Alumnae counsel Academy of Notre Dame students about college

TYNGSBOROUGH, Mass. – Advice about roommates, time management strategies, budgeting money and even the necessity of bleach wipes were just some of the topics covered in a lively event that brought together alumnae and current students for the Academy of Notre Dame’s Young Alumnae Panel, sponsored by the Advancement Office and Alumnae Association. In what has become an annual event, several alumnae met with academy juniors and seniors to offer advice on what lies ahead for the girls as the prepare for college. Throughout the event, the alumnae referred to how well they were prepared for the rigors of college both in and outside the NDA classroom. Whether it was reusing notes from biology or chemistry class or the management of time, the academy’s teachers had prepared them for their pursuit of higher education. Questions ranged from the best approach to the application process to how to maintain distance relationships. “In your college essay, it’s important to tell the college what you can do for them, not only why you want to go to their school,” said Kat Struckman, a junior at MIT who is a mechanical engineering major. “Be specific, do your research and let them know what an asset you will be as a part of their community.” Time management and money management also were concerns of the juniors and seniors. “Unlike NDA, where you have all your classes one after another, my classes are early in the morning,” said Shauna Martin, a sophomore nursing major at Boston College.