College Counseling

We want to caution our 9th and 10th graders against becoming too preoccupied with colleges; instead, they should focus on growth through our college preparatory curriculum. Students will be encouraged to challenge themselves appropriately in their studies, identify their strengths, develop as leaders and continue to be involved in extracurricular activities.

• The college counseling office (CCO) will provide programming for parents and students to help encourage and guide families about student development.
• The CCO will cooperate with the Academic Dean and Registrar to provide input into academic advising and course selection.
• Beginning in 10th grade, students and parents will be given access to SCOIR, our online platform for college counseling.
• Students will be encouraged to complete PrinciplesYou, the personal inventory available on SCOIR.

• Juniors will attend the Junior Readiness Class in the spring if their junior year.
• The CCO will continue to assist the Academic Dean and Registrar in providing input about academic advising and course selection.
• The College Counselors use meetings, surveys, and classroom observations to prepare to write recommendation letters for rising seniors.
• Juniors will be invited to attend visits by college representatives to the Stony Brook School.
• Juniors often take the SAT or ACT in the spring.
• The CCO will provide programming to guide parents and students in preparing for college applications.
• The CCO will use SCOIR to record suggestions for creating the college list of potential applications. Students and parents should use SCOIR to consider suggestions and to begin building their college list.
• All applications are reviewed by the CCO prior to the student's submissions.
• The CCO will advise rising seniors about the course selection for the senior year.
• Juniors should identify teachers who can serve as academic recommenders and should ask teachers to be recommenders by the end of the junior year.
• Juniors should begin working on the personal statement, with the goal of starting the senior year with a finished draft. In addition, juniors should consider other ways of using the summer prior to senior year to get ahead on the college application process, including attending virtual or in-person tours for potential colleges.

• Seniors will attend the College Readiness course during the fall semester unless otherwise excused.
• Seniors will be invited to attend visits by college representatives to the Stony Brook School.
• The CCO will continue to provide one-on-one counseling during the senior year to review college applications and to ensure informed strategic decision-making.
• Seniors will meet with the CCO to finalize their lists and establish a schedule for submitting applications. All applications are reviewed by the College Counselor prior to the student's submissions.
• The CCO will provide guidance about all aspects of the application process, including application writing.
• Any remaining standardized testing is completed in the fall.
• Parents and students will be invited to attend a financial aid workshop in the fall.
• Most applications are submitted by either November or January and decisions are received by mid-April.
• The CCO will assist students as they make their final commitment to attend a college by May 1.