Class of 2020 - By the Numbers

By The Numbers

June 6, 2020

Waterford School instills qualities of critical thought, curiosity, responsibility, and integrity as it helps students lay a foundation for college and beyond as they prepare to lead lives of meaning and purpose. Congratulations to the Class of 2020 for their accomplishments and extraordinary efforts as scholars, artists and athletes!

Perhaps more important now than ever is the liberal arts curriculum and interactive learning environment that they have experienced at Waterford. These students will take their skills of analysis, their deep and broad knowledge of many disciplines, and their communication,reading, writing, and discussion skills into their lives as critical thinkers, scientists,humanitarians, artists, future teachers and leaders.

The Class of 2020 is prepared to excel in college and to go on to pursue lives of meaning and purpose in an ever-changing world that needs citizens who question and dig deeper. Students credit their love of learning to the extraordinary breadth and depth of the Waterford collegepreparatory curriculum and programs, and the talented faculty who provide opportunities for each student to find and pursue their individual passions. The personal interest and attention given by the faculty helped each student succeed across a broad and demanding Liberal Arts curriculum.

Director of College Counseling Sari Rauscher working with Upper School students in the College Counseling office.

Waterford’s College Counseling Office guides and supports students as they consider anexciting variety of undergraduate options. Recognizing that this transition is important both for students and their families, Waterford college counselors work individually with student sand parents ensuring that each student will have college choices that align with their interests, needs, and will ultimately be the right fit for each student. 

Acceptance rates far above national averages place the Waterford Class of 2020 among the top students in the country. Each student in Waterford’s exemplary Senior class will attend a college that is suited to cultivate their passions and will continue to challenge them to succeed and excel in all of their future endeavors.

In an admissions climate where many selective college sare seeing increasing numbers of applications and thus lower admission rates, Waterford students continue to do well in admissions. A number of factors contribute to their success, but an important factor is that colleges know they are academically well-prepared, reflected in many parts of the application. The integrity and rigor of our academic program is seen and understood, and the preparation Waterford graduates have shown on their campuses in the past are important factors, as well as the self-reflection and writing abilities our students show in the application process. The strength and depth of the Waterford Class of 2020 was reflected in the quality of the students’ acceptances: our 82 students were accepted at 113 different colleges. Students work one-on-one with our counselors to discover and gain admission to colleges where they will thrive.

Sari RauscherDirector of College Counseling

I feel incredibly grateful for all of the help that Waterford and the College Counseling Office gave me. Coming from a family that had a limited ability to pay for a college education, financial aid was one of my most important criteria in selecting a college. Ms. Rauscher helped me find colleges I could afford and craft an application that would seamlessly present everything I had done during high school to admission offices. I’m thrilled to attend Yale University studying The History of Science, Medicine and Public Health in the fall. I could not have gotten there without the amazingly personal and qualified help of Waterford’s college counselors.

Gabe RansomYale University Class of 2024

Gabe Ransom, heads to Yale University this fall. Gabe was an active member of the Waterford community – actively participating in the Outdoor Program, the debate team, and community service. He was also named a Cum Laude Scholar, 2019 Gold Key winner of a Scholastic Art Award, and National Merit Scholarship Finalist.

Piper Thomas ’20, Trinity ’24

I always felt safe and supported in the college counseling office especially through stressful mock interviews to prepare for scholarship and admission interviews. In that office I spent countless hours writing and refining my work, but I never felt alone. Mr. Grenoble tirelessly read and commented on each version, and I was privileged to draw upon the breadth of experience of other faculty members as well. I’m excited to attend Trinity University in the fall. I feel very well prepared.

Piper ThomasTrinity University Class of 2024

Piper Thomas heads to Trinity University this fall. While at Waterford Piper was a spirited dancer and thespian, an activist for social justice and rights, and embodied Waterford’s mission, winning the Waterford Prize in her senior year.

Katie Sanyal ’20, University of Southern California ’24

My college counselor, Ms. Rauscher was so helpful and supportive in my process! She always made time to review my application and supplemental essays, and really pushed me to make my personal statement as great as possible.

Katie SanyalUSC Class of 2024


Katie Sanyal will attend the University of Southern California in the fall. At Waterford, Katie was engaged and curious in class, she was actively involved in the orchestra, and was the recipient of the English Department Prize in her senior year.

Owen Purcell ’20, Vanderbilt University, Class of 2024

The college counseling office was incredibly helpful in my applications, both in knowing all of the technicalities of the admissions process and helping me with the content of my application itself.

Owen PurcellVanderbilt University, Class of 2024

Owen Purcell plans on studying opera, economics and history in the fall when he attends Vanderbilt University. He chose Vanderbilt because it combines a top tier academic institution with a fantastic conservatory, Blair school of music, and he loves being able to study both academic disciplines as well as sing through college as he did at Waterford.

