Greg – School Applicant:
Greg was in 10th grade at a large, public, urban high school. An endearing, articulate, straightforward young man, by the middle of 10th grade, Greg felt lost at his high school and was losing motivation. Greg didn’t know how to study, he didn’t know how to “try”, even though he sought extra help and tried to make connections with teachers. He was looking for “a sense of place” where he could explore his eclectic interests which included sports, theater, cars, painting and drawing.
Sarah – College Applicant:
Sarah attended a large public exam school in Boston. She was a very solid B/B+ student. She had taken five AP courses and was ranked in the top quarter of her class. Sarah served on a city-wide Youth Council, and also worked week-ends at her parents’ local restaurant. Sarah was an exceptional actress, and had performed in a range of plays at school, in summer stock, and at a repertory theater in Boston. Theater was her passion, a passion she hoped to pursue in college.
John – College Applicant:
John was a boarder at a highly competitive school in the Boston area. He had been a client of ours for secondary school placement and returned to Howland & Spence for the college search. John's parents are divorced and had different thoughts on goals for John's college experience. John was a very independent and creative young man who enjoyed deep intellectual investigation. He placed great value on peers who enjoyed discussing ideas, and he relished the opportunity to interact with his teachers. John had done very well at his school , although he was not at the top of his class, not least because he was motivated by interests more than grades.
Mary – College Applicant:
Mary, from Vancouver, British Columbia attended a competitive independent day school. Highly accomplished in a broad range of activities, Mary was an excellent student and had taken AP’s in almost every subject area. She was a Prefect at her school and she was a national level field hockey player. Mary was an incredibly hard worker , but when her parents brought her to Boston in her sophomore year she was already overwhelmed by anticipation of the college process. She had high aspirations and also needed help with the complexities of the athletic recruiting process.