With college application deadlines right around the corner for seniors, and big decisions looming for juniors, the Hicksville Public School District was pleased to be selected to host Harvard College's annual guidance counselor seminar. The district's guidance staff and guidance counselors, directors and chairpersons of guidance services from many Nassau County school districts convened in the Hicksville High School library to attend the special meeting and participate in workshops designed to give an inside view of Harvard's admission process. Hicksville High School guidance counselor Ms. Rosemarie Rosenblum was instrumental in facilitating the event, which included a session during which members of the student body at Hicksville High School had the opportunity to ask questions regarding admission to highly selective colleges.

Harvard Admissions Officer Nathalie Galindo began by providing an overview of the college's admission requirements, including what goes into the selection process for acceptance to Harvard College. Ms. Galindo also touched upon the various intangibles of the college admissions process, and answered specific questions posed by audience members. Attendees had the unique opportunity to participate in a study session during which actual application cases were presented and discussed in groups to provide insight into the Harvard decision-making process. Also on hand during Ms. Galindo's presentation were Carolyn Highes, the Chairperson of the Harvard College Schools Committee of Long Island, and alumni interviewers Susan Novick and Richard Rinderman, who shared their personal experiences concerning their roles in the college admissions process.

The afternoon's workshops were dedicated strictly to Hicksville students and staff. Ms. Galindo presented an informative workshop to faculty members and curriculum supervisors that addressed how to write effective letters of recommendation for students. The day culminated with an assembly for students, during which they were treated to an interesting and inspiring video presentation that depicted the many facets of student life at Harvard, including the campus culture and unique extracurricular opportunities. "This has been a great experience for our staff and students," stated guidance chairperson Effie Rafaelides. "It is important for them to learn from the source about the many issues involved when applying to highly selective schools."