From Uncertainty to Success: How Saddle River Day School Guides Students on the Road to College Success + OPEN HOUSE Oct 11th + 23rd

Over the past five years, the college admissions process has undergone enormous changes; submitting test scores was optional but now it might not be anymore, AI has entered the conversation and the future of the college essay is in doubt, the value of Advanced Placement classes and tests has been questioned, and the cost of a college education has continued to increase.

For both parents and students, the ever-evolving college admissions landscape has become increasingly stressful and uncertain. That’s why having a knowledgeable, experienced partner can make all the difference in what is often one of the most significant milestones in a high school student’s life. To provide even more comprehensive support, Saddle River Day School expanded its College Counseling Office last fall to include two full-time college counselors. Director of College Counseling Karen Ferretti was joined by Ms. Jackie Williams, a seasoned professional with experience on both sides of the admissions process. Jackie came to SRDS from Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School, where she served since 2022. Her prior roles in admissions at Stevens Institute of Technology, the College of Mount Saint Vincent, and NYU—along with her undergraduate degree from Muhlenberg College and a Master’s in Public Administration from NYU—equip her with a deep understanding of the process and a valuable network of connections. Her insight and enthusiasm have made her a welcome and impactful addition to the Saddle River Day School community.

This year, Karen and Jackie partnered to develop a thoughtful, student-centered framework that allowed them to truly understand each Upper School student as a unique individual. For the Class of 2025, Karen served as the primary advisor, offering individualized guidance and strategic insight throughout the college application process. Jackie led the fall seminar for juniors and later transitioned to working with sophomores as they began their college exploration in the winter—just as Karen resumed seminar instruction for the juniors. Together, their goal remains clear: to gain a comprehensive understanding of each student’s academic profile, extracurricular passions, and personal strengths, and to use that knowledge to craft a customized, well-balanced list of colleges that align with each student’s goals and values.

So how does a student begin to narrow down their choices, and what exactly is the latest on what’s happening with all the changes in the college admissions process? 

Karen Ferretti emphasizes that the best way for students to begin understanding their college options is still by visiting campuses in person. It’s often during these visits that students start to recognize the factors that matter most to them—such as location, proximity to home, available degree programs, research opportunities, campus culture, facilities, investment in career services, and overall cost. Frequently, she notes, the college a student has long dreamed of attending turns out to be an imperfect fit when faced with the reality of a remote rural setting, a lack of a defined campus, or an environment that feels either too large or too small. The ultimate goal of the College Counseling Office is to ensure students are well-informed and approach the application process with a broad and realistic list of options—not just one “dream” school.

Ms. Ferretti also notes a renewed shift toward standardized testing, with some colleges reinstating ACT or SAT score requirements as a practical way to streamline the selection process amid staffing reductions. As for concerns about artificial intelligence replacing the traditional personal essay, she believes those worries are premature. Experienced admissions officers can still easily distinguish between an essay written by a student and one crafted by AI—or even an overly involved parent.

Advanced Placement (AP) courses remain a staple of the academic landscape, and Ferretti predicts their role may even expand as colleges continue to explore how to evaluate AP exam scores for credit. She is hopeful that as application numbers remain heavily concentrated at a small group of highly selective schools, students will start to explore lesser-known institutions—many of which offer dynamic programs, passionate faculty, and unique opportunities that are too often overlooked. To encourage this, one of the first assignments in her college seminar asks students to research and present a lesser-known college to their classmates. The result is often a surprising discovery of a school that ends up on their final college list—one they may never have considered otherwise.

In the end, the college application process is all about finding the place from which a student can launch their career. Karen Ferretti believes that Saddle River Day School students have a distinct advantage because in their classrooms and with their friends and teachers, SRDS students have developed an acute self-awareness, and a confidence in their intelligence that enables them to assess critically, question rigorously, and choose decisively. This is the hallmark of a Saddle River Day School education, and one of the many factors that set SRDS students apart from their peers. The results speak for themselves. This year, members of the Class of 2025 have earned admission to some of the most selective and inspiring institutions across the country, including Boston University, Bucknell, Colgate, Columbia, Cornell, Duke, Johns Hopkins, MIT, NYU, Vanderbilt, and Wake Forest.

These outcomes underscore the power of a personalized, thoughtful college counseling process—one that Saddle River Day School continues to refine and strengthen every year.

VISIT SADDLE RIVER DAY SCHOOL

• Grades K-12 Open House - Saturday, October 11th at 10:00 am (families can stay for Homecoming!)

• Grades K-12 Open House - Thursday, October 23rd at 6:00 pm

• Grades 9-12 Information Session and Tour - Tuesday, September 30th at 9:00 am

• Grades 9-12 Information Session and Tour - Tuesday, November 11th at 9:00 am

• Early Childhood Open House (Pre-K and K) - Monday, November 3rd at 9:00 am

CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR EVENTS

Now is the right time to invest in your child's education. At SRDS we teach students how to think and not what to think, and we prepare students to be innovators, thinkers, and leaders.

To register for an event, please email or call Kris Sweeny in the Office of Admissions ksweeny@saddleriverday.org or (201) 327-4050.

Saddle River Day School

Pre-K3 to Grade 12

147 Chestnut Ridge Road  •  Saddle River, NJ 07458  •  Tel: 201.327.4050

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About Saddle River Day School

Established in 1957, Saddle River Day School is a Pre-K3 through grade 12, co-ed, independent school serving just under 600 students. The school provides a robust curriculum and inspires students to achieve academic and personal excellence by teaching them how to think and not what to think. Each division (Lower PreK3-4th; Middle 5th-8th; Upper 9th-12th) offers a signature yearlong research program.

Saddle River Day also offers 30+ advanced placement and honors level courses, a full range of visual and performing arts as well as interscholastic athletics (grades 6th-12th), and highly individualized college counseling to encourage students to discover their passions and prepare them for whatever comes next. SRDS graduates are thriving at colleges like Duke, Columbia, Cornell, Georgetown, Johns Hopkins, NYU, Northwestern, Villanova and Wake Forest.

For more information about the project or Saddle River Day School, please visit saddleriverday.org.