College Counseling

The College Counseling Office offers the opportunity to explore all options for education after Madeira.

Girls and families are encouraged to work with the college counseling staff at any time throughout high school. All students begin individual counseling in the junior year. The program is designed to assure successful transition from the secondary school experience to a variety of post-secondary options. The college admission process is promoted as a natural consequence of a quality secondary career.

Junior and Senior Year Overview

The search for a college that is the right match for the girl is a process that begins as soon as a student chooses a direction in her academic, personal, and extracurricular life. While the material presented here should provide a "broad-brush" overview of the college counseling program and philosophy here at Madeira, you are encouraged to work as closely as you need with Mrs. Reilly, director of college counseling, and her staff.

PSAT

Juniors begin the "active" phase of their college search in October when they take the PSAT. This shortened version of the SAT offers students practice, not only on the types of questions asked, but also the pressure of timed testing and the sometimes complicated task of filling out the registration forms. The junior year PSAT is also the National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test. National Merit Semifinalists are announced in September of senior year.

Academic Diligence

Because junior year grades impact a college application with greater weight than those from the freshman or sophomore years, girls are reminded in December that each quarter influences overall presentation. Preparation for exams and a strong finish to first semester should take top priority in December.

Information Sessions for Junior Parents

As a new year gets underway, so does the college counseling process. Information sessions are offered to junior parents, students take their first SAT, and each girl is asked to make an individual appointment with the college counselors. Specifics covered at this point include self-assessment, gathering and organizing information, and establishing test and college visit calendars.

Spring Break College Visits

Madeira juniors are encouraged to use part of their spring break to visit schools identified during the assessment and information-gathering components of the search. While not possible for all, the college visit can eliminate the fear of the unknown or replace a romantic notion with a realistic one. Madeira also takes twelve girls (first-come, first-served basis) on a college tour during the long weekend of Winter Break.

Teacher Recommendations

Most colleges require teacher and school recommendations. The college counselors office writes a letter of recommendation for each girl on behalf of Madeira. In addition, girls contract with two teachers in April of their junior year for academic recommendations. These contracts are filed in the college counseling office, and reminders are sent to faculty in the fall if they have not already been submitted.

Strong Academic Finish and SATII

The rest of junior year should be devoted to a strong academic finish. Senior course selections will largely be guided by logical progression and previous performance. To college admission committees, everyday performance and strength of program are still the best indicators of potential for future success. SATs and SAT IIs, the subject tests, are taken in May and June, respectively. There are opportunities for standardized testing in October, November, and December of the senior year also.

College Counseling Questionnaire

Along with summer reading comes a lengthy college counseling questionnaire sent to each rising senior and her parents. The end of the junior year is the best time for girls to reflect on their progress and achievements during high school. By chronicling their activities and thinking about their strengths, weaknesses, and contributions, students get an idea of how their application will be viewed. This is an opportunity for girls to think out their responses to college application questions. It is also a valuable resource for college counselors when compiling information for letters of recommendation.

Applications and Time Management

Time management becomes even more important for a first-quarter senior. College essays, applications, and interviews surround rigorous courses, school leadership, and regular activities. Communication with the College Counseling Office becomes a priority. In order to ensure that all school records are ready, girls are asked to have their applications completed at least two weeks before their deadlines. Each school will have its own forms and deadlines. In addition to admissions applications, financial aid forms come from the colleges, the College Scholarship Service, and the federal government.

Essay Writing Workshop

Throughout the fall, seniors meet with the director of college counseling as a group to review the process and deadlines, and discussion topics such as confidentiality, decision-making, and emotions continue. An essay-writing workshop is presented during the first week of school.

Culmination of the Process

The process culminates in December and January with the submission of admission and financial aid applications. Colleges request first quarter grades for early decision candidates and first semester grades for all others. Admissions decisions arrive by April 1. Students must notify the college of their choice by May 1.