Years in the Making: The BWL College Counseling Experience
For many families, the college process seems to begin during junior year, when testing, campus visits, and application deadlines start to fill the calendar. At BWL, the work begins much earlier.
Students and families are introduced to the College Counseling Office years before applications enter the conversation. Our approach gives students time to learn about themselves, guidance as they explore their interests, access to reliable and current information, and support as they make decisions about college and their future. By the time applications are submitted, students have developed a clear understanding of their options and a college list that reflects their academic, personal, and long-term goals.
Several spring programs offered a glimpse into that approach. Junior families took part in Inside the Decision Room, an admissions case study led by the BWL College Counseling team and college admissions officers. Students also attended the College Essay Boot Camp, where they began drafting one of the most important pieces of their applications. These programs are part of a larger College Counseling experience that begins as early as 8th grade and continues through graduation.
Central to that experience is the College Counseling team. Led by Director of College Counseling Patti Cohen, the office includes Katerina Walter, Associate Director of College Counseling, and Kay Boyes, College Counseling Administrative Assistant. Together, they work closely with students and families throughout high school, building relationships that allow them to provide informed, individualized guidance at every stage of the college process.
Seeing College Admissions Through a Different Lens
One of the most anticipated events of the spring semester gave junior families the opportunity to sit where admissions officers sit.
During Inside the Decision Room, admissions representatives from the University of Michigan, Colgate University, Wake Forest University, the University of Chicago, Washington University in St. Louis, and Vanderbilt University guided participants through a mock admissions committee exercise.
Students and parents reviewed applicant profiles, discussed strengths and weaknesses, and wrestled with difficult decisions about admission, waitlist, and denial outcomes.
The exercise challenged many assumptions about the admissions process. Families saw firsthand how colleges evaluate applicants within the context of their schools and communities. They discussed academic records, extracurricular involvement, essays, and personal qualities while considering the difficult choices admissions officers face every year.
For many participants, the workshop answered questions that are difficult to address through articles, rankings, or online advice. It provided a practical look at how decisions are made and what colleges value when reviewing applications. Just as importantly, students had the opportunity to think about their own applications through the eyes of an admissions officer. As they evaluated sample candidates, they gained a clearer understanding of how their academic choices, activities, essays, and personal experiences may be viewed during the admissions process. Those insights often lead to more thoughtful decisions as students begin building college lists, preparing application materials, and shaping the stories they will tell about themselves.
A Program Built for Students
Every student's path to college is different. Some begin high school with a clear sense of direction. Others discover new interests, goals, and possibilities along the way.
Meaningful guidance is built over time. Beginning in 8th grade and continuing throughout high school, BWL students and families work closely with the College Counseling Office, sharing goals, exploring interests, and discussing the questions that shape their future plans. Those ongoing conversations give counselors a deep understanding of each student's strengths, aspirations, and priorities, allowing them to provide guidance that reflects the individual rather than a formula.
That level of understanding is possible because students work with the same counselors over several years. What begins as a conversation about extracurricular interests or future goals often develops into a trusted relationship that helps students navigate some of the most important decisions of their high school experience.
Patti Cohen, Director of College Counseling, sees that relationship-building as one of the most important parts of the process.
"The strongest college outcomes occur when students understand who they are and the kind of school that works for them. Our role is to help them tell that story with clarity, confidence, and integrity."
—Patti Cohen, Director of College Counseling
The relationships students build with their counselors become the foundation for the conversations, workshops, campus visits, and planning that follow throughout high school.
Preparation Begins Early
Experiences like Inside the Decision Room are possible because College Counseling at BWL is designed as a multi-year process rather than a senior-year checklist.
Families can begin engaging with the College Counseling Office as early as 8th grade through College Conversations...with Coffee. These informal gatherings create space for parents to ask questions about the current college landscape, admissions trends, and what they can expect in the years ahead.
The format is intentionally simple. There are no presentations or slide decks. Parents bring their questions, counselors share their expertise, and conversations develop naturally.
Students and families also have access to the BWL Opportunity Board, a resource developed by Associate Director of College Counseling Katerina Walter exclusively for BWL students. The curated database brings together extracurricular activities, summer programs, internships, jobs, leadership opportunities, competitions, volunteer experiences, and other enrichment opportunities from New York City and across the country. Designed to help students discover experiences that match their interests and goals, the Opportunity Board encourages exploration and engagement well before the college application process begins.
