Moorestown Friends School welcomed a new faculty member to the College Counseling department to step into the role of Director of College Counseling: Chris LaTempa. LaTempa joined the MFS community this school year following the departure of Damian Long, who held the position for two years.
LaTempa grew up in Pequannock Township in northern New Jersey, and after high school, went on to spend his undergraduate years at Lafayette College. He was an involved student, participating in intramural sports and service activities, along with serving as an admissions tour guide.
LaTempa initially aimed to graduate and continue into law school. However, he quickly realized that law was not the career path that he wanted: “Along the way, I got to shadow some judges and attorneys. When I sat down to write the personal statement [for law school], I was like, ‘I don’t know if this is really the path I see myself going down,’” said LaTempa. After his realization, he ended up joining the Target corporation in a management role.
It wasn’t long until he found his way into the college admissions: “I went back [to Lafayette] to visit my then girlfriend, wife now … she introduced me to one of the admissions counselors [at Lafayette College] who was putting in her two weeks’ notice,” said LaTempa. He stayed there for three years and had one last realization: “Through that experience, I saw that I would rather be the students’ advocate. I wanted to help students through the process.” LaTempa took his passion to Salesianum School in Wilmington, Delaware where he became a college counselor for two years. Later, he served as the Associate Director of College Counseling at Malvern Preparatory School in Malvern, Pennsylvania for eight years.
LaTempa has now found his way to Moorestown Friends School, which he picked for a specific reason: “When I was working in admission, I got to visit Quaker schools … I was always really impressed with the types of students I met, the values they brought, [and] I loved this sense of introspection, self reflection, and thoughtfulness … [there was] a warm sense of community and welcoming that I always felt when I visited Quaker schools,” said LaTempa.
Even though the school year is just starting, LaTempa is in the thick of meeting students and their families, and he is enjoying every minute: “Legitimately, every student meeting I have had so far [and] every conversation I have had with a student or family here at Moorestown Friends I’ve enjoyed. Everyone I have met has something interesting and unique that they bring to the table … there is something that they are passionate and excited to talk about and that gets me really excited. Meeting with students, hearing their stories, understanding what they’re looking for and then trying to help them find that in a college … that is a highlight of my workday,” said LaTempa.
Katie Kirchoff ’24, a student of LaTempa’s, talked about working with LaTempa during her application process: “It’s been great. He gave me a lot of really helpful feedback on my Common App[lication] essay, which I have been struggling with … He’s been giving me tips and tricks on how to make my chances of getting into my top school higher.” Ava Blumberg ’24, another advisee of LaTempa’s, is grateful for his help: “Mr. LaTempa has been a great resource. He was very helpful over the summer and leading into the school year. I appreciate all the great advice he has given me with the college process.”
