Getting middle school and high school students prepared to apply for college, searching for the right institutional fit and navigating through the complicated admissions process can seem daunting for even the most organized of families.   

To help, Penn’s Office of Admissions is offering a Staff and Faculty College Search Seminar on Tuesday, June 28, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the Hall of Flags in Houston Hall, and additional counseling sessions throughout the summer months.

Admission to the seminar is free, but participants must RSVP by Monday, June 27, to Patrick Bredehoft, regional director of admissions, at patrb@admissions.upenn.edu or 215-898-4398. RSVP emails should include the name of the staff or faculty member, how many people will be attending the seminar and the year the college-bound student will graduate from high school.

At the seminar, experienced admissions officers from Penn will offer advice to University employees with kids who are approaching college age on everything from what courses students should be taking in high school, to the importance of grades versus test scores. The officers will also answer questions regarding college admissions essays, interviews and what to look for when visiting a campus.

The seminar is open to all staff and faculty with college-bound children, regardless whether the students plan to apply to Penn.

“We want to offer a general introduction to the admissions process and financial aid,” says Bredehoft. “Our goal is to hit a lot of different angles.”

For those who cannot attend the June 28 seminar, Admissions has scheduled additional “walk-in” counseling sessions throughout the summer during which faculty and staff are invited to stop by to ask questions about their specific needs and get more detailed information. The “walk-in” sessions will be held at Houston Hall, between noon and 2 p.m., on the following dates:

• Thursday, June 30, in the Golkin Room

• Thursday, July 21, in the Benjamin Franklin Room
• Thursday, Aug. 25, in the Platt Rehearsal Room

• Thursday, Sept. 29, in the Benjamin Franklin Room

“No matter how familiar people are with the admissions process, it can be confusing,” Bredehoft says. “It helps if some of it is de-coded.”