ARCP Session 2: Un Po' di Gelato and Our First College Visit!

Tuesday, June 26th, 2012

The students took to Tuesday with commendable energy as they geared up for their second day of classes. Amidst lunch, dinner, and group study sessions; it was clear to see that the students were beginning to form friendships.

For dinner the students were given a stipend and accompanied to Quincy Market where they had the freedom to choose between tons of delicious restaurants and food courts. After dinner, the students grabbed their backpacks, laptops, and homework materials as we headed over to the North End, this time to Hanover Street, where the students would enjoy a night of Italian culture while bonding over homework in quiet coffee shops of bustling Boston streets.


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Wednesday, June 27th, 2012

The students' excitement was clear as they were reminded that today they'd be visiting their first college. I think I may have been more excited than all of them combined however, as Boston College (BC) will be my home for the next three years. Together we all boarded the T and zipped off to the gorgeous neighborhood of Chestnut Hill, where BC is located.

The students were scheduled into an incredible information session with the Dean of Admissions as well as students from BC in order to answer any of their burning questions about the college admissions process and life at an American undergraduate institution in general. This was followed by a private tour of campus which for many of our students, was their first college tour!

After the tour we hopped aboard the T, bound for Boylston Street where the students enjoyed dinner before their nighttime elective class. After class the students headed up to their rooms to do work and relax as yet another day of college assimilation awaited them.

They've really been a pleasure to have thus far and I can tell they are all very excited for the next few college visits as well as the activities we have planned for them.

More updates to come soon, including the Spiderman IMAX Premiere, a historic, lantern lit, Ghost Tour of Plymouth, three incredible college visits, many group meals and our special Boston Fireworks Spectacular to celebrate America's beautiful birthday.

ARCP Session 2: Shippin' off to Boston!

Sunday, June 24th, 2012

Sunday came and went like a whirlwind. After weeks and weeks of preparation, with our students arriving from quite literally all over the world, we could not have been more excited and/or ready to welcome them with arms wide open to their beautiful new home: Boston, Massachusetts.

As they settled in one by one and two by two to their gorgeous, air conditioned, college suites; staff welcomed them and made sure that they became acclimated to their new Emerson College surroundings. Each student was equipped with their Emerson ID, key(s), and Abbey Road Student Manual: a guide to everything they needed to know about the next two weeks we'd planned.


After everyone was settled we brought the students to the Common Room: a cozy meeting place where we've held most of our quick catch-ups and group meetings. Once everyone had arrived we began our Abbey Road New Student Orientation. After our wonderful Dean of Students, Ellen Spindel, welcomed the students and laid the ground rules for the program, explaining to them our number one priority (their safety), I took the floor to talk to them a little bit about mine and my staff's mission over the next two weeks.

As I discussed in the e-mail I sent all of you, I come from a strong background of leadership experience that I feel afforded me much personal growth in my life. As such, Abbey Road envisions a place where students are safe, challenged academically, and pushed and prodded to explore themselves through exciting experiences that open up their hearts, minds and creative prowess. After sharing this message with the students my staff and I assured them that Abbey Road was a safe space for them to be just exactly who they are. Judgments should be kicked to the curb upon arrival; being true to oneself is the best way to succeed, and that's exactly what we want to see our students do.

After a run down of a typical day, we took the students on their first excursion to Boston's enchanting North End. The North End is Boston's thriving Italian neighborhood filled with incredible bakeries, coffee shops, gelaterie, and of course...restaurants! What better place to have our Orientation Dinner then, than at Massimino's Italian Eatery. The students laughed and smiled with awe as they slurped their spaghetti, tasted the fresh prosciutto, and inhaled the wonderful Italian aroma that is: garlic, basil, and oregano frammischiato (mixed).

With a promise to bring them back when they would have more free time to relax and explore the neighborhood, the students and staff headed back to Emerson for a good night's sleep before their first full day of classes.

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Monday, June 25th, 2012

The day began as usual with a hearty breakfast in Emerson College's delicious Dining Hall, located a quick walk down the street in The Little Building. After breakfast we accompanied students up the street to the Walker Building where they would meet their SAT Prep Instructor, Matt for the first time for their Diagnostic Exam.

After the exam was over the students were ready to refuel before their elective class in the afternoon. Back at the Dining Hall, something smelt wonderful as lunch hit the marble and granite countertops of the serving stations. The students seemed to really be bonding and engaging each other in all sorts of conversations. What's your favorite baseball team? Who's your favorite member of One Direction? It was certainly a site to see and something to smile about.

When lunch was through the students headed over to their afternoon elective led by Danae Samson and Freddy deBoer. The elective is really a wonderful opportunity for the students to debunk the scary myths of the college admissions process and learn every trick, tip and skill they need to succeed and best this seemingly scary process.

When electives and dinner were complete, the students were asked to gather in the Common Room. Although they continually asked why, we simply told them, "Shhhh! It's a surprise!" Little did they know, a fellow student, Olivia James was celebrating her 16th birthday that very day, and thanks to her wonderful mother, all of the students had a delicious chocolate and custard cake waiting for them to surprise her. We sang and laughed and enjoyed yummy cake as Olivia turned 16, creating a moment she was sure to not forget.

After the birthday celebration, we gathered in the beautiful Boston Commons for an incredible historic walking tour of Boston, called, the Freedom Trail. Met by a man in colonial garb who appeared to have just arrived from 1776 himself, we were schooled on everything from the construction of the original Capitol Building, to the true story of Paul Revere's midnight ride.



As we ended at Faneuil Hall the students headed off to Quincy Market to shop, snack, and enjoy their first night in the beautiful city of Boston. I am ecstatic to report that all students were in their rooms by 11:30 PM curfew, a truly excellent start to the session.

Let the Countdown Begin!

Welcome to the Official Abbey Road 2012 College Prep Blog!

Stay tuned for all of the exciting news from Boston! 
Much more to come!