BHHS College Fair Builds on Expanded Counseling and College Gains

More than 300 students and family members attended Beverly Hills High School's Fall College Fair on October 1, meeting representatives from more than 32 colleges and universities as the district continued its expanded investment in college counseling.

The fair gave families an opportunity to ask admissions questions directly, compare academic programs and gather information for the next stage of their college search. Participating institutions included Stanford University, Chapman University, UC San Diego, the University of Arizona, Syracuse University and the University of Oregon, according to BHUSD's October 4 press release.

For seniors preparing applications, those conversations offered information to help refine college lists and application plans. For students earlier in the process, the event provided an introduction to the choices ahead and questions to bring to a counseling appointment.

BHUSD connected the fair to the Board of Education's expansion of college counseling services, which reduced the student-to-counselor ratio and increased access to individualized guidance. The district says that support helps students identify colleges, prepare applications and plan for life after high school.

"Every BHHS student should graduate with choices, a clear plan, and the confidence to pursue it," Board of Education President Judy Manouchehri said in the release. "This Board invested in college counseling because personal guidance can change the trajectory of a student's life."

The district reported a 37% increase in applications to four-year colleges and universities for the Class of 2026 compared with the Class of 2025. BHUSD also reported the increase in its June presentation of 2025-26 strategic-plan and accountability results.

Separately, the district reported a 67.8% University of California admission rate in 2025, up 9.5 percentage points from 2022. Its release linked to a school-level UC admissions comparison and cited rates of 55.2% for Harvard-Westlake and 63.7% for Laguna Beach High School.

The application increase and UC admission rate describe different measures and different graduating classes. The 37% figure concerns the number of four-year college applications submitted, while the UC figure concerns admissions in 2025. Neither figure is a college enrollment rate.

"Behind those numbers are students whose futures are opening up," Manouchehri said. "Our responsibility is to make sure every student has the support to take that next step."

The district described the fair as another way to connect that ongoing counseling support with direct access to college representatives. Students could explore programs, ask about admissions requirements and leave with more focused questions for their next planning conversation.

Families seeking information about BHUSD counseling services and college-planning resources can visit bhusd.org.