Ranney School Class of 2009 Headed to the Nation’s Top Schools

Ranney School congratulates the Class of 2009 for gaining admission into some of the most selective and prestigious colleges and universities in the world. The final round of college acceptances arrived in the mail over the spring semester break, giving the 58 soon-to-be graduates reason to celebrate.

“I’m pretty happy,” said Jill Giunco, who learned late last week that she was accepted to her dream school, the University of Notre Dame. “I’ve wanted to go to Notre Dame since I was in the fifth grade,” Giunco said. “When I got the letter in the mail, I cried for an hour and a half. Honestly!”

This year, Ranney students received 225 acceptance letters from 125 schools, including five from Ivy Leagues. Princeton, Dartmouth, Brown, Cornell and the University of Pennsylvania each extended invitations to students. Equally impressive were the number of acceptances to so-called “Hidden Ivies” and “Public Ivies,” including Amherst, Boston College, Bucknell, Duke, Georgetown, George Washington University, University of Michigan, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, New York University, Tufts, Vassar and Washington University of St. Louis. Also on the list were a number of highly selective art and technology schools, including The Art Institute of California, Rensselear Polytechnic Institute and the Savannah College of Art and Design.

“We are extremely proud of this graduating class,” said Head of School Dr. Lawrence S. Sykoff. “They are a diverse pool of talented, academically motivated students who have demonstrated extraordinary achievement, both in and outside of the classroom. It is no surprise that so many distinguished institutions have asked them to join the ranks of next year’s freshman class.”

Director of College Guidance Myronee Simpson explains that the college application process at Ranney begins well before a student’s senior year. “We meet with students early on to help them set clear and achievable goals for their future college success,” Ms. Simpson says. This includes working closely with students and parents to ensure that they follow an appropriate academic course, arranging special mock admissions nights, writing recommendations and giving students the opportunity to learn about as many schools as possible, through on-campus visits and bus trips to college campuses. “By the time students are ready to apply to college, they are well-prepared and well-informed. Our goal is to help them identify those schools that best meet their individual criteria.”

Students have until May 1 to make their final decision about which college they will attend, but for most, their minds are already made up. Daniel Turtel who was accepted Early Decision to Duke University, said Duke was the only school he ever wanted to go to while Alison Mancuso said she decided on Marquette University after seeing several other schools in the Midwest. “I spent a night on campus and just wanted to stay.” Jesse Feldmus made his decision just last week. He was on spring break when he learned that he had been accepted to Skidmore College, his initial first choice school. Jesse quickly realized, however, that he was leaning more toward Bard College, which was a better fit for him. “I think I just wanted to know that I could get in,” Feldmus said. “Now I’m just relieved that the process is over.”

2009 College Acceptances


For additional information on all Ranney School news, please contact the Communications Department at communications@ranneyschool.org.