Sewickley Academy is western Pennsylvania’s oldest private school; with the recent Pre-K class, it just enrolled its bicentennial graduating class, who will graduate high school in 2038. Originally a boys’ school, nearly 500 students are currently enrolled, with an average class size of 14 students. The school is known for its academic excellence and rigor, as well as its experiential learning and a robust focus on athletics and the arts.
A private school for Pre-K continuing through Grade 12, Sewickley Academy recently established an educational model, called the Dean Model, that prepares its students for higher education beginning in freshman year, which includes navigating the college application process.
The idea behind this initiative is that Senior School students are paired with one of Sewickley Academy’s three deans from grade 9 through grade 12 for academic advising and college counseling. This comprehensive approach includes a partnership with parents so that, together, students can seek guidance as to how to best prepare for college via regular meetings with their assigned dean.
The nature of the college application process has changed dramatically over the years, especially after the pandemic, with more top colleges and even middle-tiered colleges receiving an unprecedented number of applications each year, which in turn decreases acceptance rates across the board. Helping Sewickley Academy students gain that competitive edge by guiding them to become self-actualized is what underlies the initiative.
The Dean Model initiative was the brainchild of Jamie Nestor, head of the senior school, which was based on a model used at an exclusive private school in Los Angeles called Harvard-Westlake.
”There are three deans, and beginning in grade 9, we are each assigned 20 students per grade. We get to know our students and families, we learn their preferred communication methods, and we meet with them as often as they wish. Every 9th grader meets with their dean at least three times a year. Our program is tailored to individual students and their families, with students at the center of our process,” said Charlotte Bogdewic, one of three Senior School deans.
These meetings address a variety of topics. “We cover everything: schedules; social and emotional support; academic assistance; self-advocacy; and ensuring that they are reaching their highest level of academic success at school. We listen to them and do a lot of reflection with our students,” said Bogdewic.
As the deans get to know the Senior School students over that four-year period, they begin to help the students create a college list, which, she said, is directed toward finding the right fit. “As they get to know who they are, that enables them to have a better idea of which college will be the right fit for the next step in their life,” said Bogdewic. Because the deans get to know the students early on in their high school journey, they are able to help guide them toward extracurriculars or community service activities that align with their interests. And when the time comes, the deans are able to write an authentic college recommendation letter.
Bogdewic added that it’s extremely important to have parents involved. “We consistently seek parent input; they know what their child needs. I get to know the family, and I know what they expect from the school. It enables me to have a clear picture of where I am guiding their students. The student is at the center of the process, but the parent is our partner.”
Some components of this higher education readiness emphasis include an App Lab, which is a college application prep session for rising seniors, complete with workshops and consultations. Sewickley Academy students also have the opportunity to attend College Nights each academic year that gives students and parents a comprehensive grasp of how the college application process looks and insight into the college admissions landscape.
Another event is the annual College Admissions Case Study, in which the school invites dozens of college admissions representatives to conduct a simulated decision process, with the goal of getting an inside look as to how different institutions view applications to align with their institutional goals.
Bogdewic said that focusing on higher education as early as 9th can reduce anxiety and clarify the college admissions process. “The 9th year is about finding your academic stride, figuring out interests, learning more about who you are, and building on that as you go through this process,” she said, adding that the transition from adolescence to young adulthood is a crucial period, and having this network of support in place will help students make better decisions.
One welcome effect of this initiative is the close bond that students establish with their assigned deans. The deans get to know the students on many levels: attending their sports events, watching them perform in musicals, and viewing their art shows. “We have lunch with students or we get coffee together,” she said.
Even before the Dean Model came into being, Bogdewic said, “The goal is that 100% of the students attend a four-year college, and 100% do.”
In fact, from the graduating class of 2024, about 33% were admitted to the top 25 universities in the country, including acceptances at such institutions as Brown; Carnegie Mellon; Cornell; Duke; Georgetown; Johns Hopkins; Notre Dame; University of Chicago; University of Michigan; University of Pennsylvania; Rice; and Vanderbilt.
Though the Dean Model has been in place for just one school year thus far, Bogdewic said that there has been overwhelmingly positive feedback from both students and parents. “What is most important with the Dean Model is the attentiveness to our students and their families. Our main focus is building relationships and providing a support foundation for students to thrive.”
Comments