College Counseling

List of 4 items.

• Grade 9: Laying the groundwork for a successful high school experience

  • Select the most challenging courses appropriate to you.
  • Explore extra-curricular activities such as sports teams, school activities or volunteer opportunities outside campus.
  • With guidance and encouragement from faculty, develop a love for reading and writing.
  • With guidance and encouragement from the 9th Grade Dean, focus on issues of wellness, study skills and time management.
  • With your Academic Coach/ Advisor and the Director of College Guidance, evaluate your interests, activities, and strengths to set ambitious goals for the next school year.

• Grade 10: Beginning to think seriously about college

  • Continue to focus on appropriately rigorous academics and good study habits.
  • Take the PSAT a year early, for practice.
  • With support and encouragement from faculty, get involved in the life of the school and consider opportunities for leadership.
  • With your parents, attend the sophomore International Baccalaureate & College Counseling night.
  • With guidance from Academic Coach/ Advisor, identify and explore an area of interest and use the Spring Showcase as an opportunity to share it with the rest of the school.
  • If you are interested in playing a sport in college, meet with Annie Wright’s Athletic Director to map out a plan for recruitment.
  • With faculty guidance and support, evaluate your interests, activities, and strengths to set ambitious goals for the next school year and plan for an enriching summer.

• Grade 11: Entering the heart of Annie Wright's college counseling

  • Excel, with faculty guidance and support, at appropriately rigorous academic coursework. In addition to earning the AWS Diploma, students can pursue the full IB Diploma or IB Course Candidacy.
  • Step into leadership roles in activities where you can make the most impact.
  • Take the PSAT in October (scores will be submitted to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for consideration) and a practice ACT.
  • Work with your college counselor to create a customized plan for standardized testing in the spring and summer of junior year.
  • Visit several college campuses and attend information sessions during several day trips in the spring with the junior class.
  • Meet with college admissions officers that visit campus in the fall. (Some 75 colleges and universities visit the Annie Wright campus to meet with our students. Another 120 schools attend our independent school fall fair hosted in conjunction with Charles Wright Academy.)
  • Start regular meetings with your college counselor to build a strong relationship and get individual advice on how to shape a tentative list of colleges.
  • Participate in a 2-day case study and panel event with visiting college admission deans (this event is co-hosted with Charles Wright Academy).
  • Together with your parents, meet with your college counselor to create a customized strategy for your college applications that meets your academic, financial and career goals.
  • After a two-week essay-writing workshop in English class, write multiple college essay drafts before leaving for summer break.
  • With the help of your college counselor, identify teachers for letters of recommendation, work through NCAA eligibility questions, shape a tentative list of schools and finalize summer enrichment opportunities.

• Grade 12: Choosing a college

  • Continue academically rigorous coursework throughout senior year, as your counselor will keep colleges updated on any exemplary performance.
  • Register to take your final SAT and/or ACT exam.
  • Meet with college admissions officers that visit campus in the fall, and when feasible, meet for an interview as part of your application. (Some 75 colleges and universities visit the Annie Wright campus to meet with our students. Another 120 schools attended our independent school fall fair hosted in conjunction with Charles Wright Academy.)
  • Attend College Week, where you will: finalize the application list, review deadlines, workshop your activities list and resume, meet with an assigned essay advisor to fine-tune application essays, and meet with your counselor for a final review of all applications. (The vast majority of seniors are done with their applications after College Week.)
  • Work with your teachers and college counselor to make sure all recommendation letters and applications materials are submitted on time.
  • Make any final trips to visit colleges.
  • Take any IB tests, as the vast majority of Annie Wright students score well enough on IB test to earn credit at colleges and universities.