May 1 is National College Decision Day, when students across the country share where they’ll be heading after graduation. But the work that leads to that moment begins much earlier. Long before acceptance letters and commitment posts, members of the Class of 2026 were building and refining college lists — testing ideas, reconsidering priorities, and gradually recognizing what kind of environment felt right. We sat down with five seniors to hear how their lists took shape.

Edward King’oo | Princeton University 

Edward King’oo’s process began in his junior year, when a meeting with Associate Director of College Counseling Art Horst helped him start thinking more concretely about potential colleges. “He gave me specific feedback and floated some schools early on, to really get me thinking and sort of in the game,” Edward said.

Over the summer, he drafted essays and refined his ideas, shaping a list centered on close academic engagement and a liberal arts-style environment. By senior year, he was organizing applications with Horst as deadlines approached. He ultimately applied Restrictive Early Action to Princeton University, a process in which students apply early to one school while limiting other early applications. He was admitted before he had completed his full list of applications. 

What stayed consistent throughout his search was his desire for an environment where ideas move across disciplines and where discussion feels, in his words, more human — open, active, and grounded in real exchange. “That’s where my appreciation for intellectual curiosity really came from,” he said, reflecting on his experience at Pomfret. Edward will study public and international affairs at Princeton.

Alex Trapani | Colby College

For Alex Trapani, who also worked with Horst, the college search began from a place of uncertainty. “I have always known that I don’t know what I want,” he said, a mindset that shaped how he approached the process.

Over time, he gravitated toward smaller, liberal arts settings where relationships between students and teachers felt central and learning felt more personal. Colby College emerged as the clearest fit, with its close-knit community, small classes, and liberal arts approach. 

He ultimately applied Early Decision and, once admitted, withdrew his other applications. “There was a lot of weight lifted off my shoulders earlier in the year,” he said. Alex plans to study sociology and anthropology.

Claire McFarlin | Lehigh University

Claire McFarlin shaped her path to Lehigh University through her commitment to rowing at the Division I level. As a club rower and coxswain, she entered the recruiting process early, with coaches beginning to reach out during the winter of her junior year. “Everything kind of took off from then,” she said.

She quickly realized she wanted a program where she could compete at a high level without being in a large, overwhelming environment, while also having academic flexibility. That led her to focus on smaller Division I programs that balanced athletics with a broader academic experience.

Claire ultimately narrowed her choices to Boston College, Brown, and Lehigh. Throughout the process, she worked with Director of College Counseling Bruce Wolanin, while also drawing steady support from her advisors, Art and Martha Horst. Their guidance helped her stay organized and focused as recruiting demands intensified.

She committed early to Lehigh University, where she will continue her rowing career at the Division I level.

Floss Wilson | University of St Andrews

With a global family background and sisters who had studied in the United Kingdom, Floss Wilson grew up already familiar with life outside the United States. By the time she began her own search guided by Wolanin, she knew she wanted to apply internationally.

She initially prepared materials more broadly, but the University of St Andrews remained her clearest point of focus. What stood out most was a sense of community and belonging. “The people really make the place,” she said.

Floss applied in October and was admitted through rolling admissions in early December. Rather than shifting her thinking, the acceptance simply confirmed what she already knew. “It was really the only place I saw myself,” she said. Floss will study film studies and management. 

Georgia Chen | The University of Michigan 

Georgia Chen’s interest in nursing developed at a young age, shaped by family influence and firsthand exposure to healthcare, including time spent in clinical settings and around her father’s ophthalmological practice. By the time she began her college search, she had a clear academic goal, but also faced the added complexity of navigating program requirements as an international student.

From the outset, her list had to be built differently, focusing on programs that would allow her to complete her nursing certification and practice in the United States. Working closely with Associate Director of College Counseling Sarah Gawronski, she developed a plan that balanced ambition with those constraints, narrowing her options to schools that aligned both academically and practically.

She applied Early Decision to the University of Michigan in the first year the school offered that option and was initially deferred. Though she was prepared for a long wait, she received an acceptance just days later and deposited immediately.

Georgia now heads to UMich with a clear sense of direction, supported by both her academic preparation and the focus she brought to a highly specific search.

See the 2026 College Matriculation List
 

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