COLLEGE COUNSELING Guidebook
College Counseling’s
mission is to help each Emma student matriculate to a college or university that fits their intellectual and personal abilities, interests, aspirations, and personal sense of community.
To that end, we help educate, counsel, guide, support, and advocate for students throughout the college search process. We are guided by Frank Sachs’ philosophy that “college is a match to be made, not a prize to be won,” emphasizing fit over perceived prestige.
A Commitment to Inclusion
As we are committed to inclusion and belonging, the college counseling team aims to affirm each student’s identity throughout the college search process. We believe college fit is closely linked to a student’s sense of self, so we work with students to support their personal exploration of their goals, strengths, interests, and values. This work begins in ninth grade and continues throughout their years at Emma Willard. As college counselors, we listen to our students, ask probing questions, and get to know each individual. In this way, we provide unique guidance, meeting each student where they are and supporting their college process and their growth.
Emma Willard School is a global community with students from all over the world, and we are committed to making the college process as seamless and inclusive as possible for each of our students. Our college counselors have vast experience working with students from varied backgrounds and are committed to helping each student find the right match for college. We provide all the guidance your student will need to successfully navigate the process, therefore, hiring outside consultants is unnecessary.
emmawillard.org/collegecounseling
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
9th GRADE
Ninth grade is focused on becoming part of the Emma Willard School community. Each student will learn about themselves, how to create and build new relationships, where to find academic and personal resources and build their academic foundation. College counselors will join Emma READY to help them learn to reflect on their choices, their opportunities and their strengths, values and interests.
10th GRADE
Tenth grade is a continuation of reflecting on each student’s choices as they relate to the opportunities available. It will also mark their first chance to take the PSAT and open the college conversation in a more concrete way. As the challenges grow, the students build the skills to meet them successfully and confidently both in the classroom and in the larger community.
11th GRADE
Junior year, students take the next step towards deepening their academic interests, their personal understanding, and development of their future goals. Through individual college counseling meetings, students identify growth in their strengths, values, and interests while learning to align those with college opportunities. Additionally, students are encouraged to consider experiential learning opportunities that are in line with their strengths, values, and interests.
Concrete work that happens in junior year includes building a college list, continuing standardized testing, and beginning to write college essays. READY is a weekly class throughout the year through the READY Center. College counseling joins the seminar during the spring semester to provide programming that includes a continuing self-reflection on values, interests, and strengths.
After a solid personal foundation is laid, we invite guests to speak on many college and career topics like writing the college essay, transitioning from high school to college, and preparing for the college interview. Through seminar and other programming, time is spent exploring the many types of colleges and universities domestically and around the world. Students are able to participate in college tours and information sessions to help build their skills in the college search process. There is also abundant time for questions, support, and to get to know their peers and college counselors deeply.
12th GRADE
Senior year is the culmination of the students’ self-exploration at Emma Willard School, but the skills we teach will follow throughout their lives. College counselors, seniors, and their families will explore the idea of fit through many lenses, including academic, social, and financial, to finalize application plans, lists, and written work.
Each year, Emma Willard welcomes over 100 colleges and universities to campus to allow students to meet and engage with those schools of interest without leaving Troy. Additionally, the weekly seminar class continues with READY after Emma. College Counselors join to provide hands-on support as students complete college and financial aid applications, write essays, and supplemental work. Guests in this portion of the seminar and in other programming will focus on the successful transition to college and include current college deans and current college students, as well as people throughout the university system.
After applications are submitted, the conversation shifts to help students continue to strengthen the skills needed to be successful on a college campus. Small group conversations, speakers from a variety of backgrounds, and plenty of time for questions will continue to provide students with support and confidence as they navigate this transition. The college counseling team continues to support students and families as they receive admissions decisions and as they make final enrollment choices.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
Students
Embrace the Emma match philosophy. Think about your goals and interests beyond college name recognition and rank. What would you like to experience in college? Which majors speak to you? How do you see yourself being involved in student life outside the classroom? Does distance from home matter to you? Would you rather attend a large or small institution? Use Emma as a frame of reference, if it helps!
Keep an open mind. There are more than 4,000 colleges in the U.S. There are many colleges that can be a great fit, whether or not you’ve heard of them. This process has some winding roads so we hope you join us in enjoying the ride.
Do your best at Emma. Speak with teachers often. Engage thoughtfully. Find your place in the student community. Participate authentically.
