Recap: 2024 Fall College Admissions Night
This past fall, BranchOut! organized a College Admissions Night featuring admissions officers from top U.S. colleges and universities to shed light on the application process for students and parents. On Thursday, September 19th, the BranchOut! student leadership team, along with over 300 attendees, welcomed admissions officers from UC Berkeley, Yale, Princeton, MIT, UChicago, and Cornell.
Each panelist highlighted what sets their university apart, pointed out “red flags” students should avoid in their applications, and shared tips for the upcoming application cycle. The conversation was filled with valuable insights and thoughtful advice for future applicants.
Ms. Lyons from Cornell University painted a lovely picture of Cornell’s campus and the gorgeous college town of Ithaca, touching upon the many scenic gorges and waterfalls nearby. She also highlighted the eight different colleges of Cornell, which all together add up to over 80 majors in various disciplines. Ms. Lyons urges students to do their research on the different universities they are applying to, and to pick the one that best suits them!
Ms. Keil from Princeton University described her institution as a school that focuses on the undergraduate experience. She mentions that although Princeton itself does not have a law, medical, or business school, the projects, and senior thesis all students are required to do helps prepare them for future jobs, research, or higher education. She advises students to be intentional and detailed with their essays, as this will show they have done their research about each school they are applying to.
Mr. Evans from the University of Chicago discussed the unique opportunities his university has to offer. He highlighted UChicago’s balance between liberal arts and student research, as both are vital to a well-rounded college education. Furthermore, he described the flexibility in UChicago’s curriculum, especially with the university’s distinctive study abroad programs and the variety of ways to satisfy major requirements. Finally, he urges students to build strong, long-term relationships with their teachers and counselors.
Mr. Howard from University of California Berkeley described the university as a flagship campus, with a unique culture. He provided insight into UC Berkeley’s distinct academic programs, specifically, dual-degree programs, the M.E.T program, and the RLSE programs. Mr. Howard advises applicants to find balance in their lives, especially with the stress that may come with applying to colleges.
Ms. Murray from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology highlighted MIT’s strong focus on “learning by doing,” research, and tackling real-world challenges. She also offered a more well-rounded view of life at MIT, sharing stories about the fun and creative hacks students come up with. Additionally, she emphasized an often-overlooked factor in college admissions: character. Admissions officers try to prioritize selecting students who are kind, authentic, generous, and strong team players when shaping the incoming class!
Ms. Poe from Yale University gave the audience a vivid and engaging glimpse into student life at Yale, by describing the residential college program and the camaraderie it fosters. Each of the colleges reflects the diversity of the incoming class, both in terms of demographics and interests. Ms. Poe advises students not to be afraid to ask for help! She urges students to take full advantage of the resources offered to them, and build long-lasting connections with the people around them.
The college application process is constantly evolving, making educational events like this crucial in helping our community confidently pursue their dream schools. During the Q&A session, our panelists diligently addressed over 30 questions both live and through the chat. On behalf of the BranchOut! Student Leadership team, we want to extend a heartfelt THANK YOU to our panelists and attendees for making this recent workshop truly memorable!
BranchOut! is excited to host more college-related events in the future! Be sure to follow us on Instagram and Facebook to stay updated on upcoming community events.
All of our High School and College Admissions events were hosted by BranchOut!’s student mentors. If you would like to become a mentor yourself, our Summer 2025 application is open. Visit us at https://www.velbranchout.org/apply to learn more and apply!
Student Hosts (2020-2024)
2024 (September 19th)
Caroline Li, 11th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Jennifer Zhang, 11th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Lillian Su, 10th grade, Langley High School
2024 (April 11th)
Kavya Kuttuva, 11th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Richard Zhu, 11th grade, Richard Montgomery High School
Rohan Sinha, 10th grade, Richard Montgomery High School
2023 (August 22nd and September 26th)
Kavya Kuttuva, 11th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Richard Zhu, 11th grade, Richard Montgomery High School
Ethan Gao, 10th grade, River Hill High School
Brian Zhou, 12th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Elizabeth Li, 11th grade, Oakton High School
Lillian Su, 9th grader, Langley High School
Evan Wang, 12 grade, Montgomery Blair High School
2023 - High School (August 8 and September 7)
David Liu, 11th grade, Episcopal High School
Amelie Deng, 12th grade, The Lawrenceville School
Rebecca Chen, 9th grader, McLean High School
Kevin Xue, 11th grade, Chantilly High School
Evan Wang, 12 grade, Montgomery Blair High School
2022 (September 20th):
Kavya Kuttuva, 10th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Richard Zhu, 10th grade, Richard Montgomery High School
2021 (September 23rd):
Johnny Liu, 10th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Kavya Kuttuva, 9th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Mikayla Li, 12th grade, McLean High School
2021 (July 29th):
Kavya Kuttuva, 9th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Mikayla Li, 12th grade, Mclean High School
Sarah Deller, 12th grade, James Madison High School
2020 (October 8th):
Aditi Kodali, 12th grade, Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology
Gabi Turriago-Lopez, 11th grade, Oakton High School
Teresa Huang, 10th grade, Oakton High School