Friday, October 30, 2026
The Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District hosted an Early College Planning Night on Oct. 15 for freshman, sophomores and their families, offering guidance on the college admissions process and how students can begin preparing for the next stage of their education.
Held at Sanford H. Calhoun High School in Merrick, the event featured John Durante, principal of Syosset High School and host of the College Admissions Process Podcast. Durante shared insights gathered from conversations with admissions professionals at hundreds of colleges and universities, giving families a closer look at how institutions evaluate applicants.
The presentation was part of the district’s effort to introduce college planning conversations earlier in students’ high school careers, as the admissions process continues to evolve.
“The reason to start earlier than ever before is because the system is not as predictable as it was, even just a few years ago,” Bellmore-Merrick Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Assessment, Scott Bersin said. “The more knowledge you have early on, the better choices you can make in terms of your process.”
Bersin said the district wanted to provide students and families with information sooner so they could become more familiar with the process before college applications approach.
Calhoun Assistant Principal Danielle Amato said the event offered families an opportunity to learn more about college admissions well before students reach their junior and senior years.
“As the landscape of college admissions is continuously changing, it’s becoming much more rigorous,” Amato said. “You can simply never start those conversations too early.”
Durante brought both professional knowledge and personal experience to the presentation, drawing on his work in education and his experience helping his own daughters navigate college admissions. Through his podcast, he interviews admissions professionals about their institutions and the factors they consider when reviewing applications.
During the event, Durante incorporated audio and video clips from those interviews to illustrate how admissions representatives approach the process. His presentation encouraged families to look beyond general assumptions about college applications and consider how individual institutions assess prospective students.
One of the presentation’s central messages was the importance of communicating an authentic personal story throughout an application. Durante encouraged students to reflect on their experiences, interests and goals and consider how those elements help admissions officers understand who they are beyond their academic records.
Each part of an application serves a purpose, he explained. Students should be thoughtful about what they share in different sections rather than simply repeating the same information or trying to present themselves as the type of applicant they believe colleges want to see.
Durante also stressed the importance of researching individual colleges before applying. Students responding to supplemental essay questions about why they want to attend a particular institution should demonstrate an understanding of its mission and core values, rather than relying on generic statements that could apply to any school.
That research can help applicants better explain why a college aligns with their interests and goals. Understanding what distinguishes one institution from another also gives students a more informed basis for considering their options.
The presentation also addressed how the college application process has changed. With platforms such as the Common Application making it easier to apply to multiple institutions, colleges can receive applications from a larger pool of prospective students. Understanding how schools evaluate candidates can help families approach the process with more realistic expectations.
For the district, the event complemented the guidance already available to students as they progress through high school. Michael Hughes, principal of Calhoun, said administrators and counselors continually reassess their practices to identify ways to support students and provide them with opportunities to prepare for life after graduation.
The district offers several resources throughout students’ high school careers, including junior-year parent nights, college fairs, districtwide college information sessions and individual meetings for 11th-grade students. Members of the district’s counseling team were also available during the Early College Planning Night to answer questions and speak with families.
By bringing college admissions guidance to ninth and 10th-grade students, the district gave families an opportunity to become familiar with the process before applications become an immediate concern. The event also introduced students to questions they can begin considering as they explore their interests and think about their educational futures.
For more information about the college admissions process and to explore episodes of Durante’s College Admissions Process Podcast, visit CollegeAdmissionsTalk.com. Additional college planning resources are available at the Bellmore-Merrick Central High School District’s website.
