Horace Mann - Winter 2012 - (Page 29)

news of the school entered the profession as an admissions counselor at the University of San francisco, his alma mater. a president’s Scholar, a Davies forum Scholar on equal opportunity, and an athlete at USf oxelson spent one of his college years at california State University, bakersfield, where he helped the roadrunners to the ncaa Division ii national championship. He went on from USf to serve as senior admissions officer for St. Mary’s college of california, and regional admissions representative at the University of california at Santa cruz, before moving east for his studies at Harvard. after completing his graduate studies in administration, planning and social policy at Harvard’s Graduate School of education he was named Director of the Multicultural recruitment program and regional Director of admissions at the University of pennsylvania. Drawn back to california, oxelson moved his focus to the high school side of the process at Harvard-Westlake School in Studio city, ca, managing the three-year college counseling program for 850 students at this renowned independent school. There he initiated new programs while cultivating admissions relationships with colleges and universities nationwide. oxelson has already met with several hundred college admissions representatives from around the country, on behalf of Horace Mann’s students. “after only a few months at Horace Mann, i can confirm what i had always heard: These kids are really talented,” said oxelson. “When you add that talent to the inspiration and support students get from teachers, it’s a powerful combination. it’s easy to see why Horace Mann students enjoy such great options through the college process. This is truly a remarkable place. “clearly, admissions officers are as impressed with Horace Mann as i am. They speak glowingly of our students’ willingness to take intellectual risks, try things outside of their comfort zones, and aggressively pursue their interests. college representatives keep reminding me that what makes our students so interesting is that they are doing things they genuinely find interesting, instead of just doing what they think will lead to college. Many admission representatives have left saying, ‘i wish i’d gone to a high school like HM.’” EaSinG aPPLicaTion STRESS Since arriving at Horace Mann School oxelson has been working with the counseling office, the faculty and staff to streamline the application process, to make it as efficient as possible, and help ease the stress that traditionally accompanies this time in a student’s life, and that of their family. This year, applications are being managed online through naviance, and most letters of recommendation were submitted electronically. online submission makes it easier for teachers and counselors to keep track of letters of recommendation, oxelson explained. “if students and counselors get to submit their materials electronically, why shouldn’t teachers?” The office is considering several other ideas to address the mystery that surrounds college admissions. one is a forum to discuss standardized testing. another is a case studies program to give students, parents, and teachers an inside look at how college admissions committees make decisions, oxelson reported. These ideas go hand in hand with the focus the entire college counseling office places on trying to relieve that application stress factor. “as wonderful and talented as Horace Mann students are, they’re still kids. They seem so on top of things, but they still get nervous about this. our college counselors try to help students ease the pain, but, each year brings a new class and new parents, experiencing the whole thing for the first time. The first meetings cahn oxelson held for seniors and parents were instructive, and sprinkled with laughter and generous examples of his dedication to the application process that families found reassuring. He also offered insights gained through his experience. “all the pieces of an application work in concert to help the colleges get a strong sense of why a particular student would be a good fit for a particular college,” oxelson said. “The same themes The horace mann school college counseling Office includes (back row) director of college counseling canh Oxelson, senior associate director of college counseling Thomas Katzenbach, counseling Office administrative assistant barbara billies, and (front row) associate director of college counseling amber Long, counseling Office administrative assistant Linda dowling, and associate director of college counseling beth Pili. Horace mann magazine Winter 2012 29

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Horace Mann - Winter 2012

Horace Mann - Winter 2012
Contents
Letters
Greetings from Dr. Tom Kelly
Greetings from Melissa Parento ’90
Horace Mann School’s 125th Anniversary Observances Begin
Strategic Thinking
New Initiatives in Institutional Research and Admissions
HM's New Director of College Counseling
Timothy HO and Monica Merlo are 2011 Tina and Dave Bellet Teaching Excellence Award Winners
Langfan Oratorical Contest, 2011
Horace Mann School Graduates 178 in June, 2011
Alumni Council Corner
Bookshelf
Class Notes
Memorials
Philanthropy and You

Horace Mann - Winter 2012