College Guidance

College Guidance counselors serve as mentors for students from the freshman year and beyond, in individual sessions and class meetings led by the counselors. The students are encouraged to get involved in extra-curricular activities that will help them discover and explore their interests and passions. Current seniors meet with freshman to share advice and tips about what they “wish they had known” back in 9^th grade with regards to their college application experience.

We continue to maintain contact with our students and guide them academically.  We explain results of standardized testing such as the PSAT and pre-ACT, and help select appropriate elective courses for the remainder of high school.  At the end of tenth grade, students begin to use Naviance, a computer program used throughout the entire college search and application submission process.

The formal college search and application process begins in earnest when we collaborate to match each individual’s distinctive potential and traits with an appropriate range of colleges.  We emphasize “fit” while encouraging each student to consider the five critical elements of the college search: Jewish Life, Geography, Academics, Personal Needs and Finances/Cost.  In the second semester of eleventh grade, we work with students as they begin to draft their essays and plan visits to various colleges in order to refine their college list. We have over 30 different colleges and universities attend our annual College Fair where students can meet with Admissions Officers. We actively seek parent involvement by scheduling individual parent meetings and offering a variety of College Guidance programs. We also meet with students and parents in the summer between junior and senior year to discuss essays and college choices.

Seniors finalize their applications, revise their essays, work with selected teachers on the recommendation letter process, and continue to visit their top-choice colleges. Counselors and students manage the process of submitting the application and related documents.  Together we meet and maintain contact with parents throughout the application, decision and enrollment process. We look forward to celebrating exciting news with our seniors in the spring and are available to assist with the ultimate decision of where each student will attend college and continue onto this next phase of their lives.