ESD Hosts Three Universities for Annual College Deans’ Panel
January 28, 2025
Since 2013, The Episcopal School of Dallas has hosted a college panel to help students understand the current trends in the college admission process. The annual college dean’s panel addresses freshmen through junior students to shed light on upcoming decisions as seniors; typically, the panel sparks discussions about time management and prioritization for our underclassmen.
This year, ESD hosted Tulane University, The University of Richmond, and The University of Texas at Austin. For the best range of perspectives, the Office of College Guidance aims to invite three types of colleges: (1) a large public institution, (2) a medium-sized university, and (3) a small liberal arts school. This selection of universities allows students to hear how each institute handles the admission process, and the deans provide a variety of helpful tips that help our students stand out in their college applications.
In addition to varying institution types, the Office of College Guidance seeks out colleagues with a wide range of experience in the admission field. The annual panel additionally balances geographic diversity with consideration for universities in which former students have been significantly interested. The Office of College Guidance wants to ensure students hear from the colleges they want to attend while also demonstrating out-of-state and in-state differences.
“This is one our most popular college guidance events of the year,” said Katherine Montgomery, College Guidance Coordinator. “Bringing in different schools really allows students to hear a different perspective, and the parents find a lot of value in hearing directly from the colleges’ deans. This event really helps students prioritize their collegiate goals and stand out.”
On Monday, the deans toured ESD’s campus to get a better sense of the school’s culture before attending the first panel during the juniors’ FLEX period. At the first panel, the deans prepare juniors for the year ahead of them and encourage them to ask any questions they may have. Following the panel, each dean attends lunch with our faculty and seniors to discuss current trends in the application process across different types of colleges. To round out the visit, the deans participate in one final panel in the evening, which is open to all parents and students. It usually lasts about an hour to an hour and a half. From there, our College Guidance team helps students debrief and digest all of the information they have received.
Montgomery explained, “This panel truly helps students debunk the major myths about college applications, and it opens eyes for some students, especially our juniors.” She continued to describe how important this event is in helping our students with major decisions. Thank you to the visiting college deans who visited with our students and families, and we look forward to another panel next year.
