David McCauley, Director of College Counseling. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Senior year is always busy for students: senior traditions, last firsts, and the dreaded yet exciting college process. For many students at Northwood, the application process has already been completed. With a school full of high-level student-athletes, some of whom knew where they would spend the next four years before their senior year started, the application process has already been in full swing. Others have already gotten a jump on the early applications with immense help from the college office and are eager to see what awaits in the upcoming years.

Mr. David McCauley is the director of college counseling at Northwood and has had a busy start to the school year, doing his best to help get seniors submitted to their schools. He spends countless hours contacting schools and meeting with students daily to find the right fit in a school and ensure everything runs smoothly.

“Honestly, it’s an ongoing process,” McCauley said. “The first and most important part of what we do is to review students’ interests, grades, and classes and suggest schools for their college list. The next is to lead students through the process of researching schools, introducing students to the college admission offices, and then completing and submitting the applications.  The end of our work is calling and communicating with college admission offices to advocate for our students’ admission and financial aid,” McCauley added.

McCauley expressed gratitude toward the senior class this year in a number of ways, but most notably how well the seniors communicate with the college office. Going through the college process is not an easy task. The fact that the students are diligent in what must be completed is an important factor. It goes without recognition.

This year, the 2025 graduating class of Northwood has 81 students not just from all over the country but the world. With that, the seniors have had a jump start in the application process. 41 different schools have received applications from Northwood students, and it is only the beginning for Mr. McCauley, the college office, and the senior class. The future’s so bright for everyone!

List of schools Northwood students have applied to:

• Babson College
• Boston College
• Boston University
• Case Western Reserve University
• Clarkson University
• College of the Holy Cross
• Cornell University
• Dartmouth College
• Drexel University
• Endicott College
• Fairfield University
• Hobart and William Smith Colleges (2)
• Long Island University
• Michigan Technological University
• Northeastern University
• Onondaga Community College
• Oregon State University- Cascades
• Purdue University
• Quinnipiac University
• Rochester Institute of Technology (3)
• Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology
• Rutgers University
• Lawrence University (2)
• Santa Clara University
• Stony Brook University
• SUNY at Albany
• SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry
• SUNY College of Technology at Canton (2)
• SUNY Oneonta
• Union College
• University of Colorado Boulder
• University of Illinois at Chicago
• University of Miami
• University of Minnesota
• University of New Hampshire (2)
• University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• University of Vermont (7)
• University of Wisconsin (Madison)
• Villanova University
• Vermont State University
• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

“I came to Northwood for the ski program and the culture, and because I already had friends who attended, I wanted to go to school with them and be around them all the time. Before coming to Northwood, I did the Winter Term program at Whiteface, which is where you ski for NYSEF and do online school during the winter. This led me to want to come to Northwood.

“Northwood has made me more mature and confident in myself and my abilities. Throughout the three years I’ve been here, I have learned a lot about myself and the people around me, and that is something that I have cherished. Northwood has improved my academic and athletic ability.

“I don’t have a specific Northwood memory, but every time I hang out with my friends, it is a memory that I cherish. Every weekend of races, team trips, or Northwood events, I make sure to relish every moment because I know the fun times won’t last forever.

“After Northwood, I want to take a gap year to ski or go to college to ski. I don’t know my plan, but I know my future has skiing in it.

“One piece of advice I would give to an incoming Northwood student is to branch out and talk to people outside of your cohort. Just because you are on a team with someone, doesn’t mean you have to spend all your time with them. Everyone at Northwood has a different story, and sometimes it’s fun to learn more about other people.”

As told to Pete Moore ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I love to stay active. Some of my favorite things to do are skiing, biking, and skateboarding. I would say out of the three, I’m the best at skiing; at school, I’m on the freestyle team. Freestyle has definitely been my favorite thing so far at Northwood. Preseason training has been a lot of fun, and I’m looking forward to actually getting on Whiteface and throwing down some park laps with the squad.

“I live in Tupper Lake, a small town about 45 minutes away from Northwood, but I was born in Novokuznetsk, a city in southwestern Siberia that is part of the Russian Federation.

