College Counseling

Ninth grade is a time of transition. It is a time to build on foundational knowledge and to begin to think more critically and independently. Our ninth grade advisors take the lead in pointing advisees toward community service opportunities and extracurricular involvement. Students will be directed as to how to fulfill the rigorous graduation requirements while, at the same time, taking courses in their area of interest. Our college counselors will also meet with freshmen prior to the class registration fair in March to discuss their high school trajectory. 

Freshmen will take the PSAT/NMSQT for practice and the PSAT/NMSQT score report will be sent home in December.

Working with their tenth grade advisors, students will continue with their four-year academic and co-curricular plan. As sophomores, students will continue to explore relevant extracurricular activities and to speak to their college counselors about making plans to assume leadership positions in the future. By the course registration fair in March, tenth grade students will be ready to select classes for the junior year.  Before this fair, each student will have met with a college counselor who has advised them on the appropriate courses to take for specific college majors or level of admissions selectivity. College counselors also advise students to participate in summer programs to enhance their college applications.

Sophomores take the PSAT/NMSQT again for practice and the PSAT/NMSQT score report will be sent home in December. 

During the eleventh grade, The Meadows hosts a variety of colleges on campus to meet with students. Juniors should take the initiative to meet with these college admission representatives while they are on campus throughout the fall. Students are encouraged to visit with the college counselors prior to meeting admissions representatives so they have a clear understanding of what questions to ask. In January, the college counselors host a College Planning Night that provides students and parents with insight into the college application process. Our college counselors provide insight and educational advice for the college trips (tentatively scheduled for March). College counselors also make recommendations for a senior schedule based on each junior’s grades, teachers' comments, testing history, and post-secondary goals. Juniors receive assistance with resume building, college essay writing, and developing summer plans.

In mid-October, juniors take the PSAT/NMSQT for a final time and the PSAT/NMSQT score report will be sent home in December. This test is the qualifying mechanism for the National Merit, National Hispanic, and National Achievement Programs. Juniors should take their first round of ACT and/or SAT tests in the spring and, if applicable, sit for the SAT Subject Tests in May or June. 

By the beginning of twelfth grade, seniors should have most of their college planning and research completed. They should be enrolled in challenging courses and be reaching the peak of involvement in leadership (within their respective activities).

During the first several weeks of school, our college counselors meet with students individually and in groups during Advisory period to discuss the logistics and practicalities of the college application process: filling out forms, sending test scores and transcripts, obtaining teacher letters of recommendation, and focusing on classes. A Fall College Planning Night provides the opportunity for seniors and their parents to inquire about or address specific questions as a group. Students will be encouraged to visit their college counselors during any free period throughout the day for further clarification. We support each student’s college applications by writing a college counselor letter of recommendation and completing a Secondary School Report. These packages, together with the Upper School Profile and high school transcript, are submitted to colleges and universities.

Students will also be encouraged to take a second round of ACT and/or SAT testing in the fall.