Students welcomed to college

One of the primary objectives for the Central High School District is to prepare its students for college. So during the district’s on-site admissions program in November — an initiative where five local colleges visited the district’s three high schools and conducted on-site admission interviews — it was no surprise that 387 student applications were accepted on the spot to college and nearly $2 million in scholarships was awarded.

“We were very pleased with the results,” Superintendent Dr. Marc Bernstein said. “So many students seized the opportunity to meet with local colleges’ admission officers, present their credentials, receive on-the-spot acceptance and in many cases, offered scholarships.”

According to Jill Vogel, district director of guidance, Adelphi University, C.W. Post, Hofstra University, Molloy College and St. John’s University sent admissions officers to each of the district’s high schools. Vogel said that those who participated in the program didn’t have to pay an application fee, and they were able to apply to all five schools at no cost. Guidance counselors compiled the students’ information such as transcripts, SAT scores and teacher recommendations, Vogel said, and gave it to the admission officers. Each student was individually interviewed, she added, and were told on the spot if they were accepted or rejected.

Out of the 417 district-wide college applications that were submitted, 387 were accepted on the spot. Vogel added that $1,862,400 in scholarship money was given for 150 applications. “We’ve been doing this for three years, and this year was the best ever,” Vogel said.

John Donnelly, 17, is a senior at South who participated in on-site admissions and was accepted to all five colleges. He said he’ll play baseball for Hofstra and wants to major in biology or physical therapy. Donnelly noted that it pays to participate in the on-site admissions program. “If you want to stay home, this is a good program for that,” Donnelly said. “You don’t have to pay any fees and instead of waiting, you get to know earlier.”

Vogel said the program is great for students who want to stay local and that she’s heard from several students who were excited about being accepted on the spot for college. She recalled a story about a senior who got accepted to St. John’s, making her the first in her family to attend college. “She was so proud,” Vogel said. “It was her dream school.”

Amy Ryan, 17, is a Central senior who decided to take part in the program. She was accepted to Hofstra and St. John’s, Ryan said, and was offered a full ride to the latter school. “It felt great,” Ryan said. “I definitely wasn’t expecting it. I was a little nervous, but the interviewers were really nice and they cared about helping us get into school.”