Incoming Upper Schoolers complete a collaborative activity during the college counseling session of their ninth-grade orientation

Ninth grade. Upper School. The beginning of a new chapter.

Nervous. Anxious. Excited. Maybe a little bit of all three.

At Hampton Roads Academy, the day before school starts, our freshmen come together for an orientation designed especially for them. Throughout the morning, they rotate through sessions on student life, the Honor Code, technology, and college counseling.

During this year’s college counseling session, we stressed a core belief that guides our team’s work: college counseling at HRA is for every student. We want our office to be a place where students can come to talk, ask questions, share something exciting, work through something difficult, or even just grab a cup of hot chocolate.

We also talked about how to start Upper School well. We use the acronym CATS: Curriculum, Activities, Testing, and Socialization.

Curriculum: Focus on learning, and the grades and increased rigor will follow. Work hard. Ask for help. Use the resources around you, including our Student Support Center. Be curious. Give yourself permission to learn from the things that don’t come easily.

Activities: Find things that excite you. Explore your interests. Try something new. You don’t need to join every club or play every sport. Find the activities that make you want to show up and be part of something. Volunteer and give back in ways that connect to the causes you care about.

Testing: Don’t let standardized testing become the focus of your Upper School experience. Learn good habits, understand the purpose of the tests, and know we have laid out plenty of time for you to practice and make thoughtful decisions about testing.

Socialization: Build community. Get to know people who aren’t exactly like you. Talk to adults. Read for fun, not just because it is assigned. Put down the phone and pick up a book or a magazine. Pay attention to the world around you. Put yourself in situations where you can learn from people with different experiences and perspectives.

Grow. Learn. Ask questions. Take chances. Seek out opportunities.

And perhaps most importantly, don’t rush through Upper School trying to become a college applicant.

Our job as a college-preparatory school is not simply to help students build a college application. It is to help them become the person behind that application.

We want to think beyond what a student will look like as a senior submitting applications. What will this student look like at 21? At 25? At 30?

Will they be curious? Will they know how to learn? Will they know how to build relationships and contribute to a community? Will they have the confidence to ask for help, the courage to try something new, and the desire to keep growing?

That is the bigger picture.

So, to our newest Upper Schoolers, we say welcome. You don’t need to have it all figured out. We are here to help.

The college-bound seniors of the Class of 2026 share their words of wisdom for younger students

Before Senior Release, Chris Hailey, Associate Director of College Counseling, and I met individually with each member of the senior class. We wanted to hear their reflections on their experience with college counseling and talk through each student’s application process. We asked about their excitement and nervousness surrounding graduation and college. We walked through their decision-making process, asked for feedback on our office, and reminded them that we will always be part of their support system.

As I reviewed my notes from those meetings, two questions stood out: “Is there anything you wish you had known earlier in the process?” and “What advice would you give younger students?”

While every student’s experience was different, several themes came up again and again.

The most common advice? Start earlier and don’t procrastinate. Multiple students emphasized this point:

• “Do things earlier.”
• “Don’t procrastinate!”
• “Don’t wait until the last minute.”
• “Work on it over the summer.”
• “It feels good not to leave everything until the last minute.”

Students also talked about staying engaged and organized throughout the process:

• “Do it when you get the email.”
• “Read the emails.”
• “Take it seriously. It sneaks up on you.”

Another major theme was managing stress and perspective:

• “Chill out.”
• “Don’t stress. It can feel overwhelming. Focus on the positives.”
• “The task seems harder than it actually is.”

And perhaps most importantly, seniors encouraged younger students to focus less on prestige and more on fit:

• “Prestige is relative. Choose what’s best for you.”
• “Pick the place where YOU are going to be successful.”
• “Be open to suggestions.”

I think anyone can read this list and find something that resonates. But as I think about our juniors, our soon-to-be seniors, I hope they, and their families, read it even more closely.

And then remember that the College Counseling Office is here to help.

We expect every rising senior to meet with us at least twice over the summer to continue the momentum we built during the school year. We do not want students to procrastinate. We want them to work steadily over the summer so they can begin senior year feeling confident, prepared, and ahead of the process.

And we will meet students where they are, whether at HRA, in a coffee shop, or on Zoom. We will partner with them throughout the summer as they complete essays, finalize activities lists, and refine college lists.

It is an exciting season! Our goal is not simply to help students get into college, but to help them find the place where they will thrive.

Director of College Counseling Elizabeth Cavallari with her cohort for the Maryland Crab Crawl Counselor Tour

A month ago, I took an early morning train to Baltimore and boarded a bus that would become both my classroom and my community for the next four days. Alongside 30 other high school and college counselors from across the country, I visited nine private colleges and universities in Maryland.