Own your process. The college counselors are here to help and we acknowledge that this journey is yours. Research colleges and tour when possible. Communicate with your college counselor often. Respond in a timely manner. Share information from your college counselor meetings with your family so we are all on the same page.
Be transparent. Your college counselor will support you best when they know what you need. Self-advocacy is important in this process, so always feel free to share your thoughts with your college counselor. Additionally, if you are working with an external educational consultant, your college counselor should know.
Parents/Guardians/Supporters
Discuss financial information and budget early and often. There are many factors used to determine college match and budget is an important one. College counselors can best support students when cost parameters are clearly communicated.
Attend College Counseling events when possible. The college counselors will host several events by grade level each year to keep parents informed. All events will be hosted live virtually and recorded to accommodate all families.
Support your student as they experience the process. Applying to college is a major milestone and it takes much of your student’s time, focus, and energy.
Where you can, add levity. Remind your student that they are enough as they are and that the right college will match with them. De-emphasize rank and perceived prestige and remind your student that their self worth is not tied to a particular college.
Limit the college talk to a certain time of the week. Students are feeling the college pressure as early as ninth grade. When it is their time to walk through the process, it can be overwhelming for most conversations to center around college. Preserve your relationship by talking about all the other things that make your student a whole person. Perhaps one hour each week can be dedicated to college talk.
College Counselors
Keep abreast of college admission and access trends through regular participation in professional development. College counselors also maintain relationships with college counseling colleagues and college admission professionals.
Teach READY classes for seniors in the fall and juniors in the spring. Through READY, the college counselors will educate and train students on resources they need to engage in the college search process.
Host virtual information sessions for parents/guardians/supporters throughout the academic year. These sessions are hosted virtually to provide access to families all over the world.
Partner with all Emma constituencies to support students as they engage in the college search and application process. College counselors are available to support advisors as they help students to choose academic courses, extracurricular activities, and summer programs. College counselors collaborate with school counselors to provide a healthy environment for all students as the application process can be stressful.
Provide individualized support for all Emma students as they research colleges and develop a comprehensive list of colleges to which to apply. College counselors write recommendation letters for each student applying to college and college counselors support teachers as they write recommendation letters.
The College Counseling Department manages the submission of all Emma materials to colleges. This includes the official transcript, secondary school report, school profile, and letters of recommendation from college counselors and teachers.
VISITING COLLEGES
Visiting colleges is a great way to get insight into the future community you want to be a part of. You have an opportunity to learn more about the school, connect with students and faculty, explore the environment around the campus, and ask questions! The college counseling office provides seniors with three excused absences for the academic year to visit colleges. The college counseling office also works to provide programming that allows students to visit a variety of colleges.
TESTING Testing
OPPORTUNITIES
Emma Willard school offers multiple resources to explore and prepare for Standardized Testing. In addition to Khan Academy, students can take advantage of an optional fee-based test prep program that Emma Willard partners with (usually offered virtually). The fee is discounted on a graduated scale for students who receive more than fifty percent financial aid to attend Emma Willard.
Emma Willard serves as a test site for both the SAT and the ACT. The school calendar is kept up to date with which tests will be offered on campus on an annual basis.
Advanced Placement™ testing is not required for US college admissions. Emma Willard’s testing policy does not allow students to take AP exams that do not align with courses that they are not currently enrolled in. The academic program at Emma Willard will allow the opportunity for you to challenge yourselves and be a competitive applicant in the college admissions process.
SAT AND ACT SIGN-UP
1. Sign into your Collegeboard account; if you do not have one, create an account at: collegeboard.org
2. Visit the SAT Registration page and click “Register Now.”
3. Enter your personal information.
4. Select Test Date and Test Center. Use SAT test center search tool to look up test date and test center by zip code.
5. Upload your photo.
6. Add optional services and practice materials (optional). There are also free study guides available.
7. Review your order and confirm your SAT registration.
ACT
1. Sign into your ACT account; if you do not have one, create an account at: act.org
2. Visit your ACT Dashboard and click “Register for the ACT.”
3. Choose your test center and test date.
4. You will need to choose the type of exam first: Writing or No Writing.
5. Review your selections.
6. Add optional services and practice materials (optional).
7. Add your photo ID and additional personal information.
8. Indicate your college choices and score preferences (optional).
9. Enter parents’ or guardians’ information (optional). This will allow them to see your test scores.
10. Submit payment and confirm your ACT registration.
FINANCING COLLEGE Financing A COLLEGE EDUCATION
College Money Method
Emma Willard School partners with Paul Martin of College Money Method to offer comprehensive financial aid education to our students and families.
