Program
Philosophy
Collegiate's college counseling program
is about more than getting into college. Our program
is an articulated sequence designed to help students
develop the ability to make informed decisions about
their futures.
In a developmentally appropriate manner
at each grade level, beginning in grade nine, the Collegiate
college counseling program assists students as they
make a profound transition into adulthood. Through the
four-year journey, Collegiate students encounter an
atmosphere in which they find their voice through introspection
and gain the independence required to articulate the
type of college environment needed for the next phase
of their formal education.
While parents and counselors walk with
a student on this journey, Collegiate's college counseling
program acknowledges that it is the student who must
take ownership of the application process. Ultimately,
the student decides where to apply, what to reveal in
essays, whom to approach for recommendations, and when
to apply. But, by building a relationship over the four
years of Upper School, the Director of College Counseling
is able to guide, counsel, probe, recommend, refer,
suggest, and inform each student as needed.
The college counseling process at Collegiate
hinges upon the individual relationship formed between
the counselor and the student. As there is no single
path through the curriculum of the Upper School, there
is no single path through the college counseling program
at Collegiate. Each student defies generalization. Each
student has a unique story to tell and different needs
to fulfill through the college search. Each student
engages the process at a slightly different point and
moves through the process at a slightly different pace.
As a result, the Director of College
Counseling provides a coherent program designed for
each grade level and spends the majority of his time
guiding students along their personal journeys. Students
and parents are encouraged to meet with the college
counselor and have unfettered access to the counselor
throughout the Upper School experience.
When students are equipped with the
tools they need to undergo an honest appraisal of themselves,
when thoughtful introspection leads to thorough research,
and when careful attention is given to the minute details
of the application process, Collegiate students conclude
their Upper School experience prepared, excited, and
confident to matriculate to the college that best fits
their articulated needs.
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