For many families, those early conversations provide clarity long before high school course selections and college planning become pressing concerns, as one 8th grade parent shared.
“Having access to the College Counseling Office when my daughter was just an 8th grader gave us valuable insight into the process. I felt fully prepared for each step, and the guidance we received helped us explore new extracurricular opportunities that matched her interests and strengths. The BWL Opportunity Board was an incredible resource, helping us discover pre-college and summer programs, leadership and volunteer opportunities, and competitions and awards that she may not have found otherwise. Now that it’s time for high school, we have a clear roadmap for what's ahead, and confidence that she’s building a strong foundation for her future.”
—8th Grade Parent
9th grade families continue participating in College Conversations while also attending financial aid workshops that introduce important financial planning concepts early in the high school experience. Students begin exploring how their interests and activities can shape their high school experience through Beyond the Classroom: Explore, Engage, Experience, a program hosted by the College Counseling Office for students in 9th–11th grades. The program helps students think intentionally about extracurricular involvement, explore opportunities that align with their interests, and better understand how meaningful engagement outside the classroom contributes to personal growth and college readiness.
For one 9th grade family, the combination of early financial aid guidance and encouragement to explore personal interests made a meaningful difference:
"Understanding the financial aid process early on gave our family such peace of mind. At the same time, the College Counseling Office encouraged my son to explore activities that truly excited him. He discovered things he loves and has even stepped into leadership roles. It's been fantastic for his growth, and I know these experiences will be a bonus when it's time for his college applications. We are so glad to have the extra support. It helps alleviate the stress and makes the experience actually exciting!"
—9th Grade Parent
Sophomore year builds on that foundation. Students and families continue attending College Conversations and financial aid programs while also receiving guidance related to standardized testing. They participate in What's Next: An Overview of What Lies Ahead, a program designed to help families understand the opportunities and expectations that accompany junior year.
By the time students enter 11th grade, they already have a strong understanding of the process and a relationship with the counselors who will guide them through it.
Guidance for Families
BWL's college counselors understand that choosing a college is a family decision. Academic fit, campus culture, location, long-term goals, and financial considerations all play an important role in the conversation.
BWL partners with College Money Method to provide families with financial aid workshops that address the changing landscape of college financing. These sessions help families understand available options and make informed decisions as they evaluate colleges.
Families also have access to the BWL Resource Center, which houses recordings, guides, and additional materials that can be referenced throughout the process.
The combination of live programming and on-demand resources ensures that support remains available whenever questions arise.
Junior Year Takes Shape
Junior year marks a significant shift in the College Counseling experience.
The year begins with the Junior College Trip, which allows students to visit campuses, explore different college environments, and spend time with classmates and counselors outside the classroom. For many students, seeing colleges in person helps them move beyond brochures and websites and begin thinking more carefully about what they want in a college experience.
Throughout the year, students complete important benchmarks, including the PSAT/NMSQT, the Pre-ACT, and their first SAT or ACT administration. Optional test-prep opportunities help students strengthen skills and approach testing with greater confidence.
One student reflected on how early testing opportunities and the support of the College Counseling team helped ease concerns about standardized testing:
"I was really nervous about standardized testing since I've never considered myself a strong tester. Taking the PSAT 10 and Pre-ACT at school, in a familiar environment, helped me feel much more comfortable—and I actually did a lot better than I expected. The College Office counselors have been amazing! They're approachable, kind, and always make me feel at ease when I have a question. And they always have chocolate!
I'm already looking forward to the college trip next year, and I feel more confident knowing I'll have their support every step of the way."
—10th Grade Student
Juniors also begin meeting individually with their counselors and participate in Junior Seminar. During these sessions, students learn how to build balanced college lists, develop activities résumés, explore essay topics, and navigate resources such as MaiaLearning and the Common App.
Opportunities to connect with colleges continue through programs such as the Manhattan Independent School Consortium (MISC) College Fair, where students can meet representatives from more than 150 colleges and universities.
By spring, students are no longer thinking about college as a distant goal. They are actively preparing for the choices that lie ahead.
