DVHS College Application Workshops provide a classroom environment amid the 2024 college application season. Starting October, DVHS counselors have been holding workshops in efforts to provide general support to DVHS students applying for college this application season.
The first college application workshops started as early as 2021 after DVHS counselors noticed a pattern among DVHS college applicants.
“We have always met with every single senior one-on-one, [but] we were all getting common questions.” DVHS Counselor Carrie Fox remarked. “And so we were like ‘well, what’s a place that we could make sure kids are all having their questions answered in a more efficient way.”
Consequently, a college application workshop was created. For Fox, the college workshop has become an opportunity for her to be in a role more similar to that of a teacher.
“I think as counselors, we get to work with students every day obviously, but we don’t really get to be in [a] teaching capacity as much.” Fox said. “So for me, [since] I was an English teacher before I was a counselor, it’s kind of fun to go back and give advice…on writing and stuff like that.”
Among components of the college application, the essays stand out as a prominent area that students focus on during the workshop, though other areas of the application have also popped up.
“I would say, students mostly want us to read their essays and just give our feedback on it.” Fox said. “But a lot of times, students will also have questions about [non-district courses] or how to fill things out.”
Furthermore, as compared to a one-on-one session with counselors, college workshops provide a group setting where students are able to ask one another questions along with seeking help from counselors. This supportive characteristic has contributed to ensuring that students receive help during the workshops even when counselors become busy.
While Fox acknowledges that there is a struggle for counselors to help every student when numbers rise, Fox also notes a positive aspect.
“What I think has been really cool has been peers kind of helping each other.” Fox stated.
Similar to previous years of the workshop, the College Application Workshop takes place during Student Support on both Wednesday and Thursday. Up until this school year, Student Support was known as Access. The workshops are set to end late November in accordance to UC and CSU application deadlines.
“It’s not to say that it’s a hard deadline.” Nijjer said. “It’s not to say that it’s a hard deadline…[but] I always tell students whether you’re able to go to workshop or we’ve already had a one-on-one, seniors can come by any time if there’s questions”
