College Counseling

Students' focus should be on enjoying classes, working hard, developing student skills, practicing self-advocacy, and exploring a few activities of interest. At the end of Class IX, students have the opportunity to select elective courses for Class X in areas of particular interest or specialization. In Class X and beyond, there is greater differentiation in course offerings and levels of rigor – courses that will appropriately challenge students and empower them to flourish.

Events:

• Class IX Parent/Guardian Coffee with the College Counselors
• Standardized Testing Information Session
• Financial Aid Workshop for Parents/Guardians
• Individual meetings with college counselors available as needed

Students should continue to work hard in their classes; the IX-XII academic transcript is the most important piece of the college application. The official PSAT is administered in October with a practice ACT and SAT offered exclusively to members of Class X in the second semester. Students can begin seeking leadership positions in their clubs and consider preparing for standardized tests over the summer. More course options are available for rising Class XI students who may continue to add elective courses in areas of particular interest or specialization.

Events:

• Class X Parent/Guardian Coffee with the College Counselors
• Standardized Testing Information Session
• Financial Aid Workshop for Parents/Guardians
• Individual meetings with college counselors available as needed

Fall Semester:

• Weekly Guidance classes begin with a member of the student support team guiding students as they look inward, assessing their strengths, challenges, interests and aspirations. In the context of their college application process, students use this self-reflection to weigh what types of colleges and universities might be good fits for themselves both personally and academically.
• The PSAT-NMSQT is administered. Students may be preparing for standardized tests, and some may elect to take an official SAT or ACT in the fall. 
• Students create a résumé.
• Students and parents/guardians participate in the Class XI Student & Parent/Guardian College Night with the college counseling team and a college dean of admissions.
• Students receive their individualized college counselor assignment.
• Students are invited to attend visits from college admissions representatives during their lunches or free periods.
• Events:
  • Class XI Student & Parent/Guardian College Night
  • Standardized Testing Information Session

Spring semester: 

• Weekly Guidance classes with the college counselors begin in January, as do individual college counseling meetings, followed by family meetings. 
• The college counselors work with students to begin building a balanced list of schools that are a good personal, academic, and financial fit. The college counselors provide an individualized roadmap for the application process that includes conversations about Class XII course placement, potential athletic recruitment, international university applications, and/or specialized applications in the fine or performing arts, where applicable.
• Students research colleges and take an official SAT or ACT by the end of the semester. 
• In their English classes, students write a first draft of their college application essays, while meeting with their college counselor to discuss essay ideas and execution.
• Students begin filling out their Common Application.
• Students apply for their summer internship (a Marymount graduation requirement) and typically participate in this opportunity during the summer after junior year.
• Summer is also a time to work on drafting the college application essay, continue researching colleges, and refine the college list.
• Events:
  • Financial Aid Workshop
  • Alum Parent Panel for Class XI Parents/Guardians
  • College Kickstart Launch

• Some students may continue to take standardized tests. All students work on their college applications, college essays, and supplemental essays into the fall, with guidance from their college counselors. 
• Students meet with 70+ college admissions representatives who visit Marymount to discuss academic and extracurricular offerings, as well as admission and financial aid at their respective campuses.
• Guidance classes continue as students continue to refine their lists. 
• Early applications (EA, ED, etc) and financial aid applications are submitted in the fall and regular decision applications are submitted by early January (generally). 
• Students receive all decisions by early April and must commit to a school by National College Decision Day, typically on May 1. 
• Spring Guidance classes focus on gaining important life skills for independent living including financial literacy, career planning, attending to personal physical and mental health issues at college, and more.

Events:

• Class XII Parent/Guardian Meeting with the College Counselors