Our Philosophy

Before they begin thinking specifically about college, boys at Woodberry are encouraged to invest deeply in their high school lives. After all, they’ll be better candidates for college if they have sharpened their talents and discovered their hidden passions, academic and otherwise, along the way. In later years, college counselors will begin to guide boys and families in conversations about the mechanics of the college search.

Boys in the third and fourth form meet with the college counseling staff in large groups. The focus for younger boys is on taking advantage of life at Woodberry: exploring interests, deepening commitments, and seeking success and fulfillment in academics, arts, and athletics. Boys should spend these years searching for what they love to do, not where they want to attend college.

Each boy is assigned an individual college counselor midway through his junior year. While he will always have access to the expertise of the full college counseling staff, the individual college counselor will serve as the student’s chief advocate and advisor in the college process. College counselors work with boys on everything from course selection to planning college visits to advice about standardized testing.

Roles & Responsibilities

More than any specific college outcome, Woodberry’s college counselors are interested in helping boys develop into young men with strong academic, social, emotional, and character foundations. The college search is a natural extension of the educational experience at Woodberry. Boys are expected to use the college process to learn more about themselves and select an institution that best supports their thoughtfully considered educational and personal goals.

During the college search process, the student, parents, and college counselor each have distinct roles and responsibilities.

Student Make use of opportunities at Woodberry to develop passions and talents.

Explore meaningful summer activities.

Be realistic about strengths and weaknesses.

Decide what you need from your college experience. Seek the advice of the communicate with your college counselor about your activities, the colleges to which you are applying, and the decisions you receive from the colleges. Visit colleges/universities and make the most of those visits through contacts with admission office, faculty in your academic area(s) of interest, or coaches.

Utilize Cialfo as a resource to research colleges and manage applications. Know the requirements and deadlines of each college to which college counseling office, and

you are applying. Complete your applications thoroughly and on time, giving ample time for review and revision. Have official test scores sent from College Board and/or ACT to all colleges.

Roles & Responsibilities

Parent • Help your son set goals during his time at Woodberry. Communicate early any strict parameters that should inform your son’s college search (i.e., financial, geographic, etc.). Support meaningful summer activities — community service, a job, pursuit of a passion, travel, or academic enrichment.

Share your son’s story with the college counseling team. Be open-minded to a range of colleges, and facilitate visits to a variety of campuses with your son. If your son is interested in playing a varsity sport in college or pursuing art, music, or drama, encourage him to talk to coaches and teachers as well as the college counseling staff.

Educate yourself about financing college and submit financial forms.