and to listen with care when others do the same. This process asks a lot of our students. It asks them to be brave, organized, honest, and kind. But it’s also joyful. There’s something extraordinary about watching a student walk into an interview with confidence and curiosity, not because he’s memorized answers, but because he knows what he cares about. From the beginning of the high school application process, Grade 8 students at Cathedral hear my most important advice: Be yourself. And that’s the goal. Not just a landing, but a launch. Not just placement, but preparation. Not just for high school, but for life. Because in the end, the process is not just about getting in; it’s about growing up. THE PROCESS IS NOT JUST ABOUT GETTING IN; IT’S ABOUT GROWING UP.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Kristen Vilhauer has served as Cathedral School for Boys’ high school counselor since 2018. A former history teacher, admissions officer, and dean, she brings years of independent school experience to her work with students and families. She holds a B.A. in history from Princeton University.
2025–2026 RED&GOLD
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