The Bear Creek School is hosting the fourth annual Academic and College Planning Night on Jan. 11. The event is free and open to the public, featuring a keynote and multiple breakout sessions on a variety of academic and college planning topics, allowing attendees to select a schedule based on individual interests and upcoming decisions.

Outside speakers are coming to Bear Creek to present on standardized testing and financial aid. Faculty will present on a wide variety of topics related to maximizing students’ high school experience and navigating the college search and application processes. Bear Creek’s academic and college advising team will present on the topics they are asked about most often. The evening is designed so that every student and parent will find sessions relevant and interesting. Check in at 5:15 p.m. for the Bear Creek admissions program or at 6 p.m. for the seminar program; the keynote begins at 6:30 p.m.

Patrick Carruth, Bear Creek’s president and headmaster, will give the keynote titled “STEM Is an Art Class: How a Liberal Arts Education Prepares Students for the Modern World.”

Bear Creek faculty and staff and guest speakers will present 15 breakout sessions on an assortment of topics, including:

“Build a Resume That Colleges Can’t Resist”

“The Admissions Process at Highly-Selective Colleges”

“Life Balance and Time Management in the Early Teen Years”

“Learn to Study Like a Brain Scientist”

“Paying for College: Scholarships and Financial Aid”

“Telling your Story: Tips for Writing a Compelling College Essay”

“Grit, Resiliency, and Self-Advocacy: Character Markers for Academic and Personal Success”

“Admissions Tests: SAT or ACT? Which, When, and How to Prepare”

“Creating a ‘Best Fit’ College List”

Parents with students entering grades 5 and up are invited as well as students currently in grades 6 and up. To see a complete list of session topics, event schedule, and to register for the event, visit www.tbcs.org/planning.