Young Alumnae Return to Campus to Share College Wisdom with Students

Upper-schoolers had the opportunity to hear firsthand about life after graduation yesterday as the GPS College Counseling Office hosted two young alumnae panels focused on the college journey—from the search process to the transition to campus life.

The panels featured GPS alumnae from the Classes of 2023 and 2024 who are now enrolled at a wide range of institutions, including Ansley Giffin ’23 (Sewanee), Emmaline Hill ’24 (the University of Arizona), Gracie Pritchett ’24 (the University of Tennessee-Knoxville), Abigal Carpenter ’24 (William & Mary, the University of St. Andrews), Rowan Espy ’23 (Tulane University), Evelyn Lytle ’23 (Vanderbilt University), Kennedy Alverson ’23 (Mississippi State), and Keller Williamson ’23 (TCU). Panelists spoke openly about academics, involvement, friendships, and the challenges of adjusting to college life.

The Application and Decision-Making Process

For sophomores and juniors beginning to think seriously about college, the conversation centered on the application process and decision-making. Alumnae spoke honestly about stress, comparison, and uncertainty. “One of the stressful things was comparison between me and my friends with colleges,” Abigail said, explaining she kept her search mostly private. Emmaline echoed that it can be a stressful time but encouraged students to enjoy the process, adding how exciting it was to envision herself at different schools. “It truly is such a fun process, so try to take advantage of it.”

Of course, the decision-making doesn’t stop once you’ve selected a college. Ansley shared she was surprised by the autonomy you’re granted when you arrive on campus. “Nobody tells you what to do … you decide when you want to go eat, you decide when you want to take a walk, you decide when you’re going to go where and do what and with who. And that lack of structure was just totally different to me.” 

When asked if there were any school characteristics they paid too much attention to during the search, Gracie explained her trepidation about going to an in-state school. “I thought that maybe I wouldn't be able to start anew and kind of get that traditional like, ’You can reinvent yourself in college and nobody knows you’ experience. But being there now, I do see people that I know from high school, but I still had the opportunity to choose what I wanted to do and really explore all my resources in college and that's definitely not a problem now. Plus, it was nice to have a few familiar faces and have people to lean on because it is a transition and it is tough, but it's also like one of the coolest years of your life.”

Making the Transition

In the panel for seniors, students heard reassurance about making friends and building community in college. “Making friends in college is something that nobody talks to you about,” Rowan explained. “It does take time, so give yourself grace.” 

One way to meet people is through getting involved. All of the panelists mentioned the importance of exploring opportunities within your major and through extracurriculars: “Getting involved in college is all about your experience and discovering what you really love,” Keller said. “So when you're looking at clubs or events that are going on, ask yourself, ‘Does it sound fun? Does it sound like something that you would be excited to give your time to?’ If the answer is yes, try it! You never know if that'll help you discover what you want to do or meet a friend that has a similar interest to you.”

Fortunately, the panelists all agreed their GPS foundation prepared them well for their new environments. Evelyn explained, “I think one thing you can get really good at at GPS is learning how to ask for help because in college you have to go a lot more out of your way sometimes. Your professor, they might have office hours once a week for an hour and maybe you're busy during that time, so you have to email them and schedule a separate time. But GPS, it's really easy to ask your teachers for help.” Keller agreed, adding, “Freshman year, I saw a lot of my friends in college who did super well in high school encounter challenges in a new way in college and really struggle to know how to seek out the answer. So it is important to take advantage of building that skill here while you're at GPS, asking the questions, getting in study groups with your friends, talking with teachers, being comfortable building relationships with adults, with teachers, is super important.”

Final Takeaways

Throughout both panels, a common theme emerged: the lasting impact of a GPS education. Alumnae credited their time at GPS with preparing them academically, socially, and personally for college success and encouraged current students to lean on the support systems around them.

The GPS College Counseling Office hosts the annual alumnae panels as a value-added experience designed to demystify the college process and help students envision their own paths forward. By hearing authentic stories and advice from recent graduates, students gained both practical guidance and confidence as they prepare for the next stage of their educational journey.