Mr. Martin is a first generation college graduate and financial planner who believes in the college dream. He helps support students and families from all financial backgrounds as they navigate the college financial world. Through a series of webinars, question and answer sessions and one-on-one meetings, Mr. Martin helps break down the complex process of financial aid to provide families and students with all the information needed to succeed in the college process.
More information about Mr. Martin and his process can be found at collegemoneymethod.com and information specific to his work with Emma Willard School can be found at collegemoneymethod.com/ emma-willard-school (password ewscmm).
A Sample List of Webinars that Mr. Martin Offers:
• Learning How the Financial Aid Process Works (9th/10th Grade)
• Understanding How Colleges Evaluate Your Financial Need (10th Grade)
• Building Financial Fit and Affordability into Your School Lists (11th Grade)
• Succeeding in the Financial Aid Process (12th Grade)
• Succeeding in the Financial Aid Process for International Families (11th/12th Grade)
• Comparing Financial Aid Offers and Considering Appeals (12th Grade)
Interview
TIPS & TRICKS
College interviews are a great way to learn about the colleges you may be applying to as well as providing insight to these institutions about who you are. During these interviews it is important that you:
Dress appropriately!
Highlight your strengths, interests, and accomplishments.
Elaborate on your experiences and provide examples of your participation, challenges, and goals.
Try to answer questions in detail and avoid answering questions with a “Yes” or “No.”
Follow up with an email to your interviewer afterwards thanking them for their time.
For additional information on college interviews and how to best prepare for them, please scan these QR codes to review our full “Interview Tips” document and watch this video prepared by our student workers about the interview process.
DOCUMENT VIDEO
emmawillard.org/ college-interview-tips
emmawillard.org/ college-interview-video
SCOIR
College & Career ASSESSMENT
Scoir is a college and career assessment tool that all of Emma Willard’s grade 11 and 12 students and parents/guardians/supporters have access to in order to be able to track potential colleges, do research, fill out surveys, and take personal assessments. For college counselors, it is a valuable research tool to help us as we support students building college lists and considering schools to be the right fit and match.
scoir.com
Parents and students are invited to Scoir once a student begins working with their assigned college counselor.
Later, the college list will be in Scoir and it can be used for college research.
At the time of application, the college counseling office uses Scoir to send all supporting documents to colleges. Additionally, it is where decisions are tracked as students receive news from colleges.
Ultimately, as students decide where they are attending school, the college counselors enter that into Scoir as well.
It is a powerful resource to track trends over time at particular schools for Emma Willard Students giving college counselors valuable insight as we offer advice to current students.
KICKSTART
College PLANNING
College Kickstart is a powerful tool for college planning. Designed to complement college counseling platforms like Scoir, College Kickstart helps students craft a college plan around a list of colleges they have in mind and their academic profile.
Drawing on admissions data from over 600 popular US institutions, College Kickstart helps students answer three important questions:
collegekickstart.com
Is the college list balanced and set up for success?
How can students best capitalize on early admission?
How do students minimize wasted energy along the way?
College Kickstart also automatically updates each time a student’s list or profile changes and makes it easy to take corrective action, gather application requirements and consider affordability as part of their plan.
The Road to College
11TH GRADE YEAR
Mid-December College Counselor assignments released
February
2/1 Deadline for initial meeting with College Counselor
12TH GRADE YEAR
Mid-July
Complete a first draft of the college essay to send to your college counselor
October
10/1 FAFSA opens
10/2 Completion of the Common Application and organization of your college deadlines
10/13 Final draft of college essay due 10/31 College Representatives visiting Emma end
August 8/1 Common Application Opens
September
9/16 College Representatives visiting Emma begin
9/22 College Counseling appointment deadline
9/29 College essay draft due to English teacher
November
11/1
Initial college applications sent * May vary based on college or program
Mid-December
Students hear back from Early Action/Early Decision Schools
Mid-March / Early April
Students hear back from Regular Decision Schools
May 5/1
General deadline to enroll in colleges you are admitted to
