Head of School Letter: Joy in the Journey 

The spring semester begins the home stretch for our seniors, many of whom have been at Shorecrest for the majority of their young lives. In the coming weeks we'll celebrate athletic senior nights, final theatre and music performances, capstone project presentations, and other rites of passage as the Class of 2024 wraps up their Shorecrest experience. Looking ahead to National College Decision Day on May 1, I know we will have so much to celebrate as this group of hard-working young people makes their final college choices. I'm pleased to share some good news of college acceptances for our students who have submitted early applications to their colleges and universities of choice.  

Our team of four college counselors in the Upper School College Counseling Office has been working hard to support the Class of 2024 and their 9th-11th grade peers to navigate their high school journey and make the most of their Shorecrest Upper School experience. This holistic approach, in turn, prepares students for a successful college search and application process. Our college counseling programming begins in ninth grade, and includes a variety of options for both students and families, in addition to the one-on-one counseling sessions our students engage in with their assigned counselor. 

For example, earlier this week we hosted an NCSA Athletic Recruiting Seminar for students who are interested in pursuing college-level athletics. (We're excited to share news of our Class of 2024 collegiate athletes on Shorecrest Athletic Commitment Day in April!) This weekend our juniors and their families can participate in the annual Tampa Bay Case Studies event. Held annually at a different participating independent school, Tampa Bay Case Studies is a unique opportunity for students and parents to go behind-the-scenes and experience a simulated college admissions process, as well as to meet college admissions officers. Looking ahead to next week, our ninth graders and their families will meet with the College Counseling Team on Tuesday, January 23, for "First Year Foundation" - a Shorecrest-created program that helps ninth graders curate and enjoy their Upper School experience with an eye on the college process. Later this spring, we'll host the annual HBCU College Fair on campus, among the many other college-related events and programming presented by our College Counseling Office. 

As proud as we are when our students find their best-fit colleges and universities, what we value most for our students of all levels is finding joy in the journey through Shorecrest and beyond. Our college counseling professionals and fellow faculty work to help students maximize their Shorecrest experience, build relationships, explore new areas of interest, and take advantage of the many opportunities they have at Shorecrest to become lifelong learners.

All the best, 
Nancy

Below is a sample of early college acceptances for the Shorecrest Class of 2024 with bold indicating students who have already decided to matriculate at those schools. 

Arizona State University
Auburn University
Babson College
Berklee College of Music
Boston University (2)
Case Western Reserve University
Clemson University
College of Charleston
Colorado College
Colorado State University
Columbia University
Elon University 
Fordham University
Furman University 
Harvard University
Hofstra University
Indiana University
Macalester College
Michigan State University
Miami University (OH) 
New York University
Northeastern University (4)
The Ohio State University
The Pennsylvania State University
Tulane University
University College London (UK)
Virginia Polytechnic Institute
University of Georgia
University of Oregon
University of Pittsburgh
University of Richmond
University of Saint Andrews (Scotland)
University of South Carolina
University of Vermont

FLORIDA SCHOOLS 
Eckerd College
Florida A&M University
Florida Atlantic University
Florida Institute of Technology
Florida International University
Florida Polytechnic University
Florida Southern College
Florida State University (FSU)
Rollins College
Stetson University
University of Central Florida
University of North Florida
University of South Florida
University of Tampa

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