Writer Asta Huang ’27 sat down with the school’s college advisors to discuss their roles in the College Advising office.

Eight years ago, I was the fifth college advisor and also the gap year advisor. We now have seven college advisors and Mrs. Diana Jones, our administrative assistant. We’re really trying to meet kids where they are, as every student and parent is different.

We  have  exceptional  students  at Hotchkiss, and the college process is really a rite of passage. I love helping students make sense of the process and try to be a good listener.

Outside of my job, my wife and son are paramount. Tennis is my passion. Outside of coaching, I play in tournaments and stay in shape.

I play the piano, which I played a lot as a child. I had a love-hate relationship with music, but I’ve restarted my love for it.

I am currently finishing my second year at the school. I was in a day school previously and found that each year it was getting harder to connect with students, because the school wanted us to do a lot of other things, and our time with students was decreasing. I wanted to live and learn with students and connect with them through coaching. I coach Girls Varsity Basketball here.

As more students have access to going to colleges and universities, the selectivity of schools that five years ago weren’t as selective forces college advisors to gain knowledge about schools that weren’t on our students’ radars before. Our office has become more aware of international universities and what is going to be the right fit for our students. I love this community and my talented colleagues.

I worked at Hotchkiss from 1988—1991 in the Admissions Office, taught history, was in the dorm, and coached water polo, swimming, and cycling. I then spent time in other boarding schools, at Harvard University, and in Australia working with the national team. I returned to Hotchkiss because my husband and I wanted to be closer to our mothers, who live an hour away.

We also wanted to be an older gay couple in this environment. When we were growing up, there were not many “out” gay people. It was important for us to come back to be that model for students. Outside of Hotchkiss, he and I sometimes have vacations that line up, so travel is a big thing for us. I like to do any type of training sport. Hiking in particular around here has been great.

No two days are ever the same in the college office. There’s always something new to learn, whether about a student, a college, or a new admission trend, which is what makes this job so exciting! I moved to the Berkshires in 2016 and started at Hotchkiss in 2017. Having helped my own daughters successfully navigate the college process, I was eager to help others do the same.

Application  volumes  have  increased significantly at most of the schools to which our students apply. This was fueled, in part, by the move to test-optional [during Covid]. The test- optional environment has added another layer to our work, as we now have to help students decide, often on a school-by-school basis, if they should submit test scores. I adore helping students craft unique and authentic applications that allow them to put their best foot forward.

The college admissions process has become more unpredictable. As the director of the College Advising Office, I have some additional responsibilities that require additional meetings with people outside of the office. I also live in Watson, and I enjoy interacting with students during dorm duty.

Earlier in my career, I worked as a college counselor at another boarding school. After relocating to New York City, I wanted to return to a boarding school setting where you get to know students outside of the college office. My favorite responsibility is being a mom to my three children. I am a lifelong learner and just started an online EdD program in Organizational Leadership and Learning at UNC, which has made me reflect on the type of leader I want to be. My guilty pleasure is watching Korean dramas. I am happy that Asian people and culture are represented in a variety of ways.

To start off my day, I have a cup of tea and meditate. I take a walk and then get my kids—Bowen, my seven-year-old daughter, and Knolls, my 4-year-old son—off to school. My wife, Ms. Allen is also a teacher. I spend time teaching HD and coaching swimming. I’m also often home making dinner with my family, as I really love to bake and cook; I’m always looking for recipes. On certain nights, I spend time on duty in Redlich.

I worked in Boston in college admissions, but I always saw myself working in a high school with adolescents. I came to Hotchkiss in 2006, because college advising was a way to better understand students’ lived experiences, which go beyond what they can put into a 500-word essay. Nowadays, students are applying early to more colleges. I think the most rewarding thing is listening to students and hearing their stories.

I have been working at Hotchkiss for just under two years. Before arriving here, I worked in admissions at a couple of colleges. I came to Hotchkiss because I really wanted the boarding school experience of living in a residential community and playing many roles within it. I loved Hotchkiss students from my times working as a college admissions officer because of how authentic, genuine, and unique they were.

While half my job is college advising, I also find coaching enjoyable. I adore being in the dorm, where I absolutely love getting to know the students.

The college admissions process has been impacted by many factors such as Covid, the move to test-optional for a number of universities, and the increased attention to the selectivity of colleges. Teenagers have lots of uncertainty around the admissions process; if I can help to ease any of the anxiety they’re experiencing, I know I’m in the right place.

Pictures By Leon Li ’26, Ashley Opdyke ’26