A Productive Start to Senior Year
One of the final milestones of junior year takes place after classes end.
BWL's free three-day College Essay Boot Camp gives rising seniors dedicated time to work on their personal statements before summer schedules become busy. Led by a facilitator from College Essay Guy, the program walks students through brainstorming, outlining, drafting, and revising their essays.
The workshop is designed to help students avoid one of the most common challenges of the application process: waiting until late summer or early fall to begin writing.
Students leave the Boot Camp with a draft or detailed outline already underway, making it easier to continue refining their essays during the months ahead.
Senior Year
When senior year begins, students are ready to focus on applications.
Counselors continue meeting individually with students throughout the year, reviewing application materials, discussing admissions strategies, and helping students stay organized as deadlines approach. Families are encouraged to participate in these conversations, creating a collaborative process that keeps everyone informed.
The Senior Seminar class provides additional structure and support. Students meet weekly in the fall, working through topics that include:
- Finalizing college lists
- Completing the Common App and supplemental essays
- Requesting teacher recommendations
- Preparing for interviews
- Managing application deadlines
- Understanding Early Decision, Early Action, and Regular Decision options
- Completing financial aid and scholarship applications
- Making the most of college representative visits
The seminar gives students regular opportunities to ask questions, receive feedback, and stay on track throughout application season.
Meeting the People Behind the Applications
Each fall, BWL welcomes college representatives from across the country to campus.
These visits allow students to meet directly with admissions officers, learn about academic programs and campus life, and ask questions in a smaller setting than a traditional college fair. The conversations often help students refine their college lists and develop a better understanding of the schools they are considering. Students also gain experience speaking with admissions professionals and learning how different institutions approach the application process.
The list of visiting colleges is shaped in part by student interest, thanks to the relationships BWL's college counselors have built with admissions representatives across the country. When students express interest in a particular school, the College Counseling Office can often help bring a representative from that school to campus. Many of these visits take place in small-group settings, allowing for thoughtful conversations that benefit both students and admissions representatives. Students have the opportunity to ask questions and make personal connections, while college representatives leave with a deeper understanding of BWL, its community, and the students they may later encounter in the admissions process.
Decision Day
In the spring, the college process culminates in one of BWL's most joyful traditions: Senior College Decision Day.
Wearing shirts and sweatshirts representing the colleges and universities they will attend, seniors gather to share their decisions and celebrate with classmates, teachers, staff, and family members. The event marks the culmination of years of preparation and hard work, giving students an opportunity to reflect on how far they have come.
For the Class of 2026, the celebration served as a reminder of how much can change over four years. Students who were encouraged to explore extracurricular opportunities in the Beyond the Classroom presentation, visited campuses on the Junior College Trip, and worked through essays and applications with their counselors stood together ready to begin a new chapter.
Many students reflected on the role the College Counseling Office played throughout the process. They spoke about counselors who took the time to know them as individuals, helped them navigate difficult decisions, kept challenges in perspective, and provided support whenever questions arose. Those relationships are a defining part of the BWL College Counseling experience and one of the reasons students approach their final decisions with confidence.
Results That Matter
The excitement of College Decision Day is the visible result of years of preparation, reflection, and guidance. Behind every decision is a student who has spent time exploring interests, evaluating options, and considering what environment will help them thrive.
The college admissions landscape continues to evolve, and BWL's College Counseling Office evolves with it. Through ongoing professional development, close relationships with colleges and universities across the country, and a commitment to staying informed about changes in admissions, testing, and financial aid, our counselors ensure that students and families receive timely, relevant guidance throughout the process.
We are proud of the outcomes our students achieve. Over the years, BWL graduates have earned admission to some of the nation's most selective colleges and universities, including Ivy League institutions and other highly regarded schools. Across those outcomes, one constant remains: every student has found a college that felt right for them—a place where they could continue to grow, learn, and pursue their goals.
That is the measure of success that matters most. Years before applications are submitted, BWL students are already asking questions, exploring possibilities, and learning how to make informed decisions about their future. By the time college decisions arrive, they have the knowledge, perspective, and support to move forward with confidence. We are proud to play a role in that process and to help every student find a college where they can thrive.
Visit our website to learn more about the BWL College Counseling experience.