Below are several highlights of Prep’s exceptional College Counseling program.
We Know Our Students!
After spring break of their sophomore year, students are assigned a college counselor who serves as an academic advisor who collaborates with them to select appropriate courses based on their intellectual curiosities. By creating the relationship this early, their college counselor is able to build a robust and supportive partnership that contributes to a joyful college search process which starts in earnest in junior year. We begin formal meetings with juniors and their parents in January and continue to meet individually with students and parents on different aspects of the process: visiting colleges, determining what is a good fit, creating a list of schools to apply to, guidance on testing, editing and advice on applications and essays, and much more.
We Work With Our Students To Get It Done!
Juniors and seniors have scheduled time with college counselors to do college research and work on applications.
Team Approach
Prep has two college counselors for approximately 50 seniors. We work very closely together to discuss students and their college processes.
Test Prep
While many colleges and universities are now test-optional or test-free, practice tests for the ACT and SAT are offered starting sophomore year. We also provide resources for individual tutoring.
SCOIR
We train students and parents in how to use this cutting-edge program to research colleges, assess the selectivity of a college within the context of each individual student, and manage their applications.
Admission Rep Visits
Over 80 college admissions representatives visit Prep every fall to meet our students. It is a great opportunity for students to learn more about the schools they are considering. It is also a time for students to establish a relationship with the representative who will most likely be the first reader of their application.
Financial Aid Guidance
Through our partnership with Paul Martin of College Money Method Prep will provide webinars starting in 9th grade that will:
1. Develop early awareness and understanding of college financing and the financial aid process so that students and families establish their financial fit earlier in the college exploration process.
2. Guide students and families through the financial aid system, breaking down the entire process into manageable lessons with actions appropriate for each year of high school.
3. Resource students and families with personalized tools to move from passive learning to active planning in the college financial aid process.
4. Introduce students to key concepts and behaviors in personal finance by integrating these as part of financial aid planning.
Annual Case Studies Event with College Reps
We invite around twenty college admissions reps to visit Santa Fe Prep in April to read real applications with students and parents. Participants will be split into 5-6 admissions committees with 2-3 college reps per committee, guiding them through the process of evaluating “the fit” of the sample applications. Admitting, Denying, and Waitlisting applicants introduces students and parents to the different parts of an application, how each is weighed, and how those priorities differ among colleges and universities.