WORTON — Seven recent Kent County High School graduates returned to their alma mater this month to help empower their fellow Trojans interested in attending college.
Hosted by Aundra Anderson, senior coordinator for the Next Generation Scholars program at Kent County High School, a talk called “Breaking the Cycle” was held Monday, Jan. 10.
Next Generation Scholars is a program offered by the Maryland Business Roundtable for Education aimed at enhancing college and career awareness for high schoolers.
“You can go to college,” Anderson told the nearly 40 juniors and seniors who attended the “Breaking the Cycle” discussion. “I want you to walk away from here realizing that.”
Joining the talk from the Class of 2021, Brandon Myers and Jordyn Cox-Pemberton attend Millersville University, Kim Yoc Solis goes to Towson University, Autumn Callahan is at Salisbury University, Giuseppe Gordillo is studying at University of Maryland, Cecilia Llamas was home from the University of Miami and Thomas Goldsborough was back from Southern Connecticut State University.
Suzie Friedrich, an admissions counselor at Washington College, participated in the discussion, offering tips on the college application process.
The seven recent graduates have completed the first semester of their freshman year of college.
Llamas said college is when students first find themselves on their own. She said it can be stressful, especially the first month, but you get used to it and there is help available.
There can be a lot to keep track of, emails to check, syllabi to review and schedules to manage.
Cox-Pemberton said she uses a planner to help manage it all.
A football standout at Kent County High School, Goldsborough spoke about the challenges of being a student-athlete in college. His fellow alums agreed, suggesting club sports for those looking to just have fun.
The alums also offered additional practical advice for students once they get to college, like how valuable libraries are for study space and research, looking at renting a laptop or using a computer lab instead of spending a lot on a device, ways of stretching money on food and the importance of wearing shower shoes in communal bathrooms.
Anderson, who previously worked in the Admissions Office at Washington College, and Friedrich provided the high schoolers with insider tips to help them get into college.
Anderson said that if a student is excited about a particular school, let that college or university know.
She also said that what a student majors in does not always matter.
Friedrich agreed, saying 75% of students either change their major or go to college not knowing what they want to major in.
“If you’re sitting here thinking, ‘I want to go to college, but I have no idea what I want to do,’ you’re not the only one and you’re allowed to change your major,” Anderson told the students.
Callahan and Cox-Pemberton reiterated that there is nothing wrong with changing a major or changing schools.
“I changed my major,” Callahan said. “You have to realize you are there for you.”
Anderson said the price of college is negotiable. She said even after a college gives a student a final offer on tuition and fees, there is likely still more that can be done to bring down the cost.
Friedrich spoke about the various ways students can save on the costs for Washington College. She said members of the National Honor Society can receive $25,000 a year in merit aid to attend the college. She said local students can save another $14,000 a year if they opt to live at home and commute.
Washington College also has a long list of scholarships opportunities, including the Kent County Vincent Hynson Scholarship for local students.
“There are a lot of ways to get to college and not have to pay full price,” Friedrich told the students.
Anderson said that when looking at colleges, do not get discouraged by acceptance rates. She said the publicized rates are not always correct and that they aim to promote the best interest of the college.
Most importantly, Anderson said colleges want and need students as they face declining enrollments. She recommended students make a compelling case for their admission.
“If this is what you want to do, we’re going to make it happen,” Anderson told the students. “I want you to realize that the power is in your hands if college is the next step you want to take.”
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~ Kent County Public School – KCHS