Helping Students Navigate the College Admissions Process

By Costas Solomou, Director of Admissions Programs

While working in Admissions for the past ten years, I’ve had the opportunity to meet and work with thousands of students, parents, and educators from around the world. It has been a privilege for me to work with so many wonderful students at the high school and the college level. At the high school level, I’ve worked closely with college-bound students. The goal for me is to help students navigate the college admissions process, while helping them find ways to deal with the stress and anxiety associated with it. Guiding students through the sometimes tumultuous admissions process, and finally seeing them head off to college, is such a rewarding experience.

One of my favorite experiences working in Admissions happens every June. During the summer, as part of a camp geared toward high school students, I volunteer, along with other faculty members from other colleges and high schools across the nation. We work with a diverse group of students with dreams of one day going to college. As a college mentor, the goal is to guide students and give them the confidence they need to move forward with the next chapter of their lives.

The experience for me has been truly amazing. To see students go through this process and transition from high school to college, and then go on to medical school, graduate school, or out in the work force, has been wonderful. It’s an experience which has benefitted students, but at the same time, it has given me a greater sense of accomplishment and reaffirms that the work I love doing is helping others find their path forward. To see students’ optimism and success gives me hope that we are all headed for a better future!