College Counseling
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Meet our College Counselor!
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ljacobsallenacademy.orgDirector of College Counseling
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For College RepresentativesWe are excited to partner together to connect our students with institutions across the United States. We host college representatives each fall to visit with students in person. This year, Allen Academy will welcome college admission representatives to campus between Monday, September 9 and Friday, October 25, 2024. Each visit slot is 40 minutes long and is open to current juniors and seniors. Want to vist?
Contact:
Director of College Counseling, Lisa Jacobs, at [email protected].
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College CounselingThe College Counseling program at Allen Academy offers comprehensive support to both parents and students, guiding them through every step of the college admission process. Our college office upholds the school’s core values of excellence, integrity, community, and adaptability, ensuring that each student identifies and pursues the best college or university suited to their individual needs.
From their first year in the upper school, students receive personalized guidance in several key areas:Identifying colleges that align with their unique interests and goals.
- Discovering enriching summer opportunities to enhance their applications.
- Navigating college admission guidelines, including GPA, class rank, and testing requirements.
- Learning about financial aid and scholarship options to make higher education more accessible.
Each year, Allen Academy graduates successfully matriculate to a diverse array of colleges and universities. These institutions range from public to private, large to small, and are located both across the United States and internationally.
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Freshman YearCollege Advising by grade level
Ninth grade at Allen Academy focuses on developing good habits. Through meetings with the grade-level advisor and college counselor, students create a four-year academic plan and adjust to the more difficult Upper School workload.
Students start by identifying their strengths and interests through learning style inventories and career assessments. They also have the chance to participate in college tours and interact with college admission counselors. In the fall, ninth graders take the PSAT 9 exam to assess their college readiness in Reading, Writing, and Math.
Additionally, students are encouraged to explore summer opportunities, community service, and academic enrichment programs. Parents are invited to attend a college counseling session in the fall to understand the transition from middle to upper school and how to support their student as they adjust to high school life.
Sophmore Year
Tenth grade at Allen Academy is centered on exploring opportunities. The Director of College Counseling assists students in selecting appropriate courses to maintain their focus on academics and college planning. College visits and tours provide students with exposure to different school environments, teach them how to effectively tour a school, and offer opportunities to converse with admissions counselors.Junior Year
Eleventh grade at Allen Academy is all about preparing for college. Students begin detailed research on colleges and develop a list of potential good fits. They receive advice on their college choices based on their academic record, co-curricular activities, personal interests, and career goals.
In October, all juniors take the PSAT/NMSQT exam, in preparation for taking the SAT and ACT exams in the late winter and early spring. The English department and the Director of College Counseling collaborate together to help juniors start drafting their college application essays.
The Director of College Counseling meets extensively with students and parents from January to May to articulate educational goals, review SAT and ACT scores, and develop a list of best-fit colleges and universities.
Students begin requesting letters of recommendation from teachers and community contacts. During the summer, they continue working on college admission essays and create their ApplyTexas and Common Application accounts.
Parents are invited to attend an introduction to college admissions presentation in the spring to discuss the college application process, senior year, and trends in college admissions.Senior Year
Twelfth grade at Allen Academy emphasizes finishing strong. The College Kickoff in August helps seniors organize their applications, essays, letters of recommendation, college entrance exams, and other admission materials, documents, and deadlines. The Director of College Counseling provides individual guidance to seniors and their parents throughout the application process.
Students and parents receive crucial information about the FAFSA, the CSS Profile, and maximizing scholarship and financial aid opportunities. Seniors continue to visit colleges and meet with admissions counselors from prospective institutions. They are encouraged to maintain a rigorous course schedule, as colleges consider senior year classes and grades in their admissions decisions.
Seniors and their parents continue to meet with the Director of College Counseling as they receive their admission decisions and begin discussing next steps and finishing up their high school career.