By Leigh Dannhauser
For the past three years, Rockbridge County High School students have been looking to Washington and Lee for some extra help with their studies. Now W&L students are helping them get into college, too.
“We started a college application and SAT prep program that is also completely run by W and L students. They come in the afternoons and help students with their college essays as well as getting ready for SATs,” said Amanda Merrill, the RCHS librarian and tutor coordinator.
The High School teamed up with W&L three years ago to create a tutoring program. As many as ten students each semester help the high schoolers with math, history, biology, and languages. This year, they have added coaching for the SAT- the standardized test that many colleges require for admission.
Senior Matt Coburn, Washington and Lee’s tutor coordinator, expresses high hopes for the SAT program.
“I could see an SAT prep program making a huge difference,” said Coburn.
Merrill agrees with Coburn but said she hopes to see more focus on the program.
“I would like to see more in the way of the SAT prep program, some more workshops, that are really targeted to specific skill,” said Merrill.
“I’ve seen a bunch of Washington and Lee kids come in, and it seems like a lot of kids are coming for that, and it seems pretty successful.” said Kate Ballou, one of the W&L tutors.
Coburn thinks that the tutoring program is more than just students learning academic subjects.
“I think having positive role models would be a huge help both in the classroom and outside of the classroom,” said Coburn.
The program will continue through W&L’s fall semester and will begin again in January. Tutoring will not be available during the university’s Thanksgiving and Christmas breaks.