College Symposium 2025 - Main Page
LJCDS UPPER SCHOOL COLLEGE SYMPOSIUM 2025
THE DAY:
11:30 AM - 12 PM - Upper School Community Check-in (Four Flowers Theater)
12:00 - 1:00 PM - Deans & Directors Panel (Four Flowers Theater)
1:00 - 2:00 PM - Breakout Session I (Campuswide)*
2:00 - 3:00 PM - Breakout Session II (Campuswide)*
3:00 - 4:00 PM - Mini College Fair (Community Hall)
LET'S KICK IT OFF: DEANS & DIRECTORS PANEL
Four Flowers Theater
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- Colleen O'Boyle, LJCDS Assistant Head of School (panel moderator)
- Marcela Mejia-Martinez, Assistant Vice President of Admission, Chapman University
- Omar Zazueta, Senior Director of Admissions, Claremont McKenna College
- Jennifer Walker, Vice President of Enrollment Management and Dean of Admissions, Brandeis University
- Erin Hays, Associate Vice President for Student Services & Enrollment Management and Director of Admissions, University of Oregon
BREAKOUT SESSIONS:
Each participant will have the opportunity to attend two breakout sessions of their choice. Sessions will be filled on a first-come, first-served basis.
TOPIC: College 101 + College Application Timeline
PRESENTER: Kate Stricklan, University Colorado Boulder
ROOM: Community Hall
TOPIC: Finding Your College Fit: Building A Strategic Application List
PRESENTER: Grace Marshall, Tufts University
ROOM: Four Flowers Theater
TOPIC: Inside Academic Rigor: What Selective Colleges Value
PRESENTER: Bill Prescott, Washington University St. Louis
ROOM: LAC - 2nd Floor Library Fishbowl Classroom
TOPIC: Standardized Testing Landscape: What does it all mean?
PRESENTER: Patrick Ronay, Villanova University
ROOM: LAC - 2nd Floor Library Main Floor
TOPIC: Making Connections: Mastering College Visits & Admission Officer Relations
PRESENTER: Sebastian Brown, University of Oregon
ROOM: LAC - 3rd Floor Library Boardroom
TOPIC: Showcasing Your Interests through Extracurricular Activities
PRESENTER: Jackie Burkett, University of San Diego
ROOM: VASC 25 - 2nd floor
TOPIC: It's All About YOU: Tips for Essay Writing
PRESENTER: Camille Crites, Syracuse University
ROOM: VASC 15 - 1st floor
TOPIC: Acing Your College Interview
PRESENTER: Dev Devvrat, Reed College
ROOM: VASC 24 - 2nd floor
TOPIC: Business Bound?: A Roadmap to Admission Success
PRESENTER: Amy Chung, Boston College
ROOM: VASC 22
TOPIC: Navigating STEM Specific College Applications
PRESENTERS:
Taylor Patterson, Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Nick Albanese, University of Rochester
ROOM: VASC 20 - 2nd floor
TOPIC: The Art of Admissions: Positioning Yourself for Arts Program(s) - 2:00 p.m. Session Only
PRESENTER: Amy Mitchell, Emerson College
ROOM: VASC 13 - 1st floor
TOPIC: Beyond the Game: Navigating College Athletics Recruitment
PRESENTER: Caitlin Latta, Denison University
ROOM: VASC 23 - 2nd floor
END THE DAY: COLLEGE FAIR
Community Hall
During the mini-college fair, you'll have the opportunity to connect directly with admission representatives to learn more about their institutions and ask specific questions about their programs.
College Symposium College Lists
(participating school list is subject to change)
We are pleased to welcome admission representatives from the following institutions who will lead the breakout sessions:- Boston College
- Brandeis University
- Chapman University
- The Claremont Colleges
- Denison University
- Emerson College
- Reed College
- Syracuse University
- Tufts University
- University of California, San Diego (fair only)
- University of Colorado Boulder
- University of Oregon
- University of Rochester
- University of San Diego
- Villanova University
- Washington University in St. Louis
- Worcester Polytechnic Institute
College Counseling Team
- Mr. Damien Fatongia, Dean of College Counseling
- Mrs. Valencia Valentine Hamman, Director of College Counseling
- Mrs. Tiana Kelly, Associate Director of College Counseling
- Mr. Martin Vaughn, Associate Director of College Counseling
- Mrs. May Vukotich, Administrative Assistant College Counseling
