Hooray for USA Sundays!

18 April 2022Maxine P, Alex ‘23; Photo by Rick Rodrigues

As the year comes to an end, returning Brentwood students are encouraged to turn their attention to the upcoming school year. For many, this means talking to teachers, choosing classes, and reviewing them with University Counseling. For a select few grade 11s, this also means taking the SAT, writing essays, and creating a college list. That is where Mr Rodrigues and his USA Sunday workshops come in.

As an international school with a lot of students who are interested in going to university in the US, Brentwood is well equipped to help the grade 11s through the laborious application process. One of the main ways students are able to get support and have their questions answered is through USA Sundays.

Despite what the name suggests, USA Sundays happen every two weeks on either Monday or Sunday. These workshops are designed to help grade 11s navigate US universities and work on their applications. Mr Rodrigues said he created this program because this process is “completely new to all grade 11s. This is a journey where you have to look inward and be introspective in a way you probably never have before.”

This year, there have been two workshops so far. The first one in February focused on introducing the 11s to the entire process by giving us a suggested timeline between now and when most early applications are due in November. During the most recent USA “Monday”, Mr Rodrigues brought in ten grade 12s to speak about their experience going through the application process and share their advice. The upcoming sessions will focus on essay writing and creating a college list.

In an undertaking as involved as applying to US schools, most students would agree that these workshops have provided them with concrete guidance. “These workshops have been very insightful for me,” said Sylvia E, Alex ‘23, “I feel like the tips have helped me know what I need to focus on.” These ambitious students have a lot of work ahead of them – but USA Sundays are setting them up for success!

Maxine P, Alex ‘23

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