College Guidance

As students adjust to the rigors and expectations of their Upper School experience, the primary focal points for ninth grade is to acclimate to classes, make social connections, and seek ways to be involved in the community. College Guidance counselors will connect with the freshman in low pressure, introductory means with regards to the long approach to a college admissions process. Freshmen will be introduced to the College Board, set up College Board accounts and have opportunities to engage college-centric Upper School experiences such as; college panel discussions, guest speakers and financial aid information night. Freshman students and families have access to the Sacred Heart Greenwich proprietary College Guidance Outlook page in Blackbaud which curates resources and opportunities relative to the college process.

Over the course of sophomore year, more college-centric experiences are introduced via optional standardized testing opportunities that include an optional practice ACT and the PSAT-10 exam. Tenth grade students and families will attend Sophomore College Information Night in the spring semester. Sophomores have opportunities to engage in appropriate, college-centric Upper School experiences such as college panel discussions, guest speakers, and a financial aid information night. Sophomore students and families have access to the Sacred Heart Greenwich proprietary College Guidance Outlook page in Blackbaud which curates resources and opportunities relative to the college process.

The heart of our robust College Guidance curriculum begins in junior year with College Guidance classes embedded in each student’s class schedule. College Guidance classes meet once per cycle throughout the entire academic year. Highlights of the junior year experience include, but are not limited to:

• Junior College Parent Information Night
• Financial Aid Information Night
• Assignment to a dedicated college counselor
• Many individualized student-college counselor meetings
• Personalized parent meetings
• Practice standardized testing experiences
• PSAT/NMSQT exam in October
• SAT/ACT testing in winter/spring
• Naviance training
• College admissions representative visits in the fall
• Resume development
• College essay development and workshops
• The Common Application
• Developing a balanced college list

Juniors have opportunities to engage college-centric Upper School experiences such as; college panel discussions, guest speakers and financial aid information night. Junior students and families have access to the Sacred Heart Greenwich proprietary College Guidance News page in Blackbaud which curates resources and opportunities relative to the college process.

Our college guidance curriculum and classes continue through the first semester of senior year meeting once every cycle. Seniors are fully supported throughout the application preparation and submission of all applications. Seniors remain assigned to their designated counselor.

Highlights of the senior year experience include, but are not limited to:

• Senior College Parent Information Night
• Financial Aid Information Night
• Personalized student meetings
• Personalized parent meetings
• SAT/ACT testing if applicable
• Final shaping of a balanced college list
• Essay and writing support
• Continued Naviance usage
• Common Application support
• College admissions representative visits in the fall
• Interview support
• Resume development
• Support with a final college choice

Senior students and families have access to the Sacred Heart Greenwich proprietary College Guidance News page in Blackbaud which curates resources and opportunities relative to the college process.