Agenda

8:30 am: Networking & Continental Breakfast | Welcome Center Lobby

9:00 am: Welcome & Activity | NCAIS Team | Kulynych Auditorium

9:15 am: Navigating the Current Landscape of College Admissions | Eric Maguire-Vice President of Enrollment-Wake Forest University | Kulynych Auditorium
Mr. Maguire will share his thoughts and observations regarding the state of college admission as we (hopefully) exit the Covid-19 pandemic. Discussing how the pandemic has impacted undergraduate admissions at institutions like Wake Forest and explain how the University is using this moment to craft its strategic direction. You will gain insights into Wake's process for selecting promising students based on an applicant's academic background, community involvement, and alignment with the University's Pro Humanitate mission. He will also touch on topics such as test-optional admission, curricular choice, meaningful activities, and other elements of a student's application.

10:30 am: Break

10:45 am: Panel Discussion: Operation “Get In the Know”
Representatives from various institutions will answer questions and share insights into the application and admissions process, current trends, and how to help your students navigate the college admissions process. The colleges and universities represented include public and private institutions, as well as some located within North Carolina and others beyond our borders. Designed to be an intimate conversation between panelists and participants, there will be time for questions from the audience.

11:45 am: Lunch and Learn with College Admissions Professionals

12:30 pm Breakout Session I | Select One
The College Acceptance Journey for Student Athletes | Tom Walter, Wake Forest University | Strum Conference Room
While the journey for hopeful NCAA athletes is unique, it is no less stressful than the typical path. Join Tom Walter, WFU baseball coach, as he talks through the requirements and policies of the NCAA, the differences between Division I, II, and III, and the red flags students should be aware of as they pursue a collegiate athlete experience. Some students will be courted by numerous teams while others will hope for a walk-on spot. Throw in the recent NIL policy and the ruling that student-athletes can receive compensation from their institutions, the waters are further muddied. Participants will leave this session with a handful of questions to help guide their students in navigating the student-athlete journey.

Supporting Students with Learning Disabilities Throughout the College Application Process | Kathleen Walker, M.S, The Fletcher School | Dr. Michael Shuman, Director of Learning, Access, and Student Success at Wake Forest University | Maple Room
As College Counselors, we have a duty to serve all students to the best of our abilities. In consideration of all the different types of students counselors are required to serve, sometimes it is students with learning and attention disabilities who can be the most difficult to support. This breakout session will discuss best practices for supporting neurodivergent learners and their families throughout the college application preparation and submission process. You’ll receive sample strategies for supporting students as well as information and resources regarding colleges and universities with varying degrees of academic and executive functioning support.

School Profiles: What Do Colleges Really Want to See? | Brennan Barnard, Director of College Counseling Khan Lab School & Director of College Counseling for the College Guidance Network; Dawn Calhoun, Senior Associate Dean of Admissions, Wake Forest University; Megan Tyler, Director of Admissions, Wofford College | Kulynych Auditorium
With close to 60,000 US public and private secondary schools, imagine the task of equitably evaluating the college preparation of students from so many and such diverse school settings without the valuable context provided by a high school profile. A thoughtfully designed, informative high school profile: provides colleges with contextual information to review applications fairly and equitably, facilitates academic fit, and enables schools and colleges to work better together, fostering a more effective high school-to-college completion pipeline. In this session we will explore:

Current trends affecting what matters most in a school profile
What the profile is AND what it’s not
Effective vs ineffective elements of a profile

1:45 pm: Breakout Session II | Select One
Mental Health Matters: Adolescent Development and the College Acceptance Journey. Acceptance Journey | Bridget Gwinnett, MS, LCMHCS | Maple Room
Beginning with the first day of their freshman year in high school, many students have an end goal in sight: admission to [insert highly selective and probably not realistic] University. The pressure comes from several points, but leaves teens feeling overwhelmed and inadequate. How can you support a teen and their family in ways that foster mental health in a process that is dominated by anxiety? Attendees will participate in an interactive presentation to understand how adolescent development impacts their college process and learn how to engage with families in ways that promote a healthy process.

Little-Known Secrets of Paying for College| Mike Russell, Regional Director for the College Funding Coach | Strum Conference Room
For many families, the high cost of higher education is a daunting proposition. Parents lie awake at night trying to figure out how to afford to send their children to college and still have enough of their hard-earned money to be able to retire one day. Some families have children attending college next year and others have 12 years to plan, but the fears of tackling these monumental and rising costs are the same. The College Funding Coach® is here to help families figure out HOW to pay for it!

School Profiles: What do Colleges Really Want to see? | Brennan Barnard, Director of College Counseling Khan Lab School & Director of College Counseling for the College Guidance Network; Dawn Calhoun, Senior Associate Dean of Admissions, Wake Forest University; Megan Tyler, Director of Admissions, Wofford College | Kulynych Auditorium
With close to 60,000 US public and private secondary schools, imagine the task of equitably evaluating the college preparation of students from so many and such diverse school settings without the valuable context provided by a high school profile. A thoughtfully designed, informative high school profile: provides colleges with contextual information to review applications fairly and equitably, facilitates academic fit, and enables schools and colleges to work better together, fostering a more effective high school-to-college completion pipeline. In this session we will explore:

Current trends affecting what matters most in a school profile
What the profile is AND what it’s not
Effective vs ineffective elements of a profile

2:45 pm: What Is On The Horizon For The UNC System and College Admissions | Ulisa E. Bowles, MPA, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Division of Academic Affairs, University of North Carolina System | Kulynych Auditorium
There are changes on the horizon for students applying to the schools within the UNC system, such as Minimum Admissions Requirements, Common Course Numbering, and initiatives to support student emotional well-being just to name a few. You will want to take notes so as not to miss a thing!

3:45 pm: Adjourn