Sagemont, A Broward County College Prep School, Hosts impressive On-Campus College Fair

Jan. 11, 2012 - PRLog -- As a college preparatory school, The Sagemont School skillfully prepares its students for college or university. One of the ways it does this is by hosting its annual College Fair. Representatives from 97 colleges and universities attended this year’s event, providing students with the chance to speak one-on-one with the admissions departments of some of the finest academic institutions in the country including American University, Emerson College, George Washington University, Purdue University, Rutgers University, Vanderbilt University and the University of Miami.

“The goal of the College Fair is to expose our students to the many options available to them after Sagemont,” explains Mellesia Nelson, College Counselor for The Sagemont School. “We want our students to be knowledgeable and prepared when it is time for them to narrow their choices for the future.”

This year’s program included representatives from public and private universities, liberal arts schools, and research oriented universities. There were small, medium and large schools in attendance, as well as those from urban and college communities.

The variety of schools represented really impressed tenth grader Maria Moncaliano. “There were some top-notch universities there. There were universities for science, others for arts, and others for general education.”

She liked that the College Fair gave her the opportunity to speak directly to representatives from each university and inquire about their programs. “I had never really considered the University of Chicago,” shares Maria. “Now that I have obtained more information about it, I think that it could be a good match for me.”

To help students when speaking to the college admission representatives, Sagemont provided a questionnaire covering topics ranging from admissions requirements and financial aid opportunities to housing options and student life. For instance, students were encouraged to inquire about the average class size and accessibility of professors, as well as whether graduate students would be teaching their courses. Some of the sample questions were issues that students may not otherwise thought of to discuss, such as what it’s like on campus on the weekends and how roommates are selected.

Armed with their talking points, students were encouraged to visit the various colleges and universities and explore their opportunities.

High school sophomore Lizbeth Herrera says the College Fair certainly got her thinking. “It motivated me to start thinking about my future and the steps I need to take academically to confirm a good future.”

At Sagemont, the College Counseling department works closely with teachers to make sure students are prepared for college. According to Ms. Nelson, “Our college program serves as a partnership with the teachers to continue to encourage strong academic standing with our students due to the many doors that will open because of this.”

Sagemont also stresses to its students the importance of being well rounded. This means not simply joining clubs or seeking good grades for the sake of college, but truly gaining a sense of satisfaction. “When college representatives are on campus they also emphasize this to the students,” notes Ms. Nelson. “Colleges are looking for individuals how have had a well-rounded experience in high school and will bring this same drive to their school.”

To further prepare students for the transition from high school to higher education, Sagemont takes its tenth grade class on a fieldtrip to the University of Miami each year. “Our students have the opportunity to experience life on a college campus for a day,” explains Ms. Nelson. “Students are able to visit the dorm rooms, see a classroom, ask questions, and very importantly have lunch among the student body and enjoy the daily activities to experience the social atmosphere.”

In addition, the school encourages families to make college visits part of their family vacation. Ms. Nelson notes, “It is really never too early to start and this is something the entire family can enjoy and have discussions about.”

For more information on The Sagemont School contact Dr. Brent Goldman, President at (954) 389-2454 ext., 305, or email to bgoldman@sagemont.com.To read more stories about The Sagemont School written by Stacey Bomser go to School News at www.ourcityofweston.com

# # #

The Sagemont School operates two campuses in Weston. The Lower School Campus
serves students in PreK3- Grade 5; the Upper School Campus serves Grade 6 through
12.