College Counseling

During the early years, there should not be a specific focus on college admissions. The emphasis should be placed on the following:

• taking solid academic courses at the appropriate level of challenge; developing current interests; and exploring interests in new subject areas where possible.
• engaging fully in extracurricular activities, sports, and/or community service; trying out new interests; and taking on leadership roles if available.
• becoming comfortable interacting with teachers and forming positive friendships with peers.
• reading a range of texts (because reading is probably the single best possible preparation for the demands of school, college, and even standardized tests). Whether novels, poetry, non-fiction, newspapers, or special-interest articles, students should be reading outside of school.

Direct preparation for the college process, which begins in junior year, is not necessary in ninth or tenth grades, but there are items to keep in mind:

• The SAT and ACT tests are designed to be taken for the first time in the junior year. However, standardized testing should not be viewed as a “one size fits all.” Some students may wish to take tests earlier while it might make much more sense for other students to wait. The College Counseling office is happy to engage students and families directly in conversation around when to begin taking standardized tests.  
• Tenth graders take the PSAT (a practice SAT) and the practice ACT in the fall. These scores have no bearing on the college process; it is simply practice for the PSAT in junior year and the SAT and ACT. Parents should attend the late fall evening meeting to learn more about standardized testing.
• Students may also want to consider summer experiences to enhance skills and explore the depth of their interests in and outside the classroom, and to consider what role these activities might play in their choice of college later on. Parents/guardians and students are welcome to attend the winter meeting about summer opportunities where they can learn about a wide range of options for students to stay active and involved.
• Parents/guardians of ninth and tenth graders are also invited to attend our evening meetings on specific topics such as athletic recruiting, STEM in college, college financial aid process, and special "meet and greet" sessions with the college counseling team to answer initial questions. Reminders are sent to parents/guardians prior to all relevant events.
• Tenth grade students will be assigned a college counselor in the spring. We encourage tenth grade students to meet with their assigned college counselor about course selection, standardized testing, summer opportunities, recruiting, financial aid planning. Given that students have more than half of their high school experience yet to go, college counseling meetings with tenth graders will not focus on specific schools or “college list” building. 

During the junior year, expectations rise! Teachers ask for more depth and breadth in the work they assign, and the "formal" college process begins. Below are highlights of what will happen.

• The junior class begins work in the Junior Seminar curriculum in September. In November, the course shifts to focus specifically on the college process. 
• Juniors take the PSAT (practice SAT) in October. The National Merit Scholarship Corporation will use junior scores to determine which students become Commended Scholars, Semi-Finalists, and Finalists in the National Merit Competition.
• Parents/guardians of juniors who expect to apply for financial aid for college should attend our spring Introduction to the College Financial Aid Process meeting.
• In January, we will hold a Parent Orientation Program for parents/guardians of eleventh graders and begin individual meetings for juniors to discuss the college process. Individual parent / guardian meetings take place after we have had our initial college process meeting with students.
• In Spring, parents/guardians are invited to our Mock Admissions Session and our Common Application Walkthrough workshop.
• By the end of junior year, every student will have identified and researched colleges of interest to them; they will have started working on college resumes, essays, and supplements; and they will have worked with their counselor to begin to develop a balanced list of colleges.
• In June, students and parents/guardians are sent a summer college email, including an unofficial copy of their transcript and a list of what to do during the summer, including writing two draft college essays.
• In preparation for the fall, students will be invited to attend a college essay boot camp the week before pre-season begins in August.

• The senior class continues their college admissions preparation work in the Senior Seminar curriculum from September - November.
• In the fall of senior year, students and parents/guardians meet with the counselors to finalize the college list and finalize an action plan.
• Early in September, we hold the Grade 12 Parent/Guardian Orientation Meeting.
• Parents/guardians of seniors who expect to apply for financial aid for college should attend our workshops on the CSS Profile and FAFSA (in October).
• We work exclusively with the senior class during the fall, so that students can complete all elements of their applications well and on time. Teachers and college counselors complete all recommendations by mid-October for early applications, and by December for regular round applications. Students must complete early applications in October, and regular round applications before mid-December.
• Throughout December - May, we continue to counsel and support seniors as they continue to receive decisions and explore their options.
• In June, we honor our seniors at various events including the Senior BBQ, the Blue & Gold Dinner, and Graduation!