It was exhausting—full days, constant movement, and more information than I could possibly process in the moment. But it was also informative and fun.

Of course, stepping onto nine distinct campuses was a highlight. But one of the most meaningful parts of the experience didn’t happen on a campus at all.

It happened on the bus.

Ten hours on a bus might not sound like a highlight, but it absolutely was. Those hours became a space for honest, thoughtful conversation. We talked about the state of admissions, the challenges we’re seeing in our schools, and the solutions we’re trying to build. We shared insights and traded perspectives.

It was professional development in its most organic and impactful form.

And then there were the people we met on campus.

Cavallari meets the Green Terror at McDaniel College

Over the course of four days, I connected with college and university presidents, vice presidents for enrollment management, deans of admission and other admissions staff, leaders from across their campus including athletics and student life, and, of course, current students.

Sharing meals and asking questions, I built relationships with the very people who shape the student experience on their campuses. Our group even (unintentionally) crashed a reception for the opening of a new performing arts facility. And unexpected moments like these become great memories, especially when the university’s president made sure we didn’t leave.

What I gained from these conversations goes far beyond brochures or websites. I got the inside scoop on the culture and vibe of each place. I left many of these campuses clearly picturing individual students there. 

We often talk to students about the importance of visiting campuses. What we don’t often say is that those visits matter just as much for college counselors.

As a college counselor, I am also constantly learning. Constantly updating my understanding. Constantly working to ensure that the guidance I provide is rooted in real, current, lived experience.

So no, the travel isn’t glamorous. It’s early mornings, long days, and a lot of time on a bus.

But it’s also one of the most meaningful ways to grow in this work: by seeing new places, meeting new people, and forging relationships grounded in shared purpose and community.

Students and parents get a window into the College Counseling Office’s close partnership with admissions officers during the Junior College Program

As a parent, I know my children don’t always see me as the expert (even when I clearly am). But the moment another adult says the exact same thing? Suddenly, they’re believers.

The same dynamic plays out in the College Counseling Office.

This month, we’ve completed meetings with every junior family and are in the midst of meeting with our sophomore families. In meeting after meeting, I’ll share a point and watch a parent break into a knowing smile. Then I turn to the student and ask them to confirm it: “Go ahead! Tell your parent they were right.” It happens again and again.

And because we spend so much time with HRA students, through individual meetings, group sessions, and Homeroom programming, our voices can start to sound a bit like the Charlie Brown teacher: wah-wah, wah-wah.

So what do we do?

We bring in reinforcements.

We invite trusted colleagues and friends from the other side of the desk: undergraduate admissions officers. These are the professionals who read applications, sit in committee, and help make final decisions. They are often the very people advocating for our students in the admissions process.

On Sunday, March 22, we were thrilled to welcome two of these partners to our Junior College Program. Yes, our College Counseling team covered key topics: how we guide families through the process (and paperwork), the role of AI in the college search, and financing higher education. But we also made space for new voices to speak about crafting a memorable essay and building a thoughtful, balanced college list.

And they were fantastic.

They didn’t necessarily say anything radically new, but that’s exactly the point. Their perspectives reinforced the work, messaging, and programming our College Counseling team provides every day while offering a fresh voice and lens.

That reinforcement matters. It builds confidence in the process, strengthens trust, and helps our students and families feel supported from every angle.

We are proud of our partnerships with admissions officers who are willing to make the trip, not only because of our relationship, but also because these professionals are invaluable resources for the exceptional students at Hampton Roads Academy.

Juniors complete a survey to help HRA’s college counseling team better understand the roles, identities, and values that define them

The college search and application process can be anxiety- and stress-inducing, but there are lots of ways that your college counseling team is here to help. We do our best to answer your questions, help you make good decisions, and be guides to lean on when the road seems rough. But even the professionals can use a little help in getting you where you want to be. That’s why we ask both parents and students to meet with us, answer lots of survey questions, and provide us with the tools we need to help you.

Elizabeth Cavallari, Director of College Counseling, and I will write counselor recommendation letters on behalf of the school for each student. Students will also ask two teachers to write letters to support their applications. My students know how much I love a Google Form, so when we ask them to take the time to fill them out, it is for a good cause. The same goes for parents when they respond to the Parent Reflection Form.

What we are looking for are insights into who you are, what you value, and what makes you tick. With that kind of information, we can provide colleges with a picture of you as a student, but most importantly as a person. We want colleges to know the whole you and not just the grades on your transcript.

