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Dear Prospective Family,
I’ve lived at Midland for the past 25 years and have had the pleasure of serving as Midland’s Director of College Counseling for the past 17. While I was originally pulled in to Midland by the beauty of the campus and the incredibly welcoming community, staying all these years has been an easy decision. I feel privileged watching adolescents learn how to become the people they want to be, living in an environment where people truly care about each other. And perhaps even more so, because I love my job, which allows me to guide our thoughtful students through the college admissions process and find the best fit school for them.
Just as you are now going through the high school admission process looking for the place where you will thrive, college counseling at Midland is focused on success, not just admittance. As students gain independence and a deep understanding of themselves at Midland, they are ready to be independent when they go to college, and I work closely with each of them to ensure that they find the best fit for them — not just academically, but socially and emotionally.
If you want to hear more about the specifics of the college process, check out the recording of this Wednesday’s Meet the Midland Community webinar, where I spoke with several current students and a recent alumna about college counseling at Midland.
You don’t just have to take my word for it — scroll below for stories of recent Midland graduates whose time here set them up for their own authentic version of success in and after college.
Warmly,
Lynda Cummings
Director of College Counselling
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Teachers: an integral pieces of the College Prep Process
"My free communication and interaction with Midland faculty, whom I got to know both inside and outside of the classroom, empowered me to take advantage of my college professor’s office hours. This 'daunting' experience for my peers was well within my realm of comfort; Midland taught me to seek answers and to have confidence in my own intellect, but it also taught me to be comfortable asking for help when those answers eluded me. Just one of the many benefits of my Midland experience." - Emma '16
"Midland prepares its students not only academically for college, but also gives us the life lessons necessary to live with a roommate, in a college community, and in the world. Midland has involved and caring teachers, which makes it really helpful when it comes to college recommendations. Our college counselor is especially devoted to helping students get into colleges that are the best individual fits. All in all, Midland is a very nurturing and helpful environment for a process that can be very stressful.” - Midland Senior
Drawing from Midland Roots:
a High Fashion College Experience
We often receive questions from students and families wondering if Midland sets students up for success in colleges that focus not just on environmental studies, ranching, and the traditional academic areas. The simple answer is, yes, we absolutely do! One of our favorite examples is Mark Gong's pursuit of a college experience and career in high fashion.
At Midland, Mark Gong, ‘17, enrolled in art classes and in his free time cultivated his love of fashion, even designing and manufacturing a line of clothing during his junior year. His passion continued to grow during his time at Midland, and his acceptance to Parsons School of Fashion senior year warranted significant celebration. While at Parsons, Mark has remained committed to doing real work while pursuing his academic interests. Over the past few years, he has released multiple clothing lines and is the youngest designer ever at New York Fashion week. He says that his time at Midland inspired his recent Spring/Summer 2020 line entitled “Camping.” Read more about Mark and see photos of his collection in this article by Vogue.
Courtesy of Vogue Magazine
The Use of Being Useful | CATDC Spotlight
One October a few short years ago, a Midland student named Cruz was visiting a college on his application list and found himself eating alone in the dining hall. Being alone did not bother him, but he was troubled when he saw a group of students leave a significant mess for someone else to clean up. There was food on the floor and a drink spilled on the table. Cruz, always one to be useful, went to the kitchen and asked for a broom and a rag. Unbeknownst to Cruz, staff from the admissions office sat a few tables away and watched this prospective student clean up after people he did not know.
Cruz’s story has almost become a legend among some college admissions officers. Every year since then, when I attend the annual National Association of College Admissions Counselors conference, I meet another new college representative who has heard about that Midland student who did something unheard of. “Oh! You’re from Midland…” and the conversation begins.
Continue reading the Lynda's article for the California Teacher Development Association here.
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