finding the right college fit 2022

Finding the Right College Fit — Class of 2022

by Seven Members of the Class of 2022
Students are matched with their college counselor at the beginning of freshman year and stay with the same counselor throughout their high school career. Seven seniors share their experience with the program and how it helped them find the right college fit.

Indie Charles

Indie Charles
How many years have you been at Ensworth?
Thirteen years

What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?
I was in Yearbook for three years and did Project Talk for two years.

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years.

Mr. Whitehill has always supported me and my goals for college. He completely understood what I would need to do to succeed in the application process and qualify for the schools I was interested in. And he always helped me stay on track!

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?
I did! Back when my siblings applied to colleges, they did it through a program called “Questbridge.” It basically offers a full-ride scholarship to one of its partner schools to those who are selected as Finalists. One of those schools is Vanderbilt, and I knew it would be such an incredible opportunity to receive a scholarship to my dream school.

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?
I chose Vanderbilt because everyone I know there has loved their time at the school. It’s warm and welcoming and also very academically rigorous. I just love so many of the programs Vandy offers, the campus, their diversity, and the school's overall atmosphere.

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?
I’ve loved my time at Ensworth, but I think I’m especially grateful for the teachers here. They’ve really just been the best, and I’m thankful to have become close to so many of them. I always knew I could go to them for help and support whenever needed.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
I think I would say that you should keep your goals in mind and remain consistent in your efforts. I know it’s hard sometimes to stay motivated, but keep going! It’ll be worth it!

Sofia DeAngelis

Sofia Deangelis
How many years have you been at Ensworth?
I joined Ensworth freshman year, making this my fourth and final year. I'm originally from Florida.

What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?
In my four years, I've tried to make the most out of the opportunities given to me. My first and longest commitment was volunteering at the Nashville Public Library, where I started freshman year and published my senior Service Scholar project. I continued this service at school with the Service Club, where I was eventually on the leadership team this year. Coach Bradley also got me operating the scoreboard for almost every sport early on. As for hobbies, photography has always been a fun pastime of mine, and I received a Gold Key Award in Scholastics for that. Finally, I was able to wrap up the school year by organizing the Boundaries program with some other students.

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years. 
Truly, I couldn't have gotten into my dream college without Mr. Phillips and the rest of the college counseling team. Mr. Phillips, in particular, was always extremely welcoming since day one. Sometimes, I would just go into his office for candy and a quick chat. Other times, he would help me through the rough topics in my college essay. And on the rare occasion, he would be up on a Google doc with me editing my essays the night they were due - which I don't recommend! But, needless to say, I have a lot of thanks for him and the others.

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?
All I knew for sure was that I wanted to go north out of Tennessee, which was not very helpful considering that left me with more than half of America to sift through if that was my only limitation. Although it's good to be open to many things, I only had one decision at the end of the day. I was able to narrow down what mattered and make the right decision with Mr. Phillips. 

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?
Reed checks off everything on my list. Oregon offers a beautiful and diverse landscape of mountains, beaches, and deserts all in one state. I'm excited to explore Portland's awesome culture with many activities. The college itself is the perfect mix of scholarly academics and fun, with heavy importance on individual growth. Its uniqueness might be my favorite part. I am proud to call myself a Reedie.

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?
Above all else, the teachers are what make Ensworth special. They really do care about their students. Whether it's being there in tutorial or providing individual help outside of class, they work hard to see everyone succeed both academically and personally. Even the teachers who I've never had classes with are there to support me in whatever it is. We really have a great group of mentors. I'm very thankful for them.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
You are bound to make mistakes. You will get the wrong answer, stutter during a presentation, and trip over the door stoppers outside of the lunch room. But everyone else is going through the same experience with you. Don't be afraid to fail. Every step back is just more room to run forward. So join that club, introduce yourself to that friend crush, and maybe try not to trip over the door stopper. It goes by fast. Make it matter.

Ella Hartmann

Ella Hartmann
How many years have you been at Ensworth?
I have been at Ensworth for seven years.

What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?
At Ensworth, I have been involved in Rock Band, Encore, Chamber Singers, musicals, and softball. Outside school, I am in two bands at School of Rock, take weekly voice and piano lessons, and volunteer at WO Smith School of Music.

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years. 
Ever since freshman year, Mrs. Stewart has been there to help in as many ways as possible. Mrs. Stewart set me up for success in high school by guiding me to difficult classes that I would enjoy. In addition, when it came to the college application process, Mrs. Stewart constantly went above and beyond to find me information on programs, proofread countless essays, and support me. 