What teachers should a student ask to write letters of recommendation? The best letters sometimes come from teachers whose classes were a struggle, not necessarily those with the highest grades, because those teachers know how a student deals with adversity. If there is a teacher who also knows the student from other activities (sports, clubs, the arts, Model UN), they often have a more nuanced understanding of a student’s character, resilience, leadership, and ability to work with others. The Roles and Identities form that students fill out helps them reflect on their values through anecdotes that provide teachers with deeper insight into the student.

No one should have to go it alone on their journey from HRA to a college campus. That includes the adults who are there to take the journey with them. So help us help you.

Instant connection: just add hot chocolate

When I first started at HRA, I worried about building relationships with the current seniors. I wanted them to feel comfortable using me as a resource throughout the college application process, even though I was new. So I appealed to their hearts, and their stomachs, by bringing baked goods every Thursday. Little by little, seniors appeared in the College Counseling Office for a baked treat … then a baked treat and a question … then eventually a scheduled meeting to work on their application materials.

While I still love to bake (and homemade treats do still appear from time to time), this year hot chocolate has become the gateway for all students—not just seniors—to come into the College Counseling Office. Who knew that a Keurig, seasonally themed cups, and many Costco-sized boxes of hot chocolate would make such a difference? But they have.

Students come in to catch up, with each other and with me, and we are building meaningful relationships. At HRA, the goal is for our relationships to be authentic. We aim to create a space where students can come share good news, work through the bad, and ask the million questions that come with the college application process.

What’s happening in the College Counseling Office is happening all over HRA. Our Upper School counselor is available for quick chats about football and a bowl of candy. Our Dean of Students and AP English Lit teacher always has hot water for tea ready in her classroom for students to get at their leisure. Our Director of Admissions and varsity boys basketball coach has informal huddles with student-athletes who just like to check in with him. So when something important happens, it’s not just a face—it’s a person with whom the student already has a genuine connection.

These relationships also highlight what college prep really means beyond simply getting into college. It’s about being ready for college, not only academically, but socially and emotionally as well. It’s about learning to build relationships with professors, how to network, how to ask meaningful questions, and how to advocate for yourself.

And this year, in the College Counseling Office, it all starts with the magic of hot chocolate, a warm and comforting symbol of the support students find here. 

Interested in helping support this initiative? The College Counseling Office always welcomes donations of hot chocolate packets.

Putting a face to a name: admissions representatives provide an insider perspective on how readers review students’ college applications at HRA’s Mock Admissions Workshop on November 12, 2025

College admissions representatives spend most of their fall on the road, traveling from school to school across their territories. In theory, it sounds glamorous, but when the rubber meets the road (both literally and figuratively), it’s a grind.

When I think back on my time working in undergraduate admissions, I remember it as an adventure. I was paid to travel across the country, representing my alma mater. But I also remember the exhaustion that came after visiting five high schools in a day or standing for hours behind a table at a college fair. Still, it was worth it. I had incredible conversations with students, and I built lasting connections with other admissions representatives and high school counselors. Those relationships became instrumental in my own growth and mentoring when I transitioned into my role as a college counselor here at HRA.

So when I encounter college admissions representatives now, I’m filled with gratitude. Students and families should be grateful for them, too. As a school, we are deeply thankful for the work they do. These representatives are our lifelines to their institutions. They put a face to a name. They contextualize a school. They sit patiently with students, answering every question, again and again and week after week. And they do it because they believe in their institutions and in the power of relationships.

College-bound Navigators participate in the College Counseling Office’s Mock Admissions Workshop

Those relationships were on full display during our Mock Admissions Workshop on November 12. Seven colleges—Christopher Newport University, Franklin & Marshall College, Hampden-Sydney College, Randolph-Macon College, the University of Mary Washington, the University of Richmond, and William & Mary—joined us for an evening program. Even after their busy travel season, these representatives took time to connect with our families, share their expertise, and build genuine relationships with our students.

It was engaging and fun. There was even a lot of laughter. Families gained an insider perspective on reading applications, but they also saw admissions professionals as real people—people who care deeply about students, about access, and about helping high schoolers find their best-fit college. We’re so grateful they continue to show up for our students, year after year.

The college-bound HRA Class of 2026

Test-optional. Test-blind. Test-preferred. Test-required.

Every college-bound student (and every parent of a college applicant) has read these words, but few can fully explain what they represent. It’s a confusing jumble of very similar phrases! Each college uses its own terminology, but it’s important to learn the differences and understand what they mean.

Test Required: Students must submit SAT or ACT scores to be considered for admission.