“I reclassed this year; I wanted a chance to start up a career earlier, and I’m looking into the armed services. As far as academics go, I would say I’m a pretty all-right student; I try to keep my grades up as best as I can. I like socializing with my teachers, too. I’ll miss Northwood when I leave, but I’m definitely looking forward to the next chapter of my life.”

As told to Griffin Beam ’25. Photo provided.

“Something that I do that most people probably don’t know about me is that I like to bake. If I had to pick a favorite thing to make, it would be blueberry muffins.

“I came to Northwood for the ski racing program. It is beneficial for me to be able to ski and go to school at the same time. It’s also nice to have the mountain we train on be so close. Skiing is a very important part of my life; I started to ski when I was two and began racing at five.

Although I came to Northwood to ski, I’ve also found enjoyment in rowing, and I am on the Northwood Crew Team. Mirror Lake is such a beautiful lake to row on, especially in the fall with all the leaves changing colors. Although fall has been nice, I am really looking forward to seeing some snow. I’m excited to start my training for ski racing.

“It wasn’t entirely an easy transition from my old school to Northwood. I had to adjust to speaking English full time, as well as doing my schoolwork in English. I was used to speaking and working in my native French back home in Orford, Quebec. This change to English requires extra time for me to translate everything, but I am getting better at it the longer I am here. Talking with friends both inside and outside of my classes has helped me gain confidence in my English-speaking skills.”

As told to Griffin Beam ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I am a senior and this is my fourth year here. I live here in Lake Placid, four minutes from the school. Growing up, I always wanted to go to Northwood for ski racing, so I am glad I made the switch from public school to Northwood. I have made many friends and met so many great people.

“Some of my favorite things to do here during the school year are going into town with my friends, watching hockey games, skiing, and doing other various activities that the school provides.

“My favorite things about Northwood are the opportunities it provides; not only can I get into a great college, but I can pursue skiing to its highest level. Northwood provides the perfect balance between school and sports. I can get an amazing education while still skiing at the highest level possible at my age. During the summer I mountain bike and go golf with my boys.

“My favorite thing about the Northwood community is its inclusivity; everyone can find a place at Northwood, no matter who you are or what your background is, there is a group for you. Northwood is the best school, in my opinion, as it provides a perfect balance of everything. I am unbelievably grateful for this opportunity and cannot wait to see what my future holds.

“After high school, I want to get onto a good Division 3 ski team while majoring in business management or marketing.”

As told to Yosef Spear ’26. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“I have lived in many places: Mexico City, Mexico; Michaleen, Texas; Portland, Oregon; and Suzhou, China, but I have been living in Saranac Lake now for the past six years. Other than Portland, where I had lived for 4 years, this is the place I call home. I can’t say that I have a favorite place I have lived in because they are all so different from each other.

“I picked Northwood for its FIRST-level robotics program (they build bigger robots) and the outing club. I was really interested in NOC because I had taken an outing program at North Country School, and I liked it, but mostly, it was because Northwood was super close to home, so I could be a day student. It also helped that at least 4 of my friends from North Country School also went to Northwood.

“I like pretty much any outdoor activity like rock climbing, hiking, camping, mountain biking, kayaking, etc., but I think my favorite outdoor activity would be backpacking. I also like designing and inventing things. For example, I designed a sliding door that turned a corner and a ceiling-mounted bed.

“My favorite year at Northwood would be my junior year because I got to go on many NOC trips such as the climbing trip to Redrocks, NV, and the kayaking LEAP trip to Wales. Both trips were very fun. I was also in the Peak Pathways program that year, which allowed me to build a model airplane and make an idea I had. My senior year has also been going great this year.

“I have been interested in flying for a long time. Both my dad and grandfather (his dad) have their licenses, though neither of them has flown recently, so I wanted to get mine, too. I soloed two years ago, so I have flown alone but haven’t gotten my private pilot license yet. I hope to get it sometime in the future.

“Something most people don’t know about me is that I went to school in Suzhou, China, for 4^th grade. Though my Mandarin is now a bit rusty since none of my schools after 4th grade offered Chinese, I am taking Mandarin 1 in the language lab to try to relearn it.

