College Application Boot Camp Gives Students a Head Start
Greta Cunningham ‘23, Communications Intern
August 11, 2025
The counseling department kicked off August with its annual College Application Boot Camp. Run by CDH college counselors Laura Nelson and Mitchell Reynolds, the camp aims to prepare rising seniors with the knowledge and resources needed to navigate the college application process with confidence.
This year, boot camp was held from August 4 to August 7 with three-hour sessions available in the morning or afternoon; 118 students participated.
By starting their applications over the summer, students have a chance to get substantial work done before the school year ushers in other responsibilities, like class work and extracurricular activities. This is especially helpful to prepare for the first wave of early action and early decision deadlines on November 1.
Boot camp is scheduled to align with the release of the Common Application on August 1. College counselors walk students through each section of the application to help them understand how to complete it and how it will be evaluated by college admissions teams—a perspective students got to hear from directly. For the second year in a row, CDH hosted four college admissions professionals from around the country to do a Q&A panel on tips for applying and common essay mistakes.
Much of camp is dedicated to the Common App’s personal statement essays. CDH college counselors explain the different prompt options and topics students can choose to write about, guide them through the brainstorming process, and discuss how they can best execute their writing.
“The essay can be one of the most daunting parts for students,” said Nelson. “Going through each part of the process really helps. By the end of camp, students get to leave with a revised draft and know they’ve written something they can use for their applications.”
CDH English teachers Steven Tacheny and Shelia Malone-Povolny were also available to offer feedback on students’ writing and go through strategies to strengthen their work one-on-one.
During the rest of camp, students further define the list of schools they plan to apply to, determine which extracurriculars to include in their applications, learn how to develop a resume, and explore scholarship opportunities.
These conversations build off the college preparatory programming CDH offers during students’ junior year and continue with additional support through students' senior year.
During the fall of junior year, families receive a letter outlining the steps of the college admissions process. They are then invited to a grade-wide meeting to go over the timeline. In the following months, students and their families get to meet with college counselors individually to discuss personal goals.
“We start relationship-building and talking about the college search process during the winter of students’ junior year,” Nelson said. “That allows students time to formulate ideas about what schools could be good options for them as we discuss the differences between selective, target, and safety schools based on each student’s grades and the kind of program they're looking for.”
During the spring, students have the opportunity to meet with college representatives during the CDH College Fair. At the beginning of students’ senior year, parents can attend another grade-wide meeting, this one tailored to understanding financial aid. CDH hosts college representatives to meet with small groups in the counseling office through the fall.
Even after admission decisions are released, college counselors are available to help students through the final stages of picking their school.
Boot camp is about getting the ball rolling.
“We want students to leave boot camp less afraid and more informed,” Nelson said. “Our goal is that they feel like they've accomplished a lot of work, that they have a good list of schools to apply to, and that they have a timeline set in place to complete the remaining steps.”