Evan LaForge ’20, University of Arizona, Honors College, Class of 2024

Throughout my time at Waterford, I have received countless inspiring words from my closest friends and teachers as well as from those whom I would never expect. And in this tumultuous time, where we all want nothing but to see each other, I have seen these bits of support compound and expand like never before. Being in a community like this inspires all of us to not only succeed but also give back.

Evan LaForgeUniversity ofArizona, Honors College, Class of 2024

Evan LaForge will attend the University of Arizona, Honors College. Evan started at Waterford as a PreK-3 student, has grown up in its halls and walkways, and graduates after as a member of the robotics team, an ethics bowl teammate, a singer in the choir, a cum laude recipient, a member of student government, and a National Merit Scholar.

Lucas Butterfield ’20, University of Utah, Class of 2024

One thing that I have always emphasized my gratitude for is my education. I have spent 15 years of my life at Waterford. To me, this school has served as a place of curiosity, a place where I can pursue my most intrinsic passions. It is a place where I have fostered some of my closest friendships, and have discovered the most important parts of who I am.

Lucas ButterfieldUniversity of Utah, Class of 2024

Lucas Butterfield will study linguistics at the University of Utah in the Fall. Lucas left his mark on the Waterford community and was known for his passion for Latin. He was chosen by his peers to give the student address at their commencement ceremony.

Madelyn Snow ’20,University of Michigan, Nursing, Class of 2024

Waterford taught me that I learn best when I’m surrounded by other passionate students and caring teachers so that’s what I looked for in a college. Mr. Grenoble helped me build a strong college list of schools where I’d be successful. I am very grateful for Waterford’s education and support. I know I wouldn’t be attending the University of Michigan without it.

Madelyn SnowUniversity of Michigan, Nursing, Class of 2024

Maddie Snow looks forward to studying Nursing at the University of Michigan in the fall.


WATERFORD CLASS OF 2020

College Acceptance & Matriculation List*

*Matriculation in bold

  • Amherst College
  • Arizona State University
  • Baylor University
  • Belmont University
  • Boston College
  • Bowdoin College
  • Brandeis University
  • Brigham Young University
  • Brigham Young University (Hawaii)
  • Brigham Young University (Idaho)
  • Carnegie Mellon University
  • Chapman University
  • Claremont McKenna College
  • Colorado College
  • Colorado School of Mines
  • Colorado State University
  • Connecticut College
  • Cornell University
  • Dartmouth College
  • Dixie State University
  • Drexel University
  • Emory University
  • Fairfield University
  • Fort Lewis College
  • Georgetown University
  • Haverford College
  • Hobart William Smith Colleges
  • Iowa State University
  • Lake Forest College
  • Lehigh University
  • Lewis & Clark College
  • Louisiana State University
  • Loyola Marymount University
  • Marist College
  • Miami University (Oxford)
  • Montana State University
  • New York University
  • Northeastern University
  • Northern Arizona University
  • Occidental College
  • Pennsylvania State University 
  • Pepperdine University
  • Pomona College
  • Pratt Institute 
  • Providence College
  • Purdue University
  • Quest University Canada
  • Reed College
  • Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
  • Roanoke College
  • Santa Clara University
  • Sarah Lawrence College
  • Scripps College
  • Seattle University
  • Simon Fraser University (Canada)
  • Skidmore College
  • Southern Methodist University
  • Southern Utah University
  • Southern Virginia University
  • St Lawrence University
  • Stanford University
  • Syracuse University
  • The Ohio State University
  • The University of Montana
  • Trinity College
  • Trinity University
  • Tufts University
  • Tulane University
  • University of Arizona
  • University of British Columbia
  • University of California (Berkeley)
  • University of California (Davis)
  • University of California (Irvine)
  • University of California (Los Angeles)
  • University of California (San Diego)
  • University of California (Santa Barbara)
  • University of California (Santa Cruz)
  • University of Colorado (Colorado Springs)
  • University of Colorado Boulder
  • University of Connecticut
  • University of Hawaii at Hilo
  • University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign​​​​​​​
  • University of Massachusetts
  • University of Michigan
  • University of Minnesota
  • University of New Hampshire 
  • University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
  • University of Notre Dame
  • University of Oregon
  • University of Pennsylvania
  • University of Portland
  • University of Puget Sound
  • University of Redlands
  • University of Rhode Island
  • University of Rochester
  • University of San Diego
  • University of San Francisco
  • University of Southern California
  • University of Utah
  • University of Vermont
  • University of Washington 
  • University of Wisconsin
  • Utah State University
  • Utah Valley University
  • Vanderbilt University
  • Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University
  • West Virginia University
  • Westminster College
  • Whitman College
  • Willamette University
  • Williams College
  • Yale University