Students are at the heart of our college counseling program. Guiding girls to know themselves better so they can make good decisions for their college process is the goal with every program offered. Starting with ninth grade class-wide workshops and moving to individualized meetings, essay help, application review and much, much more with seniors, college counseling is a four-year process at SPSG.
Working with each grade level through developmentally appropriate activities, including a Personality Type Indicator Assessment, mock admissions committee, guided tour of local colleges and universities, and scavenger hunts on SCOIR, our online platform for college searches and application tracking, the college counselors slowly introduce all SPSG students to the college process in a way to build on skills and reduce anxiety.
Throughout the year, counselors offer informal meetings for parents as a follow up to more formal presentations. Giving families ample opportunity to ask questions, learn about the college process, and become educated consumers, helps alleviate anxiety. Topics include becoming a savvy consumer of college marketing, understanding the components of standardized testing, and navigating the tools needed for the college search and application process.
This event, for families with students in grades 8-11, features admissions representatives with extensive experience in navigating the athletic recruitment process and preparing fine arts portfolios.
Every sophomore takes a free, condensed test prep course as a requirement for graduation. Starting at the end of sophomore year, the college counselors guide students and families through a thoughtful, well-designed test prep timeline. The goal of helping students to test smarter, not more often, is achieved by identifying a student’s strengths through practice tests and formal evaluations.
A coordinated event for SPSG and SP juniors and their parents. The College Counseling Office invites 15-20 admissions representatives from colleges and universities across the country to guide small groups through a mock admissions committee before gathering to debrief about the admissions process as a whole.
During these “camps” students organize their college lists, complete the Common Application, practice interview skills, build a resume, and work on their personal and supplemental essays.
SPSG invites families to financial aid workshops, an extensive college fair in the spring, and visiting speakers sponsored by the Association of Independent Maryland and DC Schools.
The college process does not end once students have received acceptances and placed a deposit with a college. A panel of experts from a wide variety of college backgrounds help students and parents understand the complexity and challenges of a college campus, including safety, finances, student life, and academics.
