College Advising

While the college admissions process may seem daunting, we seek to provide resources at the right time to help students and families navigate next steps. We encourage a strong parent partnership where students are encouraged to lead this process in an effort to build the self-advocacy skills necessary for college.

Individual meetings

Mrs. Karman Kent is the Director of College Counseling serves all 200 Upper School students but primarily works with the junior and senior classes. Mrs. Kent is available to meet with students and parents throughout the academic year and over the summer. During these meetings she provides information about different colleges and universities, application requirements, career exploration, Christian formation, financial aid, leadership opportunities, and more.

Programming and education

We partner with area experts in test prep, essay writing, need and merit-based aid (i.e., FASFA, CSS profile, scholarships), and more. We share resources for additional tutoring as needed.

College list formation

We leverage information shared in the student and parent surveys (completed the spring of Junior year) to help students explore schools that may match up well with their priorities and objectives in postsecondary endeavors. We facilitate visits for college and university representatives to come to Trinity's campus to speak with students throughout the school year.

College application preparation

Trinity hosts the PSAT for all 9th-11th graders each fall and offers a practice ACT for students to see which test best aligns with how they learn. We encourage students to build strong relationships with teachers who may someday write them a letter of recommendation to advocate for them. We encourage students to take advantage of experiences that will make them strong, well-rounded candidates for college admission.

Student Expectations
Parent Expectations

Student Expectations

As part of Trinity's College Counseling process, students will have different required meetings (outlined in the College Counseling Timeline below). They will be asked to schedule a meeting with the Director of College Counseling. These meetings are crucial to the college advising process and are the foundation of the work we do to help students build their college lists, applications, and much more. Students are asked to come prepared with any specific pre-work (i.e., initial college list in SCOIR, Junior survey, You Science Career Assessment) and questions they have.

Any student who is admitted Early Decision to a school, must come to the Director of College Counseling's office to notify the other schools you won't be attending as soon as possible. Additionally, students are asked to notify the Director of College Counseling of any scholarship awards received.

Parent Expectations

In meetings with College Counseling if the student would prefer to have a parent/guardian join them, they are welcome to invite them to attend. W e have a student-centered process builds self-advocacy skills in students as they approach independent adulthood.

Parents should feel free to schedule a meeting with the Director of College Counseling with (or without) your child to discuss goals and expectations as needed. It's ideal that those align with your student's goals as well. We can discuss strategy around letters of recommendation, balancing your student's college list, getting additional tutoring for the SAT/ACT, financial aid and scholarships, etc..

Each student's parent(s)/guardian(s) will be asked to complete a survey in the spring of the student's junior year. This information is incredibly valuable as you know your child best.

Parents are asked to have financial conversations around postsecondary goals early and often with your student.

College Counseling Timeline

Grade 9

Grade 10

Grade 11

Grade 11 College Prep Strategy

What are my goals for after high school?
What can I do now that will help me achieve my goals?
How can I have the most significant impact my Junior year?

FULL COLLEGE COUNSELING CHECKLIST FOR JUNIORS

Required Junior Meeting (Jan/Feb)

How to prepare

Prior to this meeting, students must complete their Junior Survey (see below) and You Science Career Assessment in SCOIR no less than 24 hours before the scheduled meeting. The You Science Assessment should also be uploaded to "My Drive" in SCOIR. If you have not registered for SCOIR, please email Mrs. Kent.
During the meeting, students will receive their College Kickstart login and learn how to learn the tool. We will also discuss standardized testing, their college list in SCOIR, their interests/priorities in exploring schools, and their plan in requesting letters of recommendations.

Additional meetings can and should be scheduled at the student's discretion. Walk-in hours will be available as well.

Completing the required You Science Assessment

Uploading the You Science Assessment results

Select the "Your Aptitudes" tab.

Then click the "Download Aptitudes" button.

Either follow the same steps above, clicking on the "Describing You" button, or from any page click the three bars in the upper right-hand corner and click the "Describing You" button.

Then click on "Download Discussion Guide."

Next, log out and log back in to your student SCOIR account. Then navigate to the "My Profile" button at the top of the page.

Next, navigate to "My Drive" in the left-hand toolbar.
Then select "Drop files to attach" and upload both the aptitude and discussion guide.

Completing the required Junior Survey

Refine and balance your college list using College Kickstart, web searches, conversations with admission officers, fall college fairs, college counseling meetings, and campus visits.
Subscribe to the College Counseling calendar to stay on top of important dates.
Schedule your senior meeting to ensure your college planning process is on track. Learn more about the colleges where you've applied while you wait for notifications.
Consider if you want to improve SAT/ACT scores and register for a fall test.
Monitor checklist items to complete college applications by submitting required documents.
Submit the FAFSA as soon as it opens October 1 to be given priority consideration for federal (and some merit-based) aid. Some schools also require the CSS Profile.
Research scholarships you may qualify for and apply.
Complete any interviews and make sure to send in any additional materials requested by schools
Write Letters of Continued Interest after receiving any deferral or wait list decisions, if necessary.
Make your final decision and reply to the college of your choice no later than May 1.

Full Overview of the Senior Advising Program

Required Senior Meeting (Aug/Sept)

How to Prepare

The Common Application opens August 1 each year and a growing number of colleges and Universities open their applications over the summer. For this reason, students should schedule their senior meeting with the Director of College Counseling as soon as school begins.
Prior to this meeting, students must update their College Kickstart and SCOIR accounts with their current prospective college list, updated GPA, and current test score no less than 24 hours before the scheduled meeting. Students can choose to use their Mock ACT or PSAT score if they have not officially tested.

The Game Plan!

During the meeting, students will discuss their college application plan, specifically:
- Where (which schools) they plan to apply
- How (typically via the Common App, Coalition, SCOIR, college website, or Other),
- By when (deadlines are associated with rounds - typically Early Action, Restrictive Early Action, Early Decision, Priority, Regular Decision, Rolling, etc.), and
- Potential outcomes related to the College Kickstart report

Additional meetings can and should be scheduled at the student's discretion. Walk-in hours will be available as well.

School Name

Main Menu

More