Class Of 2010 Shine As Nation’s ‘Best And Brightest’

For 56 Ranney School seniors, their future is bright and secure as they prepare to make their way to some of the nation’s finest colleges and universities.

For Ranney’s Class of 2010, this year is no different than previous years. This year’s senior class gained admittance to prestigious institutions that include Ivy League universities such as Princeton, and many students will be incoming freshman at the so-called “New Ivies,” such as Stanford, Tufts, Emory, and New York University, among others. Several Ranney students will also be entering their freshman year at extremely-competitive science and engineering schools including MIT, Bucknell, Lehigh and Carnegie Mellon.

Mary Breton is on her way to MIT this fall. The Boston native is not only looking forward to returning to New England but the opportunity to combine her love of science with her passion for field hockey. “MIT was the perfect choice for me because it will allow me to pursue my dream of working with alternative energy as a materials science and engineering major. And, I can also participate in my favorite sport,” said the Point Pleasant resident.

Fellow graduate John Zipp is also looking forward to college life in September as a pre-law student at Franklin & Marshall, a small liberal arts college in Pennsylvania. Although he easily gained acceptance into six schools, Zipp credits Ranney’s College Office and its counselors with helping to guide him in making the right choice for his future. “Every counselor at Ranney understood that I wanted a school that would not only combine my interest in the law but also give me the opportunity to continue to be involved in a competitive swimming program. Coming from a small school like Ranney where everyone is like family, I knew I wanted to find a college where I could be part of another family. Ranney helped me achieve this,” said Zipp.

Students at Ranney begin the college process early as part of their overall academic experience. Freshmen and sophomores are encouraged to enroll in challenging coursework, pursue leadership opportunities and prepare for the PSAT.  During their junior year, students develop a personalized action plan, taking into account grade point, coursework and standardized test scores to find their “perfect match.” By the time they enter their senior year, Ranney students are well-prepared to make informed decisions about where they will apply, and ultimately, attend.

According to Myronee Simpson, director of College Guidance at Ranney, “We encourage our students to find the school that is the “right fit” for them, one that matches their individual talents and skills while allowing them to develop to their full potential. Our goal is that the students will be happy and satisfied with the choices they have made during the college process and ultimately, with their final college decision.”

Ranney students also benefit from a College Guidance program that includes financial aid planning, essay writing workshops, college interview preparation, presentations by college admissions officers and the all-important college visits. Each spring, students spend several days visiting one geographical area to experience a wide variety of college environments in terms of size, setting, and academics to learn how to evaluate a school.

As some of the United State’s ‘best and brightest’ students, Ranney graduates also earned over 2.5 million in scholarships and represent a unique combination of academic excellence and extracurricular interests that will solidify their roles as the nation’s next generation of leaders.

“The depth and breadth of this year’s acceptances are truly outstanding,” says Head of School Dr. Lawrence S. Sykoff. “It is a testament to the exemplary services our College Office and its counselors provide to our students early on that allows our students to recognize their unique talents and realize their maximum potential as well-rounded individuals. They not only facilitate the transition from high school to college, but they also prepare our students to tackle the challenges of decision-making early on as they make one of the most significant decisions of their life.”

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