College Counseling

This is a time for students to focus on the transition to Upper School. We assist students with course selection and exploring summer opportunities as needed.

Objective: Emphasize the importance of identifying individual strengths and interests.

Student Tasks:

• Meaningfully engage in GFS courses and extracurricular activities to support an understanding of personal preferences and goals.
• Attend College Conversations to learn about different types of colleges and gain support for the college research process. 
• Summer: Engage in meaningful and skill-building opportunities.

Students are assigned a college counselor and given access to Scoir, an online student management platform specifically designed for the college journey.

Objective: Introduce and reinforce the essential elements used by colleges to measure a student’s record.

• Encourage students to further develop strengths, interests, and passions through commitment to academics and extracurricular activities.
• Advise students about standardized testing options.
• Introduce students and parents/guardians to summer program opportunities, as well as different types of colleges and admissions processes.

Student Tasks:

• Begin visiting colleges during breaks to better understand the various types of colleges (large vs. small, urban vs. rural, state vs. private, etc.).
• Attend College Conversations to learn about different types of colleges, support for the college research process, and testing options.
• October: Take the PSAT at GFS.
• Winter: Research colleges and universities and begin utilizing Scoir.
• Summer: Engage in activities that expand on personal interests and academic goals.

Juniors will have at least three meetings with their counselor (two one-on-one meetings and one family meeting). Junior College Seminar, a class taught by counselors, educates students about the skills needed for a successful college search process: organization and planning, articulating priorities, essay writing, and decision making.

Objective: Help students better define a sense of self and direction, and create an approach to the college search rooted in fit.

• Educate families on the college process and what colleges are looking for in applicants.
• Discuss how to embark on formal visits to colleges students are interested in attending.
• Reinforce the importance of academic record while successfully managing academic pressure and stress.
• Offer suggestions for how students can best use their last high school summer.
• Help students develop a standardized testing plan.
• Communicate with families who are eligible for standardized testing and college application fee waivers.
• Support students in refining their leadership role at school and in the community.

Student Tasks:

• Visit colleges throughout the year with increased focus.
• Beginning in the fall, meet with college representatives visiting GFS.
• Discuss standardized testing strategy with college counselor and register for the SAT and/or ACT.
• October: 
  • Attend Junior College Night at GFS.
  • Take the PSAT at GFS. Some students may qualify for National Merit consideration.
• November: 
  • Complete student and parent surveys in Scoir.
  • Begin meeting with college counselor.
• December-January: 
  • Begin researching colleges suggested by counselor.
  • Begin researching scholarships and financial aid.
• February-May:
  • Discuss senior year class schedule with college counselor.
  • Build list of colleges in Scoir.
  • Take SAT and/or ACT.
• April:
  • Ask teachers for college recommendations.
• Summer: 
  • Attend Essay & Application Workshop in June.
  • Research scholarship opportunities.
  • Outline and draft college essay.

College counselors provide support and guidance to seniors as they actively engage in the college application process.

Objective: Assist students in successfully completing their college search and application process while preparing them for the transition to college.

• Encourage student efforts to maintain a rigorous academic program.
• Guide students step-by-step through the college application process.
• Support students and families through the pressures of senior year.

Student Tasks:

• September–December: 
  • Attend College Counseling Senior Check-In.
  • Meet with college representatives visiting GFS.
  • Take SAT or ACT, as needed.
  • Check email regularly for important messages from college counselor and colleges.
  • Continue regular meetings with college counselor to refine and finalize college list and review college essays for editing.
  • Order score reports from College Board or ACT for colleges requiring official test scores.
  • Complete all application and financial aid requirements, on time, for colleges on applying list.
• December–May: 
  • Keep counselor updated about admission and enrollment decisions and scholarships received.