Admission and College Counseling: A Year in Review

April 29, 2026

By: Maude Bond, Head of Admission and College Counseling

As we approach Commencement, I’ve been reflecting on the work happening across Admission and College Counseling, and on how meaningful it has been to bring these two areas together in a truly integrated way at Cate. I am also thrilled about the planning for Camp Cate, which will bring back my first senior class, led by Peter Coors ’21 and Asa Sam ’21! I have loved keeping up with those two over the past five years and have enjoyed yearly FaceTime conversations with Asa from the University of Pennsylvania while catching up with Peter on Notre Dame’s campus. This will be a new beginning for me, witnessing the Class of 2021 navigate their post-graduate lives with Cate remaining ever so close like a steadfast confidant, continuing the support, love, and cheering on unique to those special relationships formed on the Mesa.

Now, nearly a year into this model, what stands out most to me is the sense of continuity it creates. We are able to see students across the full arc of their Cate experience—from first inquiry and campus visit, through daily life on the Mesa, and into the college process—in a way that feels far more connected and personal. That continuity has been one of the most powerful shifts for me. It reflects something I have always felt at Cate: that our work is rooted in truly knowing students, staying close to their growth, and walking alongside them in a community where learning happens everywhere.

This structure allows us to carry what we learn about students forward in real time. Early impressions don’t sit in isolation; they become part of a shared understanding that deepens as students move through their time here. The evolution of our students is an ongoing conversation about growth, discovery, and fit—from first contact through Commencement and beyond.

On the Admission side, as we finalize and prepare for the arrival of new students in the fall, I feel a real sense of excitement about the students who will soon be joining us. This group is already showing curiosity, energy, and a genuine desire to be part of life on the Mesa. What strikes me is not just their interest in Cate, but their readiness to engage in it. Even now, I find myself thinking about each student individually—how they might settle into the rhythms of academic and residential life, what they may discover about themselves here, and how their interests will evolve in this environment.

That longer view is shaping how we think about the college process in important ways. It pushes us away from a single decision point and toward something more developmental: helping students better understand themselves and find places where they will be known, challenged, and supported.

At the same time, our College Counseling team is deeply engaged with the Class of 2026. In conversations with students, I continue to be struck by their honesty and reflection as they make sense of their time at Cate and begin to imagine what comes next.

What stands out most is how naturally Admission and College Counseling now inform each other. The qualities we look for in prospective students are the same qualities we see lived every day on the Mesa—and the same qualities we are better able to recognize and support because of this integrated approach.

For me, this first year has been energizing and deeply meaningful, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to accompany students along their journey at Cate.