Each spring, we offer a special college counseling program for our spring students (current high school juniors) to think and talk about their future and what they might want out of college in light of their Maine Coast Semester experience. Although some of our students are well into the process already, some haven’t begun to ponder college at all.

The program kicks off with College Counseling Weekend, which occurred this April. The weekend began with a panel discussion lead by Susan Feibelman, Head of Semester School, and Wylie Mitchell, Visiting Director of Admissions and Financial Aid. On Friday and Saturday, students met with counselors for individual 30-minute meetings. 

This year’s college counselors were:

James Hightower III, Director of College Counseling at Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Rebecca Kosakowski, Associate Director of College Counseling at New Hampton School in New Hampton, New Hampshire

Brennan Barnard, from Derryfield School in Derryfield, New Hampshire

Kate Coon, Maine Coast Semester advisor and retired from Nobles and Greenough School in Peterborough, New Hampshire

Wylie Mitchell, our own Visiting Director of Admissions. Wylie served as the Dean of Admissions for thirty years at Bates College and was the visiting dean of admissions at both Colby and Bowdoin Colleges.

Following College Counseling Weekend, students had the opportunity to visit either Bates or Colby College. These college visits took place last Friday after lunch, and about 14 students visited each school with semester fellows Drew Higgins and Holly Hoffman. The trips were an opportunity for students to explore these institutions – either because they were directly interested in that school, or because they wanted to gain experience seeing schools in general. 

During the trips, students got a taste of the college experience and saw how different alumni have pursued interests kindled at Maine Coast Semester on a college level. At Bates College, students received a special tour from Tom Twist, former Maine Coast Semester staff member, who is now the sustainability manager at Bates. Students also met with Sophie Landes (semester 55), Essie Martin (semester 56), and Heather Fear, former Chewonki staff member who is currently the Reunion Director at Bates. At Colby College, students met with Sam Levittes (semester 55) and Katie Carlson (semester 51).