DISCOVER HOW STUART HALL SCHOOL CAN LEAD
Stuart Hall College Counseling Program
TO MORE FOR YOU Visit us on the web: www.stuart-hall.org E-mail us:
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admissions@stuart-hall.org Call us: 540.885.0356 or 888.306.8926 Visit our Middle & High School campus: 235 West Frederick Street Staunton, Virginia Visit our Lower School campus: 74 Quicks Mill Road Verona, Virginia 540.248.2404
The Right College for Every Student Preparing for college admissions can be a daunting process, both for students and their parents. Colleges must be evaluated, tests taken, applications completed, and finances assembled. The Stuart Hall College Counseling Program is designed to guide families through each step of this journey. When the time comes for our seniors to make their decisions, they will do so knowing they are making the right choice.
The College Counseling Office
T
he College Counseling
Program at Stuart Hall School is headed by an experienced
college counselor who leads a team of faculty advisors. This system
assures that all our students receive personal attention at every stage of the decision-making process.
One of the important activities
of the office is to gather firsthand information about the schools at the top of our students’ college
lists. In recent years, members of the staff have visited over 70
college campuses, both in Virginia
“My favorite part of Stuart Hall’s College Counseling Program was having a college visit during our junior year. Being exposed to college life inspired me not only to study harder for my SATs, but also to do more research about the types of college I wanted
with admissions officers and
Sarah McGinnis Class of 2008
interviewing students and faculty.
We supplement these visits by maintaining a compre-
hensive collection of college admissions materials from hundreds of schools around the nation, as well a full
range of college guides and specialty publications on such
topics as financial aid and test-taking. Students are invited to review these materials at any time.
Finding the Match
O
ur goal at the College Counseling Program is to
help students narrow their choices to schools where they can pursue their interests successfully. This
means putting the student at the center of the process. We get to know every student personally, meeting with them frequently and conferring regularly with their teachers.
At the same time, we encourage students to take advantage of the numerous self-inventory exercises we offer.
Together, we build a customized application strategy
for each student that takes into account their interests, their academic performance, and their personalities.
This is the primary reason for Stuart Hall’s 100% college placement rate.
A
pplying for college is almost a course in itself.
There is much to learn, both for students and their parents, and Stuart Hall sponsors a number of
events that help families move deliberately and thoughtfully through the process.
A number of these events are designed to help families
refine their choices by exposing them to the range of
college experiences. In March, the junior class takes a
day trip to a large public university and a smaller private college to compare education in these two very different settings. In September, we help seniors broaden their
search by taking students to the local college fair, where representatives of between 80 and 100 colleges are in
to attend.”
and in surrounding states, meeting
Providing Insight and Information
attendance. And every fall, admissions officials from
between 15 and 20 area colleges visit Stuart Hall, talking to students and giving them the opportunity to introduce themselves.
We also reach out to parents. Each February, we host
a college night, where admissions professionals from
regional institutions participate in a panel discussion and
Getting Students Thinking About College Early
I
A Personal Choice. Hundreds of Outcomes.
nformation is critical for
students to make the good decisions about college.
Ample time is equally important. That’s why college preparation
at Stuart Hall begins in the ninth grade. We hold class meetings
for freshman on such topics as
time management, the importance of AP and honors classes, and
choosing courses carefully, and
“The college counselor was incredibly valuable in helping me decide where to apply and which college to choose. She was available to us 24/7 for individual help and attention.”
we compile an activities and honors resume for each student that they
Ian Walsh Class of 2010
opportunity to consider the options and focus
their efforts on those schools that are a good fit, their choices truly reflect their diverse aptitudes and interests. Arizona State University
New York University
Berklee College of Music
Otis School of Design
Boston College
Parsons School of Design
Brandeis University
Princeton University
Brown University
Rhode Island School of Design
Bryn Mawr College
School of Visual Arts
Carnegie Mellon
they will continue taking through the eleventh grade. By
College of William and Mary
in their academic careers, we hope to minimize the stress
Davidson College
University of Alabama
Dickinson College
University of Colorado
Duke University
University of Georgia
Emory University
University of Michigan
Fashion Institute of Technology
UNC-Chapel Hill
Fordham University
students in the ninth grade start taking the PSAT, which
encouraging students to explore their college options early they experience in their senior year.
During tenth grade and eleventh grade, students
participate in small group sessions in the College Coun-
sponsor a forum for the parents of juniors to prepare them
researching colleges, and making the most of a college
for the upcoming year.
tion? Everywhere. Because they’ve had the
can update as needed. In addition,
answer questions about such issues as financial aid, early admission, and advanced placement credit. In April, we
W
here do Stuart Hall students go after gradua-
seling office to discuss such issues as building a resume, tour. Test preparation is another important activity,
Clemson University
Seton Hall University Swarthmore College Tulane University
University of Richmond
exam at least once during their junior year. We offer the
Georgetown University
University of the South (Sewanee)
Princeton Review Assessment to help students decide
Guilford College
University of Virginia
which test to take and, in conjunction with the Princeton
Haverford College
University of Wisconsin
Review, host discounted test preparation programs for
Hollins University
Vanderbilt University
Hood College
Virginia Commonwealth University
especially as students take either the SAT or the ACT
both exams.
Students begin their last year at Stuart Hall with the
annual Senior Retreat, which includes essay brainstorming and mock admissions interviews. For the rest of their
senior year, students will meet frequently with the college
Indiana University James Madison University Manhattan School of Music
counselor as they complete their admissions and financial
Maryland Institute College of Art
interviews. As you would expect, the college counselor is
New England Conservatory
make their ultimate decision.
Northeastern University
aid applications, write their essays, and practice for alumni always available to provide a sounding board when they
New York University
Virginia Military Institute Virginia Tech Wake Forest University Washington and Lee University Wellesley College Yale University