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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

80+

The number of college admissions representatives who annually visit campus to chat with our seniors

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