This January, during Young Alumni Visit Day, the Alumni Office and College Counseling Office welcomed back alumni Autumn Bartush ’22, Tomas De Pinho ’25, Julia Johnson ’25, Max Liguori ’25, Shannon Martin ’24, Patrick Murphy ’22, and Tyra Stephenson ’25 for a Q&A style conversation with the junior class. Their stories offered an inside look at how the GFA experience carries forward into college life and beyond.
As alumni talked about what they learned through the college application process, many described it less as a period of decision-making and more as a time to reflect on who they were and what they valued. Autumn shared that researching majors and exploring programs helped her decide what she wanted to study, while Tomas talked about how it was important to his process to stay open to new subjects and experiences rather than locking himself into a single path. For Max, the process helped him narrow down not just what to study, but what kind of college environment he wanted, and Patrick reflected on how having supportive mentors made the process feel manageable, even amid the pressure of deadlines. Shannon and Tyra underscored the importance of focusing on personal priorities rather than comparing themselves to others, and Julia described how meeting athletes and teams to get a sense of community was key for her journey as a college athlete. Across the panel there was a common thread: the most valuable part of the process was learning how to ask better questions about fit, balance, and the kind of community in which they would thrive.
When the conversation shifted to academic preparation and experiences at GFA, panelists talked about how advanced classes, especially GFA’s Inquiry Program, encouraged them to pursue questions that mattered and to follow their curiosity. That freedom to explore helped some discover subjects or interests at GFA that became springboards into college courses or even potential majors. For others, GFA classes offered insight into the type of school that would best support their passions: Julia, for example, discovered a love of writing that pointed her toward a well-rounded liberal arts program, while Max’s advanced inquiry pointed him directly to his path in math and finance.
The panel also addressed the question of how GFA prepared them for the social and academic transition to college. Alumni described feeling prepared academically, but emphasized that this feeling of preparation extended well beyond the classroom. At GFA, close connections with teachers are a defining part of the learning experience, and Patrick and Tomas noted that developing strong relationships with teachers made reaching out in college classrooms and office hours feel natural. Shannon highlighted how shared experiences like class trips prepared her for the social side of college, helping her navigate icebreaker moments and meeting new peers. Autumn and Tyra reflected on how the time management and self-advocacy skills learned at GFA made it easier to balance academics, extracurriculars, and new responsibilities in their first year without overloading themselves. Alumni were candid when asked about challenges during the transition, and how even with academic preparation, adjusting to new expectations still took effort. Still, each panelist could trace how habits and skills developed at GFA gave them the foundation to tackle these challenges head-on rather than be overwhelmed.
When the conversation turned to the college application process, the panelists thanked their counselors for helping them stay organized, manage stress, and focus on schools where they would truly thrive. Tomas recalled Mr. Olins’s advice: “You’re not going to be doing well in college if you’re not happy” and Tyra described how counselors helped her reach higher, saying “They believed in me in a way I couldn’t.” The panel highlighted how GFA’s counselors do more than advise—they help students think holistically about fit and priorities.
At GFA, students are encouraged to engage deeply—with ideas, people, and their own evolving goals. In hearing alumni reflect on their experiences, the juniors caught a glimpse of what it can look like to prepare for college: not by having everything figured out, but by developing the skills and habits to navigate what comes next with confidence.