Grades 9 and 10
We love it when families come to us early!
Our conversations are not centered around college quite yet. We start by setting the foundation of the college search through evaluation of and guidance around academic plans, summer experiences, extracurricular activities, and personal pursuits. Students can take assessments to build self-awareness and begin to consider future goals. In 10th grade we begin talking about testing and offer a diagnostic that will tell us which test - SAT or ACT - is the better way to go. From there we develop a testing plan for junior year. We don’t want students to be consumed with thinking about college at this stage. Our process begins by building awareness of the factors and nuances in the college admission landscape, including the role of financial aid and scholarships.
Grade 11
In the junior year we start talking more about college. A lot more. Over the course of the junior year we identify and explore best college-fits through conversation, assessments, and activities. Our focus is on developing an admissions path for each student based on interests, goals, strengths, and areas of concern. We consider academic, personal, and financial factors as we explore and build the college list.
Grade 12
Starting in the summer leading into senior year, we shift to working on college applications, including essay brainstorming and the writing process. We develop a customized application strategy that works best for each student. The application outline in their Student Portal that helps students organize and track the process. Then, when admissions decisions are released, we support students in making a good enrollment decision. Throughout the process, students and parents benefit from access to our insight, our expertise, and tidbits of information we regularly provide.