College Counseling

Important