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?
Going into the college admissions process, I was not sure what school I wanted to go to, but I knew I wanted to major in the music business and minor in songwriting. When Mr. Aveni told me about the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami, I immediately fell in love with it. The program offered everything I was looking for and more. Having Mrs. Stewart help me with the academic side of the admissions process and Mr. Aveni help me with the musical side made me feel confident in my audition and application process. 

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?
I am attending the University of Miami because of the broad set of opportunities the school provides. The MIND major at the Frost School of Music is unique because it combines rigorous academic classes in business, law, and marketing with challenging music performance, composition, and production classes. This program creates well-rounded people and will give me the foundation for many different jobs, such as a singer-songwriter, producer, and entertainment lawyer.

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?
The most valuable aspect of my Ensworth experience has been the growth I experienced as a musician and person through the music program. Music has always been my passion, but the curriculum at Ensworth allowed me to become more confident in myself and my abilities. 

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
The best advice I have for a freshman is to get involved in as many ways as possible. Ensworth offers so many different opportunities through academics, arts, sports, and clubs, and I would encourage everyone to try new things and take advantage of what the school offers.

Jake Mason

Jake Mason
How many years have you been at Ensworth?
I have been at Ensworth for three years. I transferred my sophomore year from a high school in another city.

What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?
I have been a year-round swimmer since I was five years old, and I competed for the swim team, Frisbee Football team, the Investment Club, and the Tiger Pack while at Ensworth. I’m also an assistant coach for the Nashville Dolphins, a special needs swim team hosted at Ensworth. 

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years. 
My college counselor has been working with me every step of the way, from which classes to take when I first got to Ensworth to guiding me with perspective as I made my final college decision, all the way to transferring AP credits and registering for college classes. 

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?
My college decision process may have differed from others as I was recruited for swimming, narrowing the process from the beginning. I knew I wanted to swim in college, so I cast my net wide when I first started looking. When deciding on a college, my goal was to find a solid balance between swimming and academics. I wanted to find a school where I could be challenged in the classroom as well as in the pool. Working through the process with college counseling really helped me ask the right questions about academic programs to help me narrow down my list. 

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?
I chose Arizona State University for their top-ranked WP Carey Business School in addition to their nationally ranked swim team. Also, I was accepted into ASU’s Barrett Honors College, one of the country's leading residential honors colleges, providing the best of a smaller liberal-arts experience with all the benefits of a major university. 

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?
The most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience has been the connections and relationships I have built with my teachers and peers. The teachers at Ensworth are really invested in the students' success and want to get to know each of us as a person and not just as a student. I truly feel I have built friendships with my classmates, teachers, and coaches that will last a lifetime. 

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
I would tell freshmen to put themselves out there and get involved. Ensworth has so many great opportunities to get involved in the school community through many unique clubs, arts, sports, and activities.  The more you participate, the more you will get out of your Ensworth experience. 


Nina Ralsky

Nina Ralsky
How many years have you been at Ensworth?
I have been at Ensworth for five years, since 8th grade.

What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?
At Ensworth: Varsity Football Cheer Team (2020-2022), Junior Varsity Football Cheer Team (2018-2019), Ensworth Dance Team (2018-2020), Student Lead, Cafeteria Composting Initiative (2021-2022), Steering Committee Member, Project TALK (2020-2022), President, Ensworth Environmental Club (2019-2022), Club Member, Ensworth Investment Club (2020-2022), Ensworth High School Student Ambassador (2018-2022), Committee Member, Ensworth Dance Marathon (2019-2022), Camp Counselor, Big E Cheer Camp (2018-2021), and Camp Counselor, Ensworth Adventure Camp: 2019-2021. Outside of School: Founder & President, Junior Economic Club of Nashville (2020-2022), Founder, TheNinaFeed (2019-2022), Senior Counselor, Sequoia Club Camp (2016-2021), and Marketing Volunteer, and Bellevue Edible Learning Lab (2021). 

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years. 
Mr. Whitehill and I were both very invested in finding the right fit school for me. I came to him with questions beginning my freshman year. Some of the best advice I’ve received throughout this process has come directly from him, including discussing essay topics, planning my high school courses and activities, and brainstorming and evaluating different schools and programs. I am sure that Mr. Whitehill will have much more free time on hand with me all the way in Texas!

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?
I went into the college search process knowing I wanted to study business in a large city. Originally, I was focused on medium-sized private schools, yet I ended up choosing this big public university for a lot of intangible reasons. 

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?
My decision came down to three things: the quality and prestige of the program, the location, and the school culture. I look forward to majoring in International Business on the Language Skills Track at The McCombs School of Business, which is ranked #5 in the country and offers a concentration in languages unlike any of the other business schools I looked at. The “Language Skills Track” specialization aligns with and directly supports my ambition to study and work abroad. Not to mention, UT is located in one of the coolest cities in the country -- full of natural beauty, live music, great food, and one of the best job markets in the world! Being a Longhorn lasts a lifetime -- the spirit and loyalty of Longhorn Nation are unmatched! I am so excited for football season and to explore Austin in the fall! It’s a dream come true! 