Test-Optional: Students can choose whether to submit test scores or not. Test-optional is the most anxiety-inducing policy. What scores are strong enough to be considered? Generally, if a student’s score is within or above the mid 50% of scores from the last incoming class for the SAT or ACT, they should include it. But, as students will hear throughout the college application process, it depends upon the school. Come check with us in the College Counseling Office regarding scores for each test-optional college or university.

Test-Preferred or Test Recommended: These are schools that do not require testing, but it is recommended. Not including scores could be detrimental to a student’s college application.

Test-Blind: Decisions are made without testing data. Even if a student submits a score, the college will not consider it.

No-Harm Testing: This is my favorite, but the least common. All students submit their test scores. If they could hurt the application, the college will ignore them. If they help, the college will consider them.

When are test scores due? It depends.

Get used to hearing “it depends” when it comes to college admissions!

Some colleges allow students to self-report scores right on the application. Others require official test scores by the application deadline. Some have a separate due date for official scores, and others do not need them until after an applicant has been admitted and paid an enrollment deposit.

Why are we talking about testing?

A few years ago, it seemed like testing might be disappearing. But lately, we’re seeing more and more schools bring back their testing requirements for college admissions.

This means that test preparation matters and should be well-planned as part of the college counseling and application process. During this process, students should be doing everything they can to open doors, and strong test scores help with that.

Test preparation doesn’t need to be expensive. The local library has SAT or ACT books to borrow. There are plenty of free online resources for the SAT and ACT. And the key is practice and consistency.

For students who are practicing but not seeing the improvement they want, it might be time to consider a prep program or tutor. The College Counseling Office can help connect students with the best resources to meet their needs.

How do we partner with families at HRA?

We understand how daunting the college application process can be, especially with the added pressures of the SAT or ACT. Every family and every student wants to do the right thing. Our goal is to help families feel well-informed.

We do this in a couple ways:

• We are hosting a testing webinar on November 5 to help students and families understand the SAT and ACT and trends.
• Students take both the PSAT and a practice ACT. From there, we look at the scores and provide information about which test may be a better fit.

While overwhelming, standardized testing doesn’t have to be a source of dread. With the right information, preparation, and support, it can become just another way for students to showcase their skills and aptitude to colleges.

Members of the Class of 2026 visit the University of Mary Washington as part of the Junior College Trip

Leftovers are for quitters. A student wore this phrase proudly on his shirt as he stuffed salami in his mouth, pushed his chair back, and headed back to the buffet in the dining hall. At that moment, I thought, He did his college search right. He was unapologetically himself, moving confidently through his college space.

At this same school, black backpacks lined the hallway leading to the dining hall. Students felt so comfortable and safe that they left their belongings behind, fully expecting them to be there when they returned.

Little moments like these—quirky, honest, unpolished—are what you notice when you step foot on campus. They’re the details you’ll never find in a glossy brochure.

Why Campus Visits Matter

Brochures and websites are designed to show off the best: the gleaming and symmetrical quads, the smiling students, the impressive list of selective rankings where they are at or near the top. A campus visit, on the other hand, lets you see what life at a school actually feels like—for you.

The college search process is both head and heart. Research and data matter, but a visit allows your instincts and values to guide you.

What to Look For

When you’re on campus, lean into your curiosity and pay attention to how you feel:

• Does the school align with your values?
• Do you see yourself making friends here?
• Can you imagine being challenged, supported, and comfortable enough to be yourself?

Sometimes, a school that looks great on paper doesn’t feel right in person. That’s okay. With more than 2,000 four-year colleges and universities in the U.S., there are many places where you can thrive. Even though a school may have been right for a friend, parent, mentor, or neighbor, it’s okay if it’s not the place where you can see yourself.

Tips for Making the Most of a Visit

• Go on a tour. But if you’re grouped with a guide who doesn’t resonate, it’s okay to break the rules and move toward the guide who feels like they could be your friend.
• Eat in the dining hall. Pay attention to what mealtime feels like—who’s sitting together, how the community interacts. Is the food any good?
• Talk with students who aren’t tour guides. What do they tell you? Does it confirm the official tour narrative or tell you a different story?
• Notice the vibe. Do students seem stressed, relaxed, collaborative, competitive? Do you feel like you can fit in?

Trust Yourself

When I talk with HRA students after visiting colleges, I relish when one student is enamored with a school while another has firmly crossed that same school off their list. It shows that students are tapping into their values and paying attention to fit, not perceived prestige.

Ultimately, the right school is where you can grow, be supported, and—most importantly—be your authentic self.