“After high school, I plan to go to college for engineering—specifically, aero/astro engineering. Mostly astro, because I love designing and creating things, and after that hopefully get my private pilot license.”

As told to JT Wint ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Sophia Schupp ’24. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

Four-year survivor and recent alumni of Northwood School, Sophia Schupp ’24, is currently attending her first year at Boston College. I had the chance to catch up with her and hear about her experiences at BC so far. Sophia loves Boston College and has had much fun at the school. She also loves her roommate. When asked about her time at BC, she said, “It was definitely an adjustment at first, but now I really like it.” Sophia also likes her classes at BC, saying that they’re hard but small, just like Northwood. One of her classes is big, but most of her classes are the same size as her previous Northwood classes. Sophia is a math major at BC, which has been challenging but rewarding.

A typical day for Sophia at Boston College looks like this: she wakes up around 8 am every day, then has class until 2:45 pm. After class, she likes to work out and then work on her homework until dinner. After dinner, she socializes and does more work until it’s time for bed.

Sophia’s favorite part of BC is the campus. The Boston College campus is stunning; the buildings are white brick, and a gorgeous cathedral is at the center of the campus. Although Sophia loves Boston College, she still misses Northwood. When asked what she misses most about Northwood, she said she misses her friends, the people, and the teachers. She loves BC but misses Northwood all the time too. Her time at Boston College also has not been without its challenges. She said getting adjusted to not being at Northwood anymore was difficult for her at first. She has also had to adapt to the classes being exam-based only, as this is different from the grading system at Northwood.

Overall, Sophia has loved her time at Boston College so far. We all miss her at Northwood but know she is doing great things at BC.

“I came to Northwood for the great hockey and for the exposure I will get from each showcase and tournament we go to. I also wanted to finish my education in a “real” school because I’ve been doing online school for most of my life.

“After the first month and a half I feel that the start of the year was hard on the academic side, and the hockey side was hard as well, on a new team, finding my identity as a player.

“My favorite Northwood memory so far is winning the South Kent Fall Classic and ringing the bell when we got back to school.

“I want to play juniors right after graduating from Northwood and then play Division 1 college hockey.

“If I could change anything about Northwood, it would be the type of food that gets catered to athletes. Maybe some guaranteed nutritious options every day that give athletes proper nutrition for their recovery after a hard day of training. I’ve enjoyed the new salad bar with chicken every night, which is a great option for all the athletes.

“Overall, I am very happy about my first glimpse of the Northwood year, and I am very excited for what is to come!”

As told to Pete Moore ’25. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.

“When I feel like I’m going off track, I always look back at one thing that has been with me for years. When I was little, I would spend some time during the summer at a church camp near my house. There was one bible verse that I was asked to read out loud to the group, and ever since then, my dad has told me to make this the quote I live by. 1 Corinthians 16:13: ‘Be watchful, stand firm in faith, act like men, be strong.’

“This is my second year at Northwood, and I’m from Stevensville, Ontario. I came last year for my senior year from The Nichols School in Buffalo, NY. I wanted to be a part of the winning culture that Northwood has built over the years. I knew being here for one year wasn’t enough for my development, so I decided coming back for a post-grad year would be the best in all aspects.”

“Northwood has taught me so much in the short amount of time that I’ve been here, but the biggest takeaway thus far would have to be how to face adversity. Whether it be on the ice, off the ice, injuries, or problems with friends or family, I’ve learned how to navigate through anything I face.

“With not much free time between school and hockey, it can be a struggle trying to find some time to get out on the golf course, but when I can, it is always one of the best times. I’m a big golfer. I always have been, so being at Northwood and playing a few holes with my buddies is always a great time. We definitely have a fun time, but most of the time, we get into deeper conversations and learn a lot about each other in the process.

“It is still very early in the season to know what next year looks like for me hockey-wise, but I plan to play in either the North American Hockey League (NAHL) or the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). If a division three opportunity arises, then possibly taking one of those, but everything is still up in the air. I’m grateful for last year at Northwood and even more to have been able to come back and play here for another season.”

As told to Sophia DeAnzeris ’25. Photo by Michael Aldridge.