The College Counseling Office begins to meet with students as a class in the 9th grade. These introductory meetings throughout the year focus on the “big picture” of the college search process. Our talks with the class deal with the significance of their academic records, the importance of their engagement in their classes, and our encouragement for them to follow their academic and extracurricular passions. Emphasis is placed on growth, self-advocacy, and goal-setting.

In tenth grade, the focus is on self-knowledge and applying what is learned - strengths, values, aptitudes, interests - to explore options and look at the variables in the college search process. 

• The College Counseling Office takes the entire 10th grade class on an overnight college tour to area institutions in Colorado. Students get the opportunity to compare a variety of schools—public vs. private, urban vs. rural, big vs. small, research vs. liberal arts—to gain a sense of what life is like on the different campuses. In 2023, the class visited CU Boulder, Univ. of Denver, Metropolitan State University, Colorado College, and Air Force Academy.

• Students are encouraged to hone skills and further develop personal interests in and out of school. In addition, students and parents gain access to SCOIR, a web-based college counseling resource, and learn how to utilize its many tools that assist with the college search and college application submission.

In the second semester of their 11th grade year, students begin the college search process in earnest by meeting one on one with Ms. Ferrara and Mr. Heinemann as well as attending regularly scheduled seminars to discuss all aspects of the college search and application process. Topics include:

• Effective and efficient research helps students to identify good matches

• Establishing a balanced college list.

• Interviewing and ways to demonstrate interest in colleges of interest.

• Standardized testing education.

• Work on all things related to the Common Application and other applications. 

• Writing personal essays and short answers within the application..

• Demonstrating leadership to convey an authentic picture of themselves.

Juniors also participate in a College Essay Retreat and a Common Application Bootcamp before the start of senior year. As well as several other programming opportunities supporting their journey.

During the fall of their senior year, students will be fully engrossed in the college process by continuing to meet with their college counselors and attending seminars throughout the semester. Students can expect to:

• Finalize their college list using the CC office resources, SCOIR, and College Kickstart.

• Work to “polish” all aspects of their applications prepping them for submission.

• They are encouraged to interview where available, connect with college admissions representatives, get any questions about their colleges answered, and begin investigating scholarship opportunities.

The result is young adults with a number of options from which to choose, who are comfortable, confident, and prepared to excel at their "best fit" college.