Academics
College Counseling
nrollment in
Emma Willard assures students of their preparation for college. By focusing
on the personal and intellectual growth of each individual, the faculty
and the curriculum prepare each student well for the rigors of higher education.
The goal of the college counseling program is to guide students through
the sometimes bewildering plethora of information about the more than three
thousand institutions of higher learning in the U.S., to say nothing of
opportunities for study in Canada and overseas.
Excellent preparation for college should not be confused with college placement. The days when headmistresses and headmasters at elite prep schools “placed” students at the Seven Sisters and Ivy League are long gone. Today’s media frenzy about college admission is fueled by American consumerism and the stated goal of a few “top” colleges to enroll students from every corner of the country and the world. Internet access to colleges and from colleges to students, sophisticated marketing plans and the unprecedented size of the college-bound population (the “baby boomlet”) have created the well-established myth that college is a scarce commodity. In reality, only about fifteen percent of the colleges and universities in the United States have thousands more applicants than spaces. With careful guidance, each Emma Willard senior will find a spot at an institution that matches her talents and interests.
Staff
The college counseling program is directed by Kent Jones. He is assisted by two part-time college counselors, Alizabeth Aramowicz Smith and Polly Breyer Kimberly, a former member of the English department. Cheryl Ackner, administrative assistant, serves as testing coordinator, assists in the assembly of application materials, and is able to answer a host of questions for students and parents.
The Process
Outside of earning poor grades, there is nothing a student can do in her freshman or sophomore year that will unalterably change her college options. Ninth and tenth graders should focus on being high school students, taking the courses that will give them a solid foundation for more sophisticated study in their junior and senior years, and participating in activities, clubs, and sports that will help them find the one or two extracurricular passions to which they will devote their out-of-class time in their last two years of high school.
College counseling begins in earnest in the winter of the junior year. Juniors meet as a class for an overview of the process, and are asked to write an autobiography and fill out a questionnaire about the types of colleges they think they might want to explore. Between February and April, each junior meets with one of the counselors to discuss her goals for college, her senior-year schedule, her standardized testing patterns, and her extracurricular plans for twelfth grade. Parents are asked to attend these meetings when feasible and to communicate with the counselors about any financial constraints or family considerations. Using all of this information, the counselors help the students build a list of schools to research and visit. Students are encouraged to look at each college they are considering from the point of view of the major(s) they are contemplating and the program requirements that best meet their interests and strengths.
Each fall, representatives from over fifty colleges visit Emma Willard, and seniors are permitted to meet with them in informal sessions. Seniors continue to meet with the college counselors as they refine their lists, write essays and prepare applications, schedule standardized tests, arrange college visits, and solicit teacher recommendations. The counselors arrange for transcripts to be mailed to colleges and prepare a detailed recommendation for each student, highlighting her academic strengths and her contributions to the Emma Willard community and beyond. Mr. Jones maintains close contact with the colleges, advocating on behalf of Emma Willard candidates.
Standardized Testing Schedule
Emma Willard recommends that juniors and seniors follow the testing schedule below. Cheryl Ackner sends out reminders to the students to register for the tests, helps with the registration process, and arranges payment from the SmartCard account if students so desire.
Junior Year
- PSAT/NMSQT: October (Cost: $11)
- SAT: January (Cost: $29.50), March and May (Cost: $41.50)
- SAT Subject Tests: June (Cost: $17 plus fees for specific test: writing is $17.00 and all other subject tests are $8.00)
- Optional ACT: June (Cost: $28, with Writing $42)
- TOEFL: Applicable for students whose second language is English and who have not studied in English-speaking schools for more than three years; can be taken once a month, but the first should be in May/June (Cost: $130)
Senior Year
- Additional testing as recommended (SAT, SAT Subject Tests, ACT, TOEFL): October, November, or December.
Testing Preparation
After receiving their January SAT scores, juniors can voluntarily enroll in an on-site SAT prep course. Emma Willard works with the College Board test preparation program. Faculty members are available to reinforce the test strategies that the Kaplan course teaches. (Cost: $100)
Emma Willard does not encourage extensive use of outside test preparation. Parents who believe that their daughter’s testing is not commensurate with her academic performance should speak with a college counselor about appropriate remedial measures.
College Exploration Resources
Current publications and videos/DVDs from colleges and computerized information services are available to all students. These are located in a dedicated section of the library and in the college counselors’ offices. Emma Willard recommends the resources listed below, recognizing that there are currently dozens of publications available to college-bound students. Web sites are an increasingly valuable way to access the information about the 3,000-plus institutions of higher learning.
