Upper School - College Counseling

The College Counseling Program at Stuart Hall School is headed by an experienced college counselor who leads a team of faculty advisors. This system assures that all our students receive personal attention at every stage of the decision- making process.
One of the important activities of the office is to gather firsthand information about the schools at the top of our students’ college lists. In recent years, members of the staff have visited over 70 college campuses, both in Virginia and in surrounding states, meeting with admissions officers and interviewing students and faculty.
We supplement these visits by maintaining a comprehensive collection of college admissions materials from hundreds of schools around the nation, as well as a full range of college guides and specialty publications on such topics as financial aid and test-taking. Students are invited to review these materials at any time.

Finding the Match
Our goal at the College Counseling Program is to help students narrow their choices to schools where they can pursue their interests successfully. This means putting the student at the center of the process. We get to know every student personally, meeting with them frequently and conferring regularly with their teachers. At the same time, we encourage students to take advantage of the numerous self-inventory exercises we offer.
Together, we build a customized application strategy for each student that takes into account their interests, their academic performance, and their personalities. This is the primary reason for Stuart Hall’s 100% placement rate.

Providing Insight and Information
Applying for college is almost a course in itself. There is much to learn, both for students and their parents, and Stuart Hall sponsors a number of events that help families move deliberately and thoughtfully through the process.
A number of these events are designed to help families refine their choices by exposing them to the range of college experiences. Our junior class takes a day trip to a large public university and a smaller private college to compare education in these two very different settings. We help the seniors broaden their search by taking students to the local college fair, where representatives of between 80 and 100 colleges are in attendance. Every fall, admissions officials from between 15 and 20 area colleges visit Stuart Hall, talking to students and giving them the opportunity to introduce themselves.
We also reach out to parents. We host a college night, where admissions professionals from regional institutions participate in a panel discussion and answer questions about such issues as financial aid, early admission, and advanced placement credit. Also, we sponsor a forum for the parents of juniors to prepare them for the upcoming year.

Getting Students Thinking About College Early
Information is critical for students to make the good decisions about college. Ample time is equally important. That’s why college preparation at Stuart Hall begins in the ninth grade. We hold class meetings for freshmen on such topics as time management, the importance of AP and honors classes and choosing courses carefully, and we compile an activity and honors resume for each student that they can update as needed. In addition, students in the ninth grade start taking the PSAT, which they will continue taking through eleventh grade. By encouraging students to explore their college options early in the academic careers, we hope to minimize the stress they experience senior year.
During tenth grade and eleventh grade, students participate in small group sessions in the college Counseling office to discuss such issues as building a resume, researching colleges, and making the most of a college tour. Test preparation is another important activity, especially as students take either the SAT or the ACT exam at least once during their junior year. We offer the Princeton Review Assessment to help students decide which test to take and, in conjunction with the Princeton Review, host discounted test preparation programs for both exams.
Students begin their last year at Stuart Hall with the annual Senior Retreat, which includes essay brainstorming and mock admissions interviews. For the rest of their senior year students will meet frequently with the college counselor as the complete their admissions and financial id applications, write their essays, and practice for alumni interviews. As you would expect, the college counselor is always available to provide a sounding board when they make their ultimate decision.
 

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