For the second year in a row, college-age alumni returned to share their thoughts about how Darlington prepared them for college and to offer advice to parents and students during Winter Parents Weekend held in February.
Emily Conrad, a junior at Wake Forest, encouraged students to start looking at potential colleges early. “I started looking in my sophomore year and knew where I wanted to go by the middle of my junior year,” she said. Conrad applied early decision to Wake Forest and knew the summer before her senior year that she had been accepted.
In contrast, John Scott Husser, now a junior at the University of Georgia, made his mind up about UGA the night before he had to give the school his final decision. “I took advantage of college weekends,” he said. “I think it is important for students to stay overnight on campus without their parents if they want to get a real sense of what the school is like and whether they think it is a good fit for them.”
Kent Harrison, a freshman at State University of West Georgia, confessed that he “needed” to stay close to his mom. “Also, I wanted to play sports and thought I would have a better chance of doing that for a smaller school,” he said.
“See how they treat the freshmen,” Rebecca Rhodes, a freshman at Wake Forest, advised. “Go to orientations, mixers, and other get-togethers to meet students in their real-world environment.”
Rebecca Griffin, a sophomore at Furman suggested sitting in on classes. “Look deeper than just the campus tour and visit more than once if you think you’re really serious about a school,” she said.
The alumni also addressed how to adjust to college life. “Time management is the biggest issue,” Conrad said. “I feel that Darlington prepared me well; I had friends who found it hard to get organized. I suggest that you get involved and make an effort to get to know other students and your teachers.”
“Learn how to cook!” Husser urged. “And, keep your notes from classes. You’ll be able to use them in your freshmen classes.”
“Yeah, I agree. I could see Mr. Murray’s [Raymond Murray, English teacher] face right in front of me as I answered questions in class,” Harrison echoed.
Rhodes suggested talking to upperclassmen about what professors and classes to take and Griffin stressed talking to advisers about how to get a variety of classes for exposure but make sure they are classes that will “count.”
Associate Headmaster and Dean of College Guidance Sam Moss asked the alumni to talk about taking advantage of opportunities to study abroad. Husser attended Oxford University in England; Griffin had just been accepted to study abroad in Madrid, Spain; Harrison will be visiting the University of Hawaii; and Conrad will be going to Austria during the second half of this coming summer.
“Consider taking a semester course somewhere else in the United States offered in conjunction with the school in which you are enrolled,” Moss offered. “You can usually do that at about the same tuition cost you are already paying.”
All of the alumni agreed that Darlington prepared them very well for college, especially in the areas of history and English. “I can sit down and take a test with confidence,” Harrison stated.
“Writing skills are very important in college and I have felt very prepared,” Rhodes said. Griffin noted that Darlington taught her how to study.
