Senior Parent College Night: Preparing for the Months Ahead

Head of School Ryan S. Dahlem opened the evening by reflecting on the senior orientation trip as a metaphor for the cadence of senior year—fast-paced navigation of the rapids in the fall, followed by floating downstream by the time senior spring arrives. Dahlem also recounted a humorous anecdote about being one of the last to plunge into the unexpectedly chilly water with his advisees at the end of the adventure. Before introducing the College Counseling team, Dahlem provided updates on strategic initiatives, including the new academic schedule, a forward-thinking approach to AI literacy, and updates about the forthcoming campaign to build a new Community Center.

Director of College Counseling Dave Lyons describes senior fall “like the crescendo of the college search and application process.” The goal of the meeting with Grade 12 parents was to highlight the various touchpoints of support provided for Rivers seniors and their parents. “Senior families are a bit savvier at this point,” said Lyons, regarding an overview of the meeting. “We like to take this opportunity to dive into historical early application data to illustrate the value of a well-developed application strategy.”

Many members of the Rivers Class of 2026 had a good idea by January where they would be this fall, showcasing the strength of Rivers’ college-bound students in a highly competitive college admissions landscape. For perspective, data on early rounds for the class of 2026 showed that 97 percent submitted an application via ED1 (Early Decision), EA (Early Action), REA, or Rolling Admission prior to November 15, 2025. Additionally, 94 percent of students were admitted to one more college prior to January 15, while 68 percent of ED1 or Restrictive Early Action (REA) applicants were admitted. 

Moving into the nuts and bolts of the term, Lyons emphasized that the office’s open-door policy extends to both students and parents of Rivers seniors. “We recognize how much is going on in your world right now, and the emotions that you may be juggling, and we are here for all of you,” he noted. He also noted that more than 100 college and university representatives will be on campus this fall, which is a testament to the students themselves.

Members of Rivers College Counseling office—including Lyons, Associate Director of College Counseling Caitlin McDonough, and Associate Director of College Counseling Ian Watson—outlined the trajectory of the coming weeks as students prepare for mid-October and November 1 deadlines. McDonough commended parents for empowering their students, reiterating that “we're not just here meeting with them; we're partnering with you in this process.” 

To further outline the process, the presentation covered early admissions rounds, revealed statistics on how Early Decision and Early Action affect the process, unpacked financial aid procedures, and provided context on application submission logistics to ensure students get across the finish line by January 1.

Closing out the evening, Lyons reassured families about the road ahead. “I can't tell you how impressed I am with this senior class,” Lyons said. “They will all land at an amazing institution. We know that. As far as meeting with us again, the door is open at this point. Call us at any time, and we're more than happy to sit down and go over everything with you.” 

To learn more about College Counseling at Rivers and college enrollment trends, please visit our webpage.