The college process can be extremely stressful for both parents and students alike, according to College Counselor Erin Stein. The greatest anxiety for parents is affordability, Stein said.

On Feb 30, the Counseling Program hosted their annual Planning for College Success Workshop. The workshop ran from 7 pm to 9 pm and was aimed at freshman and sophomore parents in order to help them acclimate to the application process, Stein said.

“It’s important that people know that it [college preparation] starts now from day one of freshman year,” Stein said.

Furthermore, Stein believes that students need to ask themselves, “What are colleges looking for, and what can I do now to make myself a competitive applicant?”

Almost 225 people attended the event, which was composed of 50 percent of the sophomore and freshman classes. According to Stein, there is one vital question that each student must address when beginning the search process: how does what one does now impact their future? Whether it be extracurriculars or an impressive GPA, every aspect of the total package each students brings to the table is important.

According to Guidance Counselor Karen Phillips, Sion has many tools available to prepare students for their next steps after high school, one being the four-year comprehensive college and guidance counseling program.

“There was a lot of information to provided to sophomore and freshman parents,” Phillips said. “The college search is about finding the right fit for you, the student.”