WRA College Counseling

07/28/2026

As the summer wind-down begins, we want to wish an incredible freshman year to all of our recent high school graduates heading off to college!

You’ve worked incredibly hard to get to this point, and now the real adventure begins. As you pack your bags, pick out your dorm decor, and get ready to step onto campus, here are a few tips from US News.

Find the balance between having fun and preparing for the next four years, experts say.

07/24/2026

Revolution Prep and the College Essay Guy are hosting a free webinar for WRA students. Join Ethan Sawyer on Wednesday, August 5 at 7:00 PM EST. Visit the WRA portal for the flier with complete details. Registration is required.

07/22/2026

Final stop on the Peak to Peak Tour:

The University of Denver (DU) is a mid-sized institution located five miles south of downtown Denver, serving approximately 6,600 undergraduate students. Its location offers students a balance of urban access and proximity to outdoor recreation.

The 125-acre main campus is a designated arboretum packed with historic brick buildings. Operating on a fast-paced quarter system, DU is highly respected for top programs across its Daniels College of Business, the Josef Korbel School of International Studies, and its thriving Natural Sciences and Mathematics divisions. Over 70% of Pioneers study abroad, making it one of the most globally minded schools in the country.

Campus life is rich with traditions like the annual Winter Carnival and Hockey Ticket Campout when students pitch tents to be sure to get student section passes for DU home games.

07/19/2026

For rising high school seniors, August 1st marks the official "rollover" of the Common Application. This marks the perfect opportunity to get ahead and guarantee yourself a stress-free fall.

07/15/2026

Next on the Peak to Peak Tour: University of Colorado Boulder. CU Boulder is a public research university with a bustling campus community of over 38,000 students. Spread across a 600-acre campus known for its distinct Tuscan Vernacular Renaissance architecture, CU Boulder bridges vibrant city culture with world-class alpine recreation.

Academically, the university is highly regarded for its top-tier programs in Business Administration, Psychology, Computer Science, Public Relations, and its world-renowned Aerospace Engineering department. Beyond the classroom, life as a Buff is defined by incredible school spirit and legendary traditions, none bigger than Ralphie’s Run, where an American bison leads the football team onto the field before every home game. Students also look forward to the Conference on World Affairs, which brings global leaders and thinkers directly to campus each spring.

07/12/2026

Formerly known as SRAR or SSAR, the Self-Reported Transcript and Academic Record System (STARS) is the platform many colleges now use to streamline the admissions process. Instead of paying to send official transcripts to every school, you can submit your academic record directly through STARS.

But heads up: policies vary! Some schools mandate it, while others keep it optional.

College KickStart has put together a current list of all participating colleges, their exact requirements, and direct source links so you don't have to guess.

A growing number of colleges and universities accept STARS in lieu of an official high school transcript during the college application process.

07/10/2026

Mr. McMahon attended the Peak to Peak counselor tour last week, visiting Colorado College, University of Colorado at Boulder and the University of Denver.

A look at Colorado College!

Located at the base of Pikes Peak in Colorado Springs, Colorado College offers a unique liberal arts experience for its tight-knit community of roughly 2,000 undergraduate students.

The beautiful 90-acre campus sits steps from downtown and minutes from the red rocks of Garden of the Gods, making it a dream location for anyone who loves the outdoors. Academically, CC is famous for its Block Plan, where students immerse themselves in just one class at a time for three and a half weeks—often focusing on top majors like Economics, Environmental Science, Political Science, Computer Science, or Biology. Once a block wraps up, students earn a "Block Break" to ski, hike, or travel.

Traditions include Llamapalooza (the massive student-run spring music festival) and Classy Wednesdays, (students dress in formal wear for a night out).

07/05/2026

Margeaux Nething, Associate Director of College Counseling, was recently in Boston for an immersive Counselor Fly-in program hosted by Northeastern University.

Getting a close-up look at Northeastern was fantastic. It's essentially a high-tech, 73-acre city within a city, housing around 22,400 undergrads right in the heart of Boston. They are hugely popular for high-growth fields like Business, Computer Science, Engineering, and Health Sciences. But the real highlight was diving into their signature co-op program—it’s the gold standard for experiential learning, letting students alternate semesters of classes with full-time, professional work so they graduate with an incredible resume already built.

The trip afforded Mrs. Nething the opportunity to visit several other campuses around the city, including Boston College, Boston University, Emerson College, Harvard University, MIT, and Tufts University.

Looking ahead, Associate Director Liam McMahon is heading out west for the Peak to Peak College Tour in Colorado. He'll be visiting Colorado College, the University of Colorado at Boulder, and the University of Denver, so we'll have plenty of great insights to share about those schools soon.

Counseor travel is an important part of the work we do, giving our team a firsthand look at the campuses and a chance to connect directly with admissions offices. Counselors get a true feel for the culture at each school and the latest updates on what admissions teams are focusing on right now. It’s always exciting when our team can do these deep dives and come back with some excellent insights to share with our students as they map out their college lists.

06/28/2026

Some strategies for maximizing the summer break without letting the college admissions process take over.

A recent college grad’s take on campus tours, admissions interviews, the Common App essay and more.