May 25, 2022
Dear Upper School Families,
The end of the year is nearly here! I wanted to use this last College Counseling Newsletter of the year to talk about summer activities for students.
I often get questions about what students should do during the summer to help their college applications. The answer is surprisingly simple: students should do things that are meaningful to them.
Examples include getting a part-time job, attending a summer program, doing community service, or helping out at home. These experiences will provide them not only with a restful and meaningful summer, but they will also provide content for their college application essays.
As Mary shared in her letter in April, I will soon be making the move back home to South Carolina. I look forward to continuing to advise students and helping them find their vocations in life, while most importantly being close enough to my family to be able to help when needed.
I want to sincerely thank you for the instant welcome into your family I received when I first walked onto campus in August 2020, and the continued support throughout my time here. Oakcrest is truly a special place to work and I will miss it dearly.
I am grateful that I can pass the baton to our excellent incoming Director of College Counseling, Jessica DeVera. Mrs. DeVera worked in college admissions for five years then worked in private school college counseling for four years. I am thrilled that she will be bringing her years of expertise to Oakcrest and to our College Essay Writing summer program. I look forward to working with her on a smooth transition.
I look forward to celebrating with the Class of 2022 in the coming weeks!
All the best,
Randa Johnson
Director of College Counseling
