San Miguel Graduates Visit Prestigious Higher Education Institutions

Graduates of San Miguel School currently attending high school visited several prestigious universities earlier this month. The trip looked to prepare alumni for the upcoming college applications process and help them familiarize with life at elite higher education institutions. 

The trip, led by San Miguel School Director of Graduate Support Alfonso Motta, took students to Yale, Brown and Princeton universities on March 17 and 18. Joining on the trip were seven high school sophomores representing St. John’s College High School, Episcopal High School, Georgetown Day School and DeMatha Catholic High School. 

The trip is an annual tradition; however, it had been on hold for the past two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Motta said he was glad the trip could happen again because of the great value it adds to students’ college preparation process.

“One of the reasons for this trip is to really foster their college mentality,” Motta explained. “Visiting schools helps them see what college is like, and have a better understanding of what it takes to get into schools like these. On the ride back they were asking all sorts of questions about how to be as strong an applicant as possible for these schools.”

After the trip, the students shared their enjoyment of being around the university environment and the increase in motivation they felt after visiting the schools. “I want to add to my extracurricular activities,” one student shared. “I'm a smart student but the Ivy League schools are looking for more than just smart people.” 

The graduate support program is one of the cornerstones of the San Miguel School experience. Beginning in 8th grade at San Miguel, students – and their families – work with the director of graduate support to help them apply to selective college preparatory high schools across the Washington metropolitan region. The program also continues to track, support, mentor and coach San Miguel alumni throughout their high school years. This support continues all the way through the college admissions process and enrollment in four-year colleges and universities around the country.

Since its founding in 2002, San Miguel School has produced more than 325 graduates -- virtually all of whom went on to attend some of the country's most prestigious academic institutions.