After rounds of interviewing last semester, the new school year welcomes new
Junior Peer College Counselors (JPCCs) to the College and Career Office to prepare them for their own futures and help others along the way.

“I wanted to become a JPCC because I wanted to help people who were struggling with their college ideas and after high school plans, and make that process a little less stressful [for them],” junior Emma Fishman said. “Additionally, I wanted to learn more about the college process for myself in order to make my application process a little more easy.” JPCCs are students who are excited to learn more about the intricate college admissions processes,  suchs applications and scholarships. They apply to become JPCCs so that in their senior year they become Peer College Counselors (PCCs). As juniors, they learn everything they need to know
about how, when and where to apply to schools, and next year as the new PCCs, they can help others on the topic.

“I was actually really excited [when I found out I was a JPCC],” junior Chirstopher Policarpio said. “I didn’t think I was as qualified as other people that were applying, and I think that it kind of came as a surprise, so I was excited.”

In order to become a JPCC, students had to work hard to complete rounds of interviews. This year, two rounds of interviews were held in which JPCC applicants were asked various
questions to see how they would fit into the College Office environment.

“[There was a] paper interview where we wrote on a Google Doc, and then from there we went to an in-person interview,” junior Max Sela said. “We did two [interviews],
and then you get accepted.”

Becoming a JPCC is extremely competitive, and many people who apply don’t make it. The ones who do make it spend the rest of the year learning about fundamental parts of the college process.

“I’m excited to learn more, but I would say just the environment and like being around everybody is the most fun part,” Sela said. “I’m also learning in the process, so it’s probably my favorite class.”

During their assigned period in the college office, the JPCCs get to learn more about university, but also more about their peers around them. They create deep bonds with each other and their PCC mentors.

“The best part has been getting to know the other JPCCs in my period as well as all the seniors who have been teaching us,” Fishman said. “I’m super excited to get closer to everybody else as well as learning even more about college and how to help people with that experience.”