School hosts junior-focused college-admissions information session
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Summary
An informational presentation for juniors covered application types and timelines, testing and essays, letters of recommendation, demonstrated interest, and community-college pathways; no formal actions or decisions were taken.
Ryan Depew, an admissions professional from Iona University, and Greg DeSanctis, director of honors programs at Raritan Valley Community College, spoke at a Watchung Hills Regional High School District session for juniors and their families about navigating the college-application process.
Depew outlined the primary application methods — the Common Application, the Coalition Application and institution-specific applications — and explained the differences between early decision (binding), restrictive early action and early action (nonbinding). He advised students to maintain rigorous coursework through senior year, citing strength of schedule, relevant coursework (for example, calculus for engineering applicants), and academic trends as important factors in admissions review. Depew recommended using unweighted GPA for comparison and reviewing a target school’s middle 50% admitted range.
On testing, Depew urged students to take the SAT or ACT and noted many schools remain test-optional after COVID-19; he suggested asking colleges what percentage of their enrolled class submitted scores to gauge how much weight the tests carry. He recommended limiting retakes (two is usually sufficient) and checking institutions’ "superscore" policies. On applications and extracurriculars, Depew said students should be thorough but avoid "fluff," and use the essay to provide dimension and personal voice. He discussed ethical, limited uses of generative AI — using it for outlines or editing but not to produce a full essay — and stressed the value of authentic student writing. He recommended students ask teachers and counselors for recommendation letters before the summer prior to senior year.
DeSanctis described Raritan Valley Community College as an open-access institution offering more than 90 majors and workforce programs, and highlighted its early-credit options for high-school students. He explained the Honors College admission process at RVCC, noting it typically admits 60–70 students per year, asks for a 500-word essay and supplemental materials, and looks at unweighted GPA and other measures; RVCC’s early deadline was listed as Feb. 1 with a regular deadline of July 1. DeSanctis said students can earn credits that transfer to four-year schools, and that the college’s workforce programs can lead directly to employment.
School counseling staff at Watchung Hills outlined next steps, including upcoming junior conferences during the school day, available resources (Naviance and the district’s online materials), testing dates and a forthcoming financial-aid night. Counselors encouraged students to research options, arrange interviews when offered, and prepare for junior conferences where counselors will provide individualized guidance.
The session was informational; no motions, votes or formal district decisions were recorded. Presenters said they would remain available for questions and that the slide deck and resources would be shared with families and students.