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?
The relationships with my teachers during my time at Ensworth have been so special. I feel lucky to know that I could stop by any of their offices and chat with them about anything from a project in class to the college process, life advice, and everything in between! And, I know when I come back to visit, their doors will still be open.

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
Go to tutorial! There is no better way to get personalized help and build strong relationships with your teachers.

Luke Venables

Luke Venables
How many years have you been at Ensworth?
Four years

What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?
I’ve played football and basketball and participated in theater.

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years. 
If I’m being honest, my college counselor was the single most helpful person to me throughout High School. It wasn’t like we met super often, but Mr. Anthony was always very relaxed and understanding. It didn’t seem to me like he had any agenda other than helping me get through the college application process and helping me with other things that I asked for his assistance with. He never pushed me to take any classes I didn’t want to or anything of the sort; he just provided guidance and knowledge that helped me make informed decisions, and I deeply appreciated that. 

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?
No, I went into the process very open-minded, which I know puts me in a drastic minority. However, I believe it was the way to go for sure. I knew I wanted to go somewhere far away from Tennessee, so I just started looking at schools on the west coast and in New England. That allowed me to see schools I would have never even considered, including what turned out to be my top school, the University of Vermont. I think having clear and open communication with my parents about my financial situation also helped me a lot in selecting schools initially because I knew not to reach out of our range. What worked for me was sorting by the single most important thing to me as well as finance, but everyone is different.

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?
I chose UVM for three main reasons: culture, facility quality, and location. Burlington is a great town; everyone at the school was very relaxed, and the facilities were outstanding. The academic prestige of the school mattered less to me because I knew that I would be able to accomplish anything I might want to from most schools. If I see myself regretting that decision in the future, I can try and attend grad school at a more prestigious university. Plus, I struggle to care in an environment with a broader, more generalized education and only being able to properly engage with tangibly important concepts, meaning I would likely struggle with an academically rigorous college in their more generalized years. 

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?
The most valuable aspect of my Ensworth experience has been learning that the perceived righteousness of institutions is a fallacy. Nothing about an institution having power over you makes the institution morally in the right or in the right at all. Legality is not morality. 

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
Never put undue pressure on yourself. Especially after sophomore year when you can pick classes, keep your ear to the ground and take classes you know you can succeed in. Don’t be the kid in AP Physics and AP Chemistry who has a C in both or the kid in no APs with a 96 average. 

D.J. Weinstein

DJ Weinstein
How many years have you been at Ensworth?
Five years

What activities have you been involved in at Ensworth (or extracurriculars outside of Ensworth, as well)?
I have been involved in 12 seasons of golf, hockey, and lacrosse, as well as playing trumpet in the Jazz Band and guitar in the Rock Band. I founded the Ultimate Frisbee Club and was an avid member of the Chess Club. I also competed on the math team, as well. Outside of Ensworth, I volunteered at Walk Bike Nashville and the B’nai Brith Youth Organization. 

Talk about your relationship with your college counselor and what it looked like over the course of the four years. 
I met Mr. Anthony my freshman year, and we got to know each other over the course of the year through a couple of one-on-one discussions. Over the next couple of years, these one-on-one conversations became more frequent when talking about my course selections. They ramped up into senior year when making the big decisions about where I was applying to college. Mr. Anthony was always there to help me with my college application process and was always happy to answer any questions I had.

Did you go into the process with any specific goals or particular colleges/programs of interest?
I went into the college process wanting to find a university that best fit my academic and social goals. 

Why did you choose the college you will be attending?
I chose Cornell for their Human Biology, Health, and Society program in their College of Human Ecology. This program will help support my professional aspirations of becoming a healthcare provider. I also loved Cornell’s rural geography and their on-campus Dairy Bar, i.e., ice cream store!

What has been the most valuable aspect of the Ensworth experience for you?
The most valuable aspect of my Ensworth experience has been the collaborative and inclusive culture between the students and faculty at the High School. The faculty are always there to help academically, as well as in other aspects of our lives. Their focus and effort make a difference. 

What advice would you give to incoming freshmen?
I would tell every freshman to become a “super user.” Ensworth has abundant academic, extracurricular, athletic, and artistic opportunities. Tapping into these resources allowed me to branch out, meet new friends, try new activities (like guitar), and expand my horizons. Because I have seen how these activities can positively impact my life, I encourage new students to branch out!
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