 | The Right Match
Which college to attend is probably the most important decision that a student will make in the first thirteen years of schooling. At Country Day, the college counseling program strives to achieve a harmonious match between student and college, taking into account geography, academics, interests, ability, personality, attitudes, finances, and goals. The college counseling staff, assisted by parents and teachers, helps make this decision less confusing, less frustrating, and more rewarding for the student.
A Four-Year Program
Country Day's college counseling program is designed to work with students from their freshman through their senior years. The program's goal in the freshman and sophomore years is to familiarize students with the process that will lead to the most suitable choice of institution. During the junior and senior years, the program focuses on the actual process of college selection and application.
As a college preparatory school, our experience in guiding students through the selection and admissions process can greatly increase the chances of a successful college matriculation, just as our educational program greatly increases their chances of a successful college career |
| | Carol LangstonComputer (US), Counseling (US, MS) Director of College Guidance An active College Counselor for 25 years, Carol Langston, Ph.D. has held various positions at Country Day (Technology Coordinator and former Chair of the Spanish Department). In addition to serving as a national consultant for College Board , Carol has worked extensively with the National Association for College Admission Counseling in many capacities, including:
- serving as an instructor in several NACAC sponsored week-long summer seminars held at universities to teach and share ideas with college counselors across the nation;
- making presentations at college counseling conferences;
- authoring a a chapter, “Using Technology in Counseling for College,” in NACAC’s Fundamentals of College Admission Counseling Manualsponsored by NACAC’s Committee on Graduate Coursework. The target audience for the manual is university faculty and high school counselors.
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Freshman & Sophomore YearsAcademic Advisor
The student's faculty advisor assists the student in selecting the curriculum that is best suited to the student.
Starting in the Freshmen year and continuing throughout high school, the students will keep an active resume that they can use in the college admission process.
Meetings
Students meet with their academic advisors concerning the college admission process. They discuss a variety of topics including writing resumes, essays for the ACT and the SAT, interview techniques, etc.
After Sophomore College Night (usually scheduled in April), the students and parents begin to input data into Naviance, Country Day’s online database of college information
SAT and ACT Preparation
In the freshman and sophomore year, students take the Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test (PSAT) in preparation for taking the SAT in the spring of the junior year and the fall of the senior year. Students will receive the results of the PSAT test, answer sheets, test booklets and advice on how to improve their scores by the end of January each year.
SAT and ACT preparation courses are available on and off campus. |
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Junior YearMeetings
Students meet with the college advisors concerning the college admission process in small groups throughout the year. Topics covered include responsibilities of the student and college advisor, college visitation, and the application process.
Junior College Night
In January, a meeting is held with the junior students and parents. At this meeting, college counseling procedures are discussed in detail. The College Counseling Handbook is handed out as well as instructions for parents to write their own letter of recommendation on their son/daughter. (This is a confidential letter between the college advisor and parent.)
Researching Colleges and Universities
Naviance offers students and parents a plethora of college data, recent statistics, and general information about each university. Juniors are encouraged to research a variety of universities, to attend the meetings held on campus by college representatives, and to plan college visits during the spring or summer.(A limited number of days can be designated during the junior and senior years for this purpose.)
SAT and ACT
In the fall semester, students take the PSAT/NMSQ , which is the qualifying exam for National Merit recognition. They are also encouraged to take the ACT (either in the fall and/or spring semester), and the SAT and AP exams in the spring of their junior year. |
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Junior & Senior YearsApplication Deadlines Seniors must submit the school report form to their college advisor a minimumof two weeks in advance of the deadline. (Please note that several universities have moved Early Action and Early Decision deadlines to mid-October or early November.) All applications due January 15 must be submitted to the college advisor before the fall semester exams. Off Campus Evening Programs Individual colleges and groups of colleges sponsor evening programs off campus that are open to juniors and seniors. College Visits at Country DayCollege representatives visit Country Day during the fall. Juniors and seniors are encouraged to attend the daytime meetings of colleges that are of interest. Off Campus Evening Programs Individual colleges and groups of colleges sponsor evening programs off campus that are open to juniors and seniors. Country Day's Annual College Night: College Night is designed to present one of the following topics on a two-year rotation:
- Overview of a Spectrum of Colleges: A panel of college representatives discusses the characteristics of a wide range of colleges and universities.
- Mock College Admission Committee Meeting: College representatives lead parents and students through mock admission committee meetings, emphasizing those factors in the student record that they feel are the most important. A variety of student applications are evaluated.
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