Overview

The College Counseling Office provides a full range of support for students and their parents in order to facilitate a “best fit” college selection while maintaining the focus on the needs of the student and family. The following overview provides a brief introduction to college counseling activities. In addition to the student activities listed below, there are multiple opportunities for families to engage in topical discussion through resources such as SSES Connections, Headliners in Education, and the College Counseling Hot Topics, all of which are available to Saint Stephen’s families.

GRADE 9: Freshman year 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. During IQ week, students may participate in the college counseling sponsored college tour trip to a different region of the country each year. In the summer months, many students choose to attend programs related to their interests or pre-college academic programs hosted on college campuses.

College Counseling provides the following opportunities for students and families to begin to engage with the admission process through self assessment, reflection and research.

• Parent events such as Coffee and Conversation, Funding a College Education and All About Upper School

• Bay Area Independent Schools College Fair and IQ College Tours/Events geared towards specific majors

• A personalized family meeting to create a roadmap for the college admission process

• Student self assessment with YouScience including detailed results reviewed with a college counselor

• An introduction to Naviance Resume Builder and SCOIR College Search tools

GRADE 10: With assistance from their advisors, sophomores continue with their four-year academic and co-curricular plan. Students should continue extracurricular activities and make a plan to deepen their commitments and rise to leadership where possible. The college counseling office also works with the academic dean to advise students on appropriate courses leading to specific college majors and level of admissions selectivity.

College Counseling provides the following opportunities for students and families to continue to engage with the admission process through self assessment, reflection and research.

• In October, sophomores take the PSAT for the first time and then review their results with the testing coordinator and college counselor to create a plan for test prep and future college admission testing.

• Parent events such as Coffee and Conversation and Funding a College Education, as well as small group gatherings with the Upper School Director and Director of College Counseling

• Bay Area Independent Schools College Fair and IQ College Tours/Events geared towards specific majors

• Invitation to a college admission representative visit on our campus

• Continued in-depth self assessment through additional YouScience activities beginning to match college majors

• Support provided for students interested in pursuing athletic recruitment to register for NCAA eligibility

• A personalized family meeting to review PSAT and YouScience results, academic goals and additional Naviance and SCOIR tools

GRADE 11: The college counseling program intensifies considerably during the junior year as students deepen their exploration of specific schools/majors and then prepare for the application process. College Counseling provides the following opportunities for students and families to strengthen their engagement with the admission process through research, exposure to universities and college admission professionals and preparation for the application process itself.

• Opening Day Junior Seminar, for students and their families, provides an overview of the junior year and more specific Naviance tools to assist with the application process

• Parent events such as Coffee and Conversation and Funding a College Education

• Juniors have the opportunity to meet with the 80+ college admission representatives visiting campus throughout the fall

• Bay Area Independent Schools College Fair and IQ college tours/events geared towards specific majors

• PSAT/NMSQT in October, followed by a meeting with the testing coordinator and college counselor to plan specific goals for SAT/ACT/TOEFL testing as indicated.

• Test prep options include Khan Academy, SSES faculty taught prep classes, and referral to local community tutors

• Individual family meeting to review the college list and specific family needs

• Individual student meetings each month beginning in November to prepare components of the application such as the resume, teacher recommenders, essays, etc.

• Tampa Bay Case Studies, a unique opportunity for juniors and families to get a behind-the-scenes peek at how admission decisions are made and to attend a college fair

• Support provided for students interested in pursuing athletic recruitment to register for NCAA eligibility and coordination with college coaches

• CAmplication and College Essay camps are offered during the summer to allow for proactive completion of applications with individualized assistance before senior year responsibilities begin

GRADE 12: By the time senior year begins, Saint Stephen’s students have done most of their college planning, research and application preparation. They are taking their most challenging courses and reaching the peak of involvement and leadership in their chosen activities. College Counseling provides the following opportunities for students and families to successfully complete the admission process and celebrate the positive outcomes.

• Opening Day Senior Seminar, for students and their families, provides  an overview of the senior year, the most common application types, and more specific Naviance tools to assist with the application process

• Parent events such as Senior Parent Night and Funding a College Education

• Seniors are expected to schedule weekly College Counseling meetings during their study hall to discuss the logistics and practicalities of the college application process: review each part of every application before submission, write and review essays and supplementals, obtain and complete forms, send test scores and work within deadlines.

• Seniors meet with college admission professionals (from the 80+ who visit SSES every fall) who represent the student’s chosen universities

• Mock interviews are provided for students who will interview for admission or scholarships

• College counselors support each student’s college applications by writing the counselor recommendation, completing the secondary school report, gathering the teacher letters of recommendation and school transcripts, and providing the Upper School profile

• Support for students interested in pursuing athletic recruitment to register for NCAA eligibility and individualized coordination with college coaches is provided

• College Counseling assists seniors with completion of their Florida Bright Futures registration in January and then uploads all pertinent data to their accounts

• Local scholarships are advertised and applications are supported

In April, celebrations and long standing Saint Stephen’s graduation traditions begin, from the Senior Walk to the College Pennant Celebration, culminating in May with the Senior Dinner, Baccalaureate and Graduation.