Class of '29

Senior year of high school is a confusing, stressful time. Students are faced with college applications, grappling with graduating from high school, and essentially exiting childhood. For me though, David helped make my senior year as seamless and smooth as possible. 

We started meeting often at the end of my junior year, where he helped me map out which colleges I wanted to apply to, what some of my stand out extracurriculars would be, and what my focus going into senior year was.  From the beginning of my senior year, we worked closely: he helped me complete the tedious sections of the application, and made sure we highlighted my strengths in my activities section.   

David was crucial in the first half of my senior year because he gave me guidance through a difficult time, taking AP Calculus AB. I had always been decent at math, receiving A’s and A-’s in honors math classes up to this point, so I entered the school year with high hopes for this class. However, my hopes were soon squashed when I earned a 60% on our first quiz in the class. My early scores in AP Calc soon made me realize that my first quarter grade in the class would be rough, far below what I needed to be admitted into all my target schools. However, David helped me through my impending panic over this class. He advised me and my parents on a local tutor in the area who would help me learn the important concepts ahead of quizzes and exams. And, he gave me imperative advice while I was deciding between applying early to one of my top schools. Ultimately, we decided to apply regular decision, based on my grade in AP Calculus at that point.  Over time my Calc grade barely improved, I was highly considering dropping the course and switching to Honors Calculus. 

Yes, David pushed me to stay the course, to put my head down and grind. And, throughout the year, my grade improved. I managed to scrape together a B- for a first semester grade, not ideal but not terrible. In the second semester, David helped me craft emails to my top schools, highlighting my improvements throughout the school year in not just AP Calc, but also other demanding classes I was taking:  AP Literature and Composition and AP Spanish Language and Culture. 

By the third quarter, I had raised my Calculus grade to a B+, which we emphasized in my communications. Ultimately, David created an easy to follow path to colleg applications, and without his guidance, my senior year would have been much more harrowing. 

Today, I am a sophomore at an amazing school, Bates College. I compete for the varsity alpine ski team, and love my school. It perfectly encapsulates my various interests: including a small community, liberal arts studies, and my athletic improvement. And, best of all, in July 2025, I opened my AP scores to learn I had scored a 5 on AP Calculus AB. Despite my rocky start, I had stuck with the course, thanks to David’s wisdom, and had produced the highest score on the exam possible. 

Overall, David supported me through a challenging time of my life. He influenced me to keep working even when my classes were difficult, he provided essential advice throughout my senior year, and he helped me craft the best college application I could. David is a great college counselor, and mentor.