Leighton Kwok
Staff Writer
Photo by Helena Easterby
Photography Editor
SPHS hosted its annual Regional Admission Counselors of California (RACC) Night on Wednesday, March 11 in the 300s building. The event featured representatives from 15 out-of-state colleges, including American University, Bard College, Brown University, Syracuse University, and the University of Arizona. The event is an opportunity for SPHS students to explore and obtain more knowledge regarding their college options.
The event began by splitting parents and students into smaller classroom groups. Both groups were led through a mock admissions process, discussing the transcripts, applications, and letters of recommendation for three fictional applicants into a fictional university. Participants completed an activity where they acted as college admissions officers, deciding which of three fictional applicants would be accepted, waitlisted, or denied by the fictional university.
The activity pushed for students to utilize their knowledge of the applicant to examine how the student will fit into the particular school. Identifying how aspects like their class schedule and extracurriculars relate to each other. For example, a drop in a student’s junior year grades may be a result of the individual’s parents’ divorce during that year. Then, seeing if the student’s values coincide with the school’s overall mission.
“It was an interesting experience that allowed students to see and understand how the admissions process works,” junior Sam Allen said.
Attendees were excused from the classroom and encouraged to move to the gym to participate in the college fair after the activity. The rest of the night, students and parents walked around the main gym to talk to the college admission officers about the school they were representing, open to questions about the school itself or the admission process in general.
The next college-themed activity will be hosted by SPHS Counselors, a webinar presentation from four college representatives from California State University (CSU), University of California (UC), Pasadena City College (PCC), and Private college systems. They will be providing a general overview of each college system and the application process on Zoom for junior students and parents on Tuesday, March 24, from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.