College Counseling: Looking to the Year Ahead

The new year is often a time to reflect, start over, and turn over a new leaf. In college counseling, it is symbolically relevant, too. As we begin the new academic year, we empathize with parents of current seniors, who are wrestling with both excitement for the future and apprehension about letting go of the past. 

With the ever-changing landscape of college admissions, we are diligently working to bring our LJCDS community the most up-to-date and accurate information, resources, and opportunities to engage in the college search process. 

This fall, we are excited to introduce our College Counseling Seminar courses for seniors. Held during Flex times, we will meet with students to discuss topics relevant to their place in the college admissions cycle. Topics will include an overview of FERPA, a deeper understanding of MaiaLearning and how it connects to college applications, strategies for engaging with college representatives through college visits, interviews, and regional receptions, academic reporting requirements, navigating different application platforms such as the Common Application, UC Application, CSU Application, Coalition, and UCAS, financial aid processes, and appropriate responses and next steps when admission decisions are released. We will conclude the semester with reflections on the journey and the importance of showing gratitude and giving grace. 

In addition, we look forward to welcoming 100+ college admissions representatives to campus to meet with our students this fall. Throughout the months of September, October, and November, our Upper School students, specifically seniors (and juniors during free blocks), have the opportunity to sign up for one-on-one and small group meetings with admissions officers from the colleges they are interested in or want to learn more about. 

Here are just a few names of colleges and universities visiting Country Day in the coming weeks: Pepperdine University, University of San Diego, Bard College, University of Miami, Washington University St. Louis, Wake Forest University, University of St. Andrews - Scotland, University of Michigan, Case Western Reserve University, Indiana University, University of Chicago, Endicott College, Boston College, and many more. For weekly visits, see the College Counseling section in Division Updates. 

In addition to college visits, we will be hosting family- and class-specific events throughout the year. Topics include College Standardized Exams (SAT + ACT), Collegiate Athletics, Financial Aid & the Investment of a College Education, Options for the Arts, The State of College Admissions, our third annual LJCDS College Admission Symposium, College Application Case Study program (for Grade 11 students and caretakers, specifically), and various College Admission Representative panels open to the community.

For upcoming events and opportunities, please refer to the quarterly College Counseling newsletter, weekly Division Updates, and the primary LJCDS Community Event Calendar.