The VMS College Counseling Office is committed to providing an equity-centered, developmentally appropriate, and exploratory program in which all students can unequivocally acknowledge that their identity is valued, their voice is heard, and work in a self-directed journey is supported. This ethical and empowering education of self-knowledge should not only consist of discovering good fits that meet individual needs, goals, and values, but also, at its culmination, a sense of promise and curiosity for what’s ahead. There is an overarching understanding that success is defined by how thoughtfully, genuinely, and gracefully one engages in the college search as opposed to merely the end result. The decision of where to apply and enroll is a personal one that is made for myriad reasons and is just as varied and authentic as a personal essay. The College Counseling Office uniformly celebrates all student growth plans after graduation and expects students and families to respect and honor equally the successes of their peers.