Collegewise Counselors Deliver Free School Admissions Workshops in St. Thomas

At Collegewise, we’re all about sharing expert advice with students – it’s right there in our mission statement. And sometimes our counselors travel in support of that mission, as Christopher Logan and Joel Ontiveros recently did when they embarked on a journey to Ivanna Eudora Kean High School and Charlotte Amalie High School in St. Thomas (USVI), to offer three in-person workshops on college admissions, all free of charge. Read on to learn more about the work we do at Collegewise to support schools.

Collegewise Counselors Deliver Free, College Admissions Workshops in St. Thomas 

These workshops weren't just about filling out forms and submitting applications. They provided a comprehensive roadmap to college, covering topics such as the college entry application, the enrollment process, grade review, and crafting a compelling college essay. They were designed to ensure that students received even more information and guidance to help reach their post-secondary goals, and to support the vision of Dr. Stefan Jurgen, St. Thomas Superintendent of Schools, of “offering more support to our seniors so that they are well informed as they prepare to apply to enter college in the fall."

Christopher and Joel arrived in St. Thomas with the goal of guiding students through the college admissions maze, and brought their first-hand experience and passion for helping students with them into the classrooms. Beyond learning about the college admission process, students asked questions and engaged in discussions about tactical and logistical issues to navigate, including immigration and personal finances. This open dialogue between Collegewise and the students and parents was well received by both the St. Thomas community and the Collegewise counselors themselves. At the core of a Collegewise counselor, they want to give individualized support to each family, and were happy that the St. Thomas community were able to open up in such a short period of time. At the end of the experience, we were gratified by the feedback from students, and from Dr. Jurgen as well, who looks forward to continuing the work that has been started to best prepare their college-bound students for the many possibilities that lie ahead.

Speaking on behalf of Collegewise, Joel explain how honored he was to "partner with the St. Thomas and St. John School District to provide information and guidance around college admissions. Meeting and presenting to the students and community members of Charlotte Amalie and Ivanna Eudora Kean High Schools gave me a better understanding of the higher education goals for students from the Virgin Islands. I was able to provide support and advice on how these students could strategize their college applications as well as encourage their pursuit of higher education."

In a world where the pursuit of higher education can feel daunting, the collaboration between the St. Thomas school district and Collegewise shows how the process can be eased when passionate educators and dedicated counselors come together. This is the main reason Collegewise supports schools including Pinnacle Academy in Virginia, Ukiah USD in California, Imagine Academy in Texas and many more – to work with educators with the simple goal of giving every student the knowledge, information, and access to post-secondary options.

If your school or district would like to learn more about how Collegewise can help your community, please visit our partnerships page or contact Director of Partnerships, Joe Korfmacher at joek@collegewise.com

About Collegewise: With more than twenty years of experience, Collegewise counselors and tutors are at the forefront of the ever-evolving admissions landscape. Our work has always centered on you: the family. And just like we’ve always done, we look for ways for your student to be their best self - whether in the classroom, the applications, or in the right-fit college environment. Our range of counseling, test prep, academic tutoring, and essay management, all with the support of our proprietary platform, lead to 4x higher than average admissions rates.