Upper School College Counseling

A college counselor will meet informally several times a year with the freshman class to discuss various aspects of the college process. These meetings are to start freshman begin considering the college admissions process. Freshman students are encouraged to focus their academics and to choose extracurricular activities and meaningful community service that they can commit to throughout their high school careers. It's our hope that these meetings will help reduce the anxiety associated with the college search while at the same time inspire students to begin establishing a record (and develop character) that will provide them with a wide range of college options.

The first formal contact for college counseling comes in the fall of sophomore year when the college counseling team meets with the entire class. During these meeting students are reminded that in order to have the best possible college options, they must perform well during their entire high school career. All 10th graders will take the PSAT in October and will follow up with the College Counseling Office to discuss their results. In the early part of second semester, all sophomores are assigned to a specific college counselor and will have their first one-on-one meeting with their counselor. Topics covered at this meeting will include the SAT II subject tests and the importance of meaningful, in-depth community service, extracurricular activities, summer internships, and meaningful experiences. Students will be reminded that they should continue establishing an extracurricular activity (or activities) they are passionate about.

In the fall of junior year, the formal college admissions process begins as students attend class meetings with the college counselor. Initially, the basics of the college process are covered, but gradually the focus narrows into the specifics of the college process (what to prepare for and when). In mid-January, the College Counseling Office hosts a college night exclusively for SCH 11th grader students and their parent(s). Every year admissions officers from various colleges and universities, as well as other experts in the field, are invited to speak about the process and answer questions from the audience. This evening usually generates provocative questions about the entire college process, which in turn inspires families to start their individual college process journey. Finally, the 11th grade “College Trip” is an opportunity for juniors to tour two different types of colleges. After their trip, students follow-up with their counselor during the school day. For some, the colleges that are visited may end up on a students’ final list, but for most, these experiences help understand how to evaluate various aspects of a college, how to present themselves during a college visit, and what to look for that inspires you.

The senior class becomes the main focus of the College Counseling Office in late-August, early-September. As soon as school begins, seniors and their parents meet with their college counselor to assess exactly where the student is their journey. Throughout the fall, the counselor will meet individually with each student as many times as is necessary to put together a balanced list of schools that meets the student’s strengths, goals, and passions. If a student needs help with applications and essays, support is available (sometimes through the College Counseling Office and/or the Student Resource Center). In these individual meetings, the weekly college counseling classes continue and other important topics are covered including Early Decision, Early Action, financial aid, scholarships, and beginning the journey as an SCH alumni and starting a path beyond SCH.