Drive-In Workshops

Drive-In Workshops are designed with the busy college counseling/admission professional in mind.  These one-day workshops are held throughout our region.  Moderated by seasoned PCACAC professionals, the Drive-In consists of several sessions and discussion opportunities.  Past workshops have included such topics as communication, ethics in admission, a mock admission committee, current trend/future issues discussion, and plenty of opportunity to network with colleagues and moderators alike.  The sessions are cost effective (and sometimes free) and are an outreach tool for professionals in the area where presented.

If you are interested in hosting a Drive-In Workshop, please contact Charlain Bailey or Daniel Zawacki


Host a Drive-In Workshop

PCACAC is looking for sites throughout our region as we plan future workshops. We are currently seeking institutions that are interested in hosting a professional development day-long workshop targeting those who counsel high school students for college. Some of the organizational needs include:

  • Meeting space and AV (if needed) provided for a group of approximately 50 attendees (that number can vary and may be limited according to the needs of the institution) for up to 4 sessions during the day. The institution would have the opportunity to do one 75-minute session (or whatever the institution would like…maybe an information session and a tour);
  • Parking for attendees;
  • A member of your staff designated as the primary point of contact throughout the planning process and available to provide support on the day of the event;
  • A willingness to use the institution’s local school counselor email list to ensure notification of local counselors of the joint professional development venture between PCACAC and the host institution; and
  • If possible, an institution that would be able to provide a light continental breakfast (coffee?) and lunch for the attendees. 

Take a look at some past workshops...

Understanding what Admissions Counselors want to see in
Letters of Recommendation,
from structure to format to do’s and don’ts

On September 28, 2023 over sixty School Counselors and College and Career Information Coordinators with Montgomery County Public Schools attended a workshop revolving around admissions and the counselor letter of recommendation. The workshop provided school counselors and admissions staff the opportunity to have candid conversations about what is truly important in a counselor letter of recommendation. Topics discussed included: do’s and don’ts, format and structure of letters, what the application review process looks like on the admissions side, and implications for counselors considering the recent SCOTUS decision on affirmative action.

A big thank you to The PCACAC Professional Development Committee for arranging this event and to the professionals on the college admissions side who provided great information: Grant Henry from Loyola University of Maryland, Amy Moffatt from Towson University, Nick Orban from the University of Maryland, College Park, Jeff Smith from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, and Calvin Wise from Johns Hopkins University.

 



Public High School Counselor Workshop

Counselors from Richmond area public schools joined PCACAC 
at King George High School, 10100 Foxes Way, King George, VA 

Workshop Agenda

College Admissions Workshop

Counselors from Richmond area public schools joined PCACAC 
at Meadowbrook High School, 4901 Cogbill Road, Richmond, VA
Workshop Agenda

 

College Admissions Workshop at Randolph-Macon College

A sincere THANK YOU to our attendees,
our hosts at Randolph-Macon College:

David Lesesne, Vice-President for Enrollment
Anthony Ambrogi, Director of Admissions
Annie Keith, Sr. Associate Director of Admissions
Charter Lindley, Sr. Assistant Director of Admissions

and to our Presenters:
RMC Group
 Alice Whitener, Rebekah LaPlante, Robyn Lady, Rachel Wyant, and Mike Carter (Not pictured: Jennifer Knox)