Guided by St. Margaret’s College Counselors, Class of 2026 Students Finding Right Fit for Their Next Step

Upper School senior Paige Minton dedicated herself to the college admissions process, and she was grateful that her college counselor at St. Margaret’s, Seaby Rodriguez, was all-in as well.

 

“She took the time to really get to know me—not just as a student, but as a dancer and a person,” Paige said about Mrs. Rodriguez, an associate director of college counseling at St. Margaret’s. “That personal connection made all the difference.”

 

Paige sent four different variations of a personal statement to Mrs. Rodriguez, asking for her honest feedback at the onset of the process. She listened to Mrs. Rodriguez’s advice, stemming from years of experience in college admissions and an understanding of how students stand out when applying to selective schools.  

 

“(Mrs. Rodriguez) worked hard to help humanize me in a sea of grades, test scores and activities, making sure my application reflected not just what I’ve done, but who I am and what I love,” Paige recalls.

 

Having developed a passion for both academics and ballet during her time in St. Margaret’s Upper School, Paige eagerly shared her story when applying to Princeton University and was thrilled to receive a letter of acceptance. She will enroll at the Ivy League school this fall, with plans to major in classics with a double minor in dance and theater.

 

Her classmate, senior Nick Fox, has a similar journey. Nick was in close contact with his counselor, Director of College Counseling Amy Warren, as the two reviewed essays, discussed a list of potential fits, and fine-tuned applications.

 

Nick was accepted to Southern Methodist University in Dallas and will enroll there in the fall, where he plans to study finance in SMU’s Cox School of Business.

 

“The college-admissions process was great at St. Margaret’s, and I couldn’t have asked for a better group of college counselors to help me through the process,” Nick said.

 

Guided by St. Margaret’s expert college-counseling team—Ms. Warren, Ms. Rodriguez and associate directors of college counseling Erica Huerta and Ben Lah—the Class of 2026 at St. Margaret’s is enjoying success as college acceptances continue to roll in.

 

By the beginning of February, more than 93% of the 115 students in the Class of 2026 had at least one offer of admission. More than 30 students enrolled at a college or university through the binding early-decision admission cycle, and eight seniors recently announced their intention to compete in intercollegiate athletics as part of their college decision.

 

Each of the 115 seniors has a designated St. Margaret’s college counselor they work closely with, as they finalize their list of colleges, put together thoughtful and authentic essays, and weigh their final decision.

 

“We have an outstanding team in the College Counseling Office,” Ms. Warren said. “Ben, Erica, and Seaby have all worked in selective college admissions at institutions like Pomona College, UCLA, USC, Chapman, and Occidental. That experience—combined with the relationships we continue to cultivate with our admission colleagues and our understanding of the college admission landscape—allows us to advise our students in the best way possible during their college search and application process.

 

“At the same time, we develop meaningful relationships with our students and families through multiple touchpoints, and we are proud to support them as they find their college home.”

 

Of the 115 seniors in the Class of 2026, 40 have enrolled at their college of choice either through the early-decision or early-action admission program. That list includes Barnard College, Bates College, Bentley University, Boston University, Bowdoin College, Chapman University, Cornell University, Emerson College, Emory University, Lehigh University, New York University, Princeton University, Southern Methodist University, Tufts University, Tulane University, University of Chicago, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Pennsylvania, University of Puget Sound, University of San Diego, University of Southern California, University of Virginia, Vanderbilt University, Washington University in St. Louis and Wellesley College. 

 

As she finishes her last year at St. Margaret’s and prepares to matriculate to Princeton, Paige looks forward to studying in the school’s classics department while taking part in student-run dance companies and campus productions. She will make the next step in her academic journey filled with appreciation.

 

“I am so grateful for the support I received from the entire college counseling team,” Paige said. “St. Margaret’s gave me the space and encouragement to grow both academically and artistically, and I could not be more thankful for that foundation.”