“College Knowledge” Seminar for Children of Employees

From enrolling in challenging high school classes to participating in extracurricular activities, the choices students make at an early age can help determine future college experiences.Duke Undergraduate Admissions will host a free seminar Jan. 21 for Duke employees and their 8th, 9th and 10th graders to help them best prepare for the college admissions process. This is the first time the seminar is being offered to 8th, 9th and 10th graders; Duke Undergraduate Admissions has previously offered similar seminars to children of employees who are juniors and seniors. “The decisions that are made in the 8th grade or the 9th grade can sometimes resonate far beyond that year,” said Christoph Guttentag, dean of Duke Undergraduate Admissions. “This sort of information can be very helpful for students, particularly students who want to think about a nice range of colleges down the line.” The seminar will not focus on admission to Duke or any other specific college. It will cover basic information such as:•    Understanding course selection and standardized testing, and how they affect admissions decisions  •    Tips on what to consider when beginning the search process •    How to support your child during the search•    What you need to know about making college affordable The seminar is at 6:30 p.m. in the Bryan Center’s Griffith Film Theater. Duke employees must register here, or call (919) 684-8129.Guttentag said he and his staff received numerous requests from parents to organize a college prep program for students in younger grades. He said part of Duke Admissions’ goal is to debunk the “mystery” surrounding the college admissions process and help families with decisions as their children begin high school, such as choosing classes and how students should spend their spare time.  “We don’t want students or parents to worry or be stressed out,” Guttentag said. “Even though this will lead them to think about college earlier, we think it will help them worry less and be more confident that they’ve made good choices.”