App Lab Offers Seniors Additional Support

*As seen in the December 2025 edition of the Bagpiper. Written by Chase Novota ’26.

This year has been a successful year for the inaugural Saint Andrew’s College Application Lab, which took place on Wednesdays this fall from 2:30-3:30 pm in the College Guidance Office Conference Room. 

A casual meeting place where students could stop by or drop in as needed, the “App Lab” - as it’s called - allowed college counselors to help students review their college applications. 

Senior Vitty Pin-Mariotto appreciated how informal the app lab was. 

“You can just walk in with any questions. You don’t have to worry about setting up an appointment or being on time; you can just pop in when you need to,” he said. 

Pin-Mariotto attended the App Lab twice and said, “...it’s a very useful resource.” 

Another senior, Ethan Aigan, felt that the supplemental essays were the biggest challenge of the college application process. He also used the App Lab twice and said, “It’s really helpful and gives you one-on-one time.”

Even senior Evan Martin, a student who didn’t end up using the App Lab, said, “I think it’s definitely very good because for those who need help, it’s a great resource tool. Whether people use it or not is up to them, but I definitely think it’s a good thing.” 

For college counselor Mrs. Jamie Adelson, she felt that the App Lab was a great way to connect with the Senior Class in a location where students helped each other. 

“I think it’s been nice to see the camaraderie, to see the collaboration,” Ms. Adelson said.  She felt that it was a win-win for students and teachers. 

“It brightens up our day… We look forward to it,” she said. 

Another college counselor, Mrs. Tammy Friedman, said, “I think App Lab, for a lot of students, helped make a stressful situation less daunting when they saw that everyone was going through the same thing with the applications.” 

Offering this type of support on college applications is especially important as a survey by Higher EdDive reported that more than half of high school seniors felt that college applications were their “most stressful academic experience.”

In particular, the App Lab counselors helped students with setting up their application portals, completing the self-reported grades, looking over supplemental essays, doing final checks on the applications, and answering any questions on the application process.

“Questions on the Common App and the self-reported academic records have been the areas of greatest need,” Mrs. Friedman said.

 However, as Mrs. Adelson said, “That’s not going to be the time or place that we’re doing a deep dive into the application or where we’re looking at a personal essay, because that’s a little bit more private and work that we do one-on-one.”

For that kind of assistance, making an appointment with your College Counselor is advised.

In terms of any improvements for next year, Mrs. Adelson said, “We are open to ideas, or any suggestions that students have. We always love…any feedback.” 

Additionally, Mrs. Friedman said, “I think we’ve been really pleased, as an office, with how this pilot program went this year, and we’ll definitely continue it in the future.” 

While this year’s App Lab has drawn to a close, it will reopen next year in the fall for all of the rising seniors, the Class of 2027.