College Matriculation
The 27 members of Stuart’s Class of 2024 will be attending 23 different colleges and universities across the country. Their reasons for choosing their colleges include receiving a full academic scholarship; admission to an honors program and a specialized music business major; pursuit of strong programs in Education; and offers to continue playing collegiate field hockey, track and field, soccer, and squash. Our students were thoughtful in their college choices, which include places that support their desires for vibrant, close-knit campus communities that support their academic interests and aspirations. The class overwhelmingly cited overall fit as their top reason for choosing a school. More than one-third intend on majoring in STEM fields; about one-third plan to study business.
Bryn Mawr College
Bucknell University
Cornell University
Dickinson College
Duke University
Emerson College
Franklin & Marshall College
Hamilton College
Harvey Mudd College
Lebanon Valley College
Lehigh University
Middlebury College
Montclair State University
New York University (2)
Pratt Institute
Princeton University (2)
Skidmore College
Southern Methodist University
Stevens Institute of Technology (3)
Syracuse University
The College of New Jersey
University of Chicago
University of Richmond
My college story
Brittney Barnwell, Princeton University
I'm so excited and extremely grateful to be attending Princeton University in the fall studying Computer Science. During the college process, I knew I was looking for a school that was affordable, diverse, and emphasized collaboration and community building. Ms. Michalak was a great support system and major resource throughout the process and I'm truly thankful for all of the advice, guidance, and wisdom she provided me (I look forward to seeing her at Princeton Alumni Reunions). I eagerly awaited our one-on-one meetings because everything we worked towards was very personalized and specific to my experiences and wants for college. Ms. Michalak continuously stressed the importance of "fit" and how significant balance can be when looking at all of the factors that make a college stand out. After attending the Why Us? Princeton Open House back in October, it became solidified in my mind that Princeton was the school where I'd be supported and encouraged, where I could achieve greatness and find community amongst like-minded individuals. Ultimately, when making my decision, the financial aid, high esteem, proximity to home, extensive alumni network, an abundance of opportunities, and strong undergraduate focus of Princeton truly impressed me and led me to commit. Princeton is known for its prestige and outstanding academic reputation and I'm so lucky to get the chance to call it home for the next four years!
Giselle Jean-Marie, Syracuse University - CORONAT SCHOLAR
When I was choosing a school, I was between a few options where I was admitted. My top choices were Brown University and Duke University, as they had always been my dream schools. However, I received a full scholarship offer from Syracuse University, which came with a lot of perks like paying for study abroad, a lot of research opportunities, and different things that I thought would really last me a lifetime. I decided to visit the campus and was pleasantly surprised. People had so much spirit and everybody was really kind. Everybody was talking about how much they loved school and all of the amazing opportunities they had here. For the first time in any of my visits, I really feel at home. I really think that everything happens for a reason, and I’m excited for the next four years.
Layna Tarbotton, Emerson College
The entire college process was particularly challenging for me. I often found myself in Ms. Michalak's office wondering where to go next in an essay or asking which school to pick. Most of the time, I was met with the answer, "Only you know where to go." While at the time, I was frustrated with Ms. Michalak not choosing one of the schools on my list for me, I'm often grateful for the realization her advice caused.
I chose Emerson College because, in the end, I knew it was the right school for me. In college counseling, we often spoke about "right fit." To me, "right fit" means a school that feels like you. The lively Boston Theater District, the semester abroad LA campus in the heart of Hollywood, the unique classes no other school has, the on-campus film and news studios, the incredible faculty and alumni networks, the EVVY Awards (Emerson's Oscar-like award show), and the ability to visit my sister Allison at Northeastern University (who's only four T stops away). I could have picked a school that offered me more scholarship money, or a school with more prestige and a lower acceptance rate. Instead, I chose Emerson because it felt unique and didn't have the copy/paste frame many other schools had. It felt like me.
Alisha Wong, Harvey Mudd College
For me, choosing Harvey Mudd College was a no-brainer. Initially, I didn’t even consider it, but while I was in California visiting other colleges, I decided to take a look. I'm so glad I did because I fell in love with it immediately. Having attended Stuart, I wanted a close-knit community, but I also didn't want to lose the resources of a larger institution. Harvey Mudd offers both, as it is part of a consortium that provides everything I could ever need. From the beginning, I knew I wanted to attend a STEM-focused college. However, I struggled with the fact that most of them only cared about STEM and nothing else. It seemed that I would have to choose between my love of science and my passion for the arts, sports, and history. Then I found Harvey Mudd, whose motto is to provide an intense STEM education while also nurturing non-STEM interests. I can take classes at the other colleges while maintaining Harvey Mudd's rigorous STEM curriculum. It was a perfect match! In the end, there wasn’t any competition in my mind. As soon as I visited, I couldn't stop talking about how perfect it was: an accepting and collaborative community, a focus on extensive accommodations, amazing and fun staff, small classes, and many real-world opportunities all contributed to my appreciation of the school. I felt comfortable, happy, and cared for. I also fell in love with the campus, the surrounding town, and the location. And of course, the sunny California weather was a nice bonus!
Mishal Zaidi, The College of New Jersey
From a very young age, I knew that I wanted to pursue education and psychology. I started researching colleges with the help of the Stuart community to find out which college would be the best fit for me. After endless nights of decision-making, we officially decided that The College of New Jersey would be an excellent fit for me! I preferred to be close to home to stay with my family and have their support. As I walked around the campus for the first time, I felt right at home, being greeted as if I were already a lion. By having friends around campus and knowing my intended majors, I know I will have a fantastic time at college, learning what I love and being surrounded by those who love me.