November 5, 2018
This article is the fourth in a series called “The Fall Campaign Stories of Impact: Five Weeks, Five Stories, Five Reasons to Give.”
Think of a list of common fears, and a familiar few come to mind. Public speaking. Air travel. Spiders. And here in Minnesota, an early snow! Another typical source of anxiety is the college application process—a journey in U.S. culture that’s often driven by worries about attending the “best” school, instead of the right school.
Lisa Pederson, MPA’s director of College Counseling, addresses that sense of dread head-on, with compassion, expertise, and a proven program that empowers students to customize their college search based on their unique strengths, interests, and long-term goals. “The best fit for one is not the right fit for the next, even among high-achieving, academically strong, and otherwise talented students,” says Pederson. “Today’s college admissions professionals are looking for the authentic voice in their applicants, not a packaged one that checks every box.”
The college search process is a progressive, four-year journey at MPA that thoughtfully prepares students for selecting colleges. Pederson shares, “During ninth grade, we introduce the idea of finding the right fit and reflect on what that means. In 10th grade, students practice the PSAT and ACT to ready themselves for the standardized tests. In 11th grade, we discuss their values and priorities before slicing and dicing the college options.”
As junior year progresses, College Counseling leads substantive conversations with students about their career aspirations and life goals. Students are shown how to effectively research schools and programs, evaluate them against their criteria, and then find the best potential matches.
And when it’s time to submit applications, the College Counseling team is there every step of the way, providing personalized support as 12th graders complete their materials. Additionally, Pederson writes a letter of recommendation for each member of the senior class—and as a former college admissions officer, she knows how to help students position themselves most effectively.
“We inspire MPA students to dream big and do right, and to become the people they’re meant to be,” she says. “And rest assured, they’ll be ready.”
Because of philanthropy at MPA, College Counseling positions our students for success and fulfillment in higher education. Consider making a donation to the MPA Fund during the Fall Campaign by visiting moundsparkacademy.org/donate or contacting Susan Robertson, Annual Giving & Alumni Relations Manager, at 651-748-5531. Together, we will raise $300,000 to bridge the gap between tuition and the total cost of educating a student at MPA.
