As July steadily speeds along, we are writing with a few reminders about your summer college planning "homework." The more work that you're able to complete before the start of your sixth-form year, the easier you will find the demands of the fall and the more successful your process will be. 

Your summer assignment covers:

Research and Campus Visits (In Person or Virtual)

We encourage you to continue to schedule either in-person or virtual visits to colleges during the summer months. In addition to being a helpful tool in the decision process, visits are also an important way of demonstrating interest in a college. Students should be sure to visit schools across the full range of their list, not just their “reach” schools. If you drop by a campus without an appointment, be sure to complete an inquiry card in the admission office or scan a QR code so they know you were there. You may also want to take photos and jot notes down on the way home from the visit. Impressions can begin to blur together after visiting a few schools. Students are also encouraged to continue visiting schools throughout the fall. Open weekends (especially September 28 “Free Monday” and Fall Family Weekend October 24 to the 27) can be used for further college visits. Berkshire’s policy for Sixth Formers allows students to miss up to four days throughout the academic year for college visits. Remember that students also need to use time in the fall to study because first trimester grades will be sent to all colleges. 

The Common Application: Our college timeline goal is to have your Common App ready to be submitted in October ahead of many November 1 deadlines. To achieve this, you should have the main part of the Common App completed by the time you return to campus at the start of September. Most of you opened your account during our Boot Camp in the spring. For those few of you who have yet to do so, you will need to create an account on the Common App (www.commonapp.org).  

***If you are submitting an application in AUGUST or before we return to school, please communicate with your college counselor as soon as possible so that we will know to send your Letters of Recommendation and all of the Berkshire supporting materials.  

Draft of Common App Essay:  After drafting a personal statement in English class this spring, please continue to revise your essay this summer. The Sixth-Form Summer College Essay Requirement is also available online at the College Counseling website. Feel free to follow up with your college counselor if you have any questions. Again, each college counselor will carefully review your essays (primary and any required supplements) before these are submitted with any applications.

Class of 2027 Family Questionnaire: If you have not already done so, please help your child’s counselor hear your voice within their college process. Click here to access the family questionnaire.

Standardized Testing: For the most up to date information on standardized test dates and registration visit Berkshire’s College Counseling website.

It is with great honesty that we urge all students to please take advantage of your relative free time this summer to engage in your college search process. Ignoring the college process won’t make it any less present in your life. Obsessing about it won’t really help either. Getting a few tangible things done will put you in the best position to start the fall off right. Your college counselor would like to hear from you during the summer with any questions, updates, and to provide help with essay topics and/or revisions.