Overview
We begin working with students and families while the student is still in middle school. What follows is a brief overview of the college counseling program, broken down by grade level.
Grade 8
Grade 9
Grade 10
Grade 11
Grade 12
GRADE 8
Each student and family approach college planning in their own way. However a common theme for all our students is that they want to attend a college that will embrace their learning style, interests, and talents. As early as middle school, students are encouraged to become self-reflective. Advisors introduce the About Me section of Naviance Family Connection to eighth grade students by logging on with their passwords and completing the Learning-Style Inventory.
GRADE 9
Ninth grade is a time of transition. It is a time to build on foundational knowledge and begin to think and write more critically and independently. It is also a time to try new things by joining clubs and participating in sports and community service.
Colleges will look at the 9th grade record in a special way. They will want to know if the student got off to a strong start. Students begin to fulfill the rigorous graduation requirements of Saint Stephen’s; courses that almost always exceed the standards set by other schools.
In October the college counselors meet with the freshmen to discuss careers and higher education. Students take the PLAN assessment (a pre-ACT and career interest inventory) and these results are sent home in December. In the spring, the college counselors meet with freshmen in small groups for a career exploration session using the PLAN results and the About Careers section of Naviance Family Connection. These sessions are followed by the PLAN Review & College Counseling Overview presentation to parents. In February, College Celebration Week hosts alumni speakers who offer a number of career workshops for all upper school students.
GRADE 10
With the assistance of their advisors, tenth graders continue with their four year academic and co-curricular plan. Sophomores should continue extracurricular activities and make a plan to deepen their commitments and rise to leadership if possible. In October, sophomores take the PSAT for the first time. This is a pre-test that exposes students to the content and style of the SAT: Reasoning Test. The results help to predict where a student might need additional help or practice for future tests and are used as an aid in determining course selection. The PSAT score report is sent home to parents in December. In January sophomores meet with the college counselors in small groups to review the reports and for an introduction to Quick-Start (an on-line, personalized college and career planning site). Also in January, parents are encouraged to attend the PSAT & AP Course Overview hosted by the College Counseling Office and Academic Dean.
Later in the spring, sophomores again meet with the college counselors where they log on to Naviance Family Connection to complete the Do What You Are Inventory – a version of the Myers-Briggs Personality Test. This session is followed by advisory discussions about personality types and career choices. Sophomores and their families are encouraged to attend College Celebration Week events and the NACAC Tampa College Fair. During IQ, College tours are organized which sophomores can choose to attend.
At the end of 10th grade students will be ready to select courses for junior year. It is at this point that students will have more flexibility in their choice of courses. The college counseling office works with the Academic Dean to advise students on appropriate courses leading to specific college majors or level of admissions selectivity. During the summer many students choose to participate in summer programs.
GRADE 11
Juniors are encouraged to meet with college admissions representatives visiting campus throughout the fall. They will also attend the Bay Area Independent Schools College Fair in October. This is an opportunity to meet with admissions officers from more than 200 colleges and universities from around the country.
Early in the fall, the counseling staff hosts a Junior Parent Night that provides parents with tips for the year as well as their own log-in for Naviance Family Connection. In mid-October, juniors take the PSAT/NMSQT for the second time and results are sent home in December. Parents are encouraged to attend the PSAT & AP Course Overview in January. Juniors take their first round of the ACT and SAT tests in the spring with some students sitting for the SAT Subject Tests in May or June. Test prep classes are offered in the fall and spring. Although not everyone requires structured test preparation, all students are wise to take time ahead of the exams to practice sample questions.
A series of six college counseling seminars begins in November. In the spring, juniors meet individually with the college counselors to develop a list of colleges that match their interests, talents, and goals. As part of College Celebration Week, the College Counseling office hosts guest speakers. During IQ Week, the College Counseling office offers college tours designed and organized to help students learn how to make the most of their college visits. Counselors make recommendations for a senior schedule based on each junior’s grades, teacher comments, testing history, and post-secondary goals. Juniors are also assisted with resume and college essay writing and developing their summer plans.
GRADE 12
By the time senior year begins, Saint Stephen’s students have done most of their college planning and research. They are taking their most challenging courses and reaching the peak of involvement and leadership in their chosen activities. In the summer rising seniors complete their senior survey and a rough draft of a college application.
During the first weeks of school the college counselors meet with students individually and in small groups to discuss the logistics and practicalities of the college application process: obtaining and filling out forms, sending test scores and transcripts, obtaining teacher letters of recommendation, and working with Saint Stephen’s deadlines. These meetings are followed by the Senior Parent College Night. Students are welcome to meet with the college counselors during any free period, break or lunch time to refine their college list, review essays, or discuss scholarship applications. Students are also advised to take an additional (second) round of standardized tests in the fall of senior year.
Saint Stephen’s takes responsibility for supporting each student’s college applications by writing the counselor recommendation, completing the secondary school report, and gathering the teacher letters of recommendation and school transcripts. These packages, together with an Upper School Profile, are then sent to the universities.
During College Celebration Week, the office sponsors a Parent to College Parent program where current parents of Saint Stephen’s alumni share their experiences about the college planning process and the transition to college. At the end of the year, seniors receive additional advice on choosing among their offers of admission. In May, seniors attend a retreat which includes alumnae/i who share their thoughts about the transition to college.
