College Counseling
An important outcome of your Solebury education is being accepted to a college of your choice, yet the process of preparing and applying for college can be overwhelming. This is why Solebury focuses intently on the process of preparing for testing and college applications practically from the day you arrive on campus.
As with all things Solebury, our college counseling process is highly personalized. We get to know your strengths and emerging passions, and we encourage you to expand your academic and extracurricular interests to strengthen your college resume. At the same time, our full-time college counselor introduces you to colleges that may be a good fit—sometimes right here on campus, as a large number of colleges and universities come to speak with our students in small-group settings.
A key question is: Which test should I take, the SAT or the ACT? We work in partnership with Kaplan Test Prep to introduce you to both tests so we can find which one suits you best, especially if the colleges on your list will accept either one.
How It Works
9th Grade
- Incoming freshman and their families may participate in a webinair that helps students get off on the right foot academically.
- Families/students are invited to meet and plan their 9th grade schedules and to look ahead to the next four years.
- Students meet with their advisors to develop the skills necessary to create a strong foundation for high school and college success.
10th Grade
- The Director of Studies and Associate Head of School meet with each student for a "fireside chat" to learn more about their goals and help them plan out the next two years academically.
- Sophomores take the PSAT in the fall.
- The Director of College Counseling meets with the class to advise them on building their academic and extracurricular foundation and what to expect as a junior.
- Students are invited to take a practice SAT/ACT hybrid test.
11 Grade
- Students are invited to meet with dozens of college representatives who visit Solebury School every fall.
- Juniors complete a college questionnaire and attend mandatory college workshops and a college fair.
- Juniors will again take the PSAT and are invited to participate in a practice SAT/ACT hybrid test. They are also welcome to take Solebury School's SAT prep course, taught by faculty.
- The Director of College Counseling registers students for AP exams and helps students plan for other standardized tests, such as SAT subject tests.
- Each spring, the Director of College Counseling meets with juniors to review their academics and extracurricular activities. They also discuss college aspirations and learn about letters of recommendations, applying for financial aid, applying for early decision, writing essays, interviewing, and researching college programs. They also map out a plan of action for the summer.
- By the end of junior year, students will have created a list of colleges to consider visiting, and potentially apply to, during senior year.
12 Grade
- "Personal Essay" is offered as a class in the fall to guide seniors in crafting their college application essay.
- The Director of College Counseling writes personalized recommendations for each student and each college.
- The Director will also provide individual feedback for students on their applications/essays and will meet with seniors to help them fine-tune their college list.
- Solebury School sends transcripts/recommendations, makes advocacy phone calls, and offers guidance to students as they make their ultimate college choice.
Other Resources Include:
- Individual and group meetings are held with parents to familiarize them with the application process and financial aid procedures.
- The college counseling library includes guidebooks, catalogs, videos, and computer programs to help students in their college search.
- Students who qualify for untimed testing are registered and tested on Solebury's campus.
Watch the video below to hear from a student about our college counseling process...