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BASIS Independent Silicon Valley’s Class of 2023 College Acceptances

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The Class of 2023 at BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is an exceptional group of students with a diverse range of talents and interests. These students have consistently demonstrated a passion for learning and a strong work ethic, both inside and outside the classroom. By completing our rigorous curriculum that emphasizes critical thinking, collaboration, and creativity, our students have developed a strong foundation of knowledge and skills that will serve them well as they pursue their post-secondary goals.

When speaking to our Head of School Ms. Kolb, she reflected on this year’s senior class by saying, “We know how hard our students work throughout their time here at BISV. This year’s college acceptances are just another example of their mastery of our curriculum, their readiness to move on to the next stage of life, and the reward of all their hard work.”

A group of seniors in front of the Upper School campus wearing their BISV Class of 2023 shirts.

College acceptances are an important milestone for our students and their families, and our college counselors play a critical role in the process. While getting into a top-ranked college is often seen as the ultimate goal, our college counselors focus on helping students find a college that is the best fit for their academic, personal, and professional goals. This involves working closely with students to understand their interests, strengths, and preferences, as well as their financial and geographical constraints. By prioritizing student fit, our college counselors help our graduating Bobcats find a college where they can thrive academically, personally, and socially, setting them up for success in their college years and beyond.

Ms. Batrachenko, one of our college counselors, recently expressed her admiration for the Class of 2023. According to her, this year’s graduating class brought a “mosaic of personalities and self-expression styles” to the college application process, which made it an exciting journey to be a part of. Despite any challenges our students faced, they approached the application process with dedication and commitment, and as a result, achieved impressive college acceptances.

We are confident that the Class of 2023 will continue to excel in their academic and personal pursuits, and wish them the very best as they embark on this exciting journey. Below is the full list of College Acceptances for this year’s graduating class. Congratulations, Bobcats!

BASIS Independent Silicon Valley is a TK – Grade 12 private school, providing students with an internationally benchmarked liberal arts and sciences curriculum, with advanced STEM offerings. Considering joining the Bobcat community?

College Counseling Spotlight: Preparing for Decision Day

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Every year on May 1, students are cementing where they will attend college on National Decision Day. What are we doing to prepare our students for this big, impending decision?

This year, our College Counselor, Ms. Abrams, has been working with students and parents in grades 9-11 to ensure they feel confident and comfortable with the college admissions process, and we are also pleased to share some of the standout internships and programs our soon-to-be seniors are doing this summer.

Our students learn a lot about the college process and how this journey will be unique for each one of them. During the vital junior year, grade 11 students have:

Individual, weekly meetings in the College Counseling office to form college lists and identify the “right fit” schools that suit their personalities and support their academic goals.

Group sessions to discuss major college application checkpoints, such as essay writing, resume building, and summer program enrollment.

Collaboration time with teachers to share information and prepare for the recommendation letter writing process.

Our grade 9-10 students have access to Ms. Abrams’ resources and are encouraged to stop by her office to start discussing their plans for the future. She helps them choose high school courses that will be beneficial for completing their goals, and her door is always open for them to discuss volunteer and summer program opportunities, and college research.

Once students reach their senior year, they take a daily college counseling course to help them succeed in successfully planning for the next stage of their education journey.

Admissions Reps Visiting Our Campus
Further, we host college admissions representatives on campus in the fall, and this year we welcomed reps from over 50 colleges and universities. These visits provide an advantageous opportunity to learn straight from the source about what makes a college unique, and they allow students of all grade levels to get their questions answered. This process helps our students hone their college choices to the point where they will be happy to attend anyone on their list.

Supporting Parents in the Process
Every month, Ms. Abrams distributes an informational newsletter on local college fairs, parent workshops, and organizations in the community that can help build student resumes. For example, families have access to a curated list of hundreds of Pre-College Summer Program opportunities and volunteering.

Additionally, Ms. Abrams hosts various webinars for parents about topics such as Financial Aid, The Common Application, and the SAT/ACT tests. She also makes time for individual check-ins to ensure that she, the families, and the student are all on the same page and that everyone’s goals align.

Preparing for Senior Year
Our students are currently brainstorming for their personal statements and supplemental essays, which will help them get ahead before the rush of college applications in the fall semester. After their AP tests, juniors will work on these essays in their English classes with Ms. Abrams and their English Subject Expert Teacher to ensure they receive constructive and valuable feedback.

Additionally, students are working on leveling up their resumes and conveying themselves in the best way possible. They are visiting colleges both in person and online, and we are excited to take all of our high school students to SUNY New Paltz this May to get a feel for a college campus.

Pre-College Summer Programs for Our Students
Many students will engage in pre-college summer programs at major universities or through community organizations. These programs help teach students important skills for their futures, such as collaboration, time management, organization, and advocacy. See below for some student highlights!

Ashley W. (Class of ’24) is attending New York University’s Pre-College program this summer. She is so excited to dive into two courses: Applied Psychology and Intro to Marketing. Ashley has loved NYU for a very long time and is looking forward to making new friends and expanding her passions this summer.

Deniz E. (Class of ’25) has lots of plans for this upcoming summer. First, he will attend Columbia University’s three-week Summer Immersion Program where he will focus on two courses: Globalization and Challenges in International Economics and Politics, and Political Economic Ideologies of The Modern World. Deniz loves New York City and is excited to work on Columbia’s campus this summer. He will also work at the USTA’s Tennis Summer Camp as a Junior Coach and help young children improve their tennis skills.

Hudson L. (Class of ’25) is excited to attend The University of Pennsylvania’s Pre-College Summer Program. After thoroughly enjoying both his AP Biology and AP Psychology courses, Hudson is enrolled in UPenn’s Neuroscience Research Academy. He is looking forward to learning more about the brain and how it connects to our emotions. Specifically, he is excited to spend time on a beautiful college campus.

Julia N. (Class of ’26) will attend Columbia University’s Pre-College program for Architecture this summer. Besides being a dedicated student and soccer player, Julia loves art. She is eager to explore her more creative side while working alongside like-minded peers on a college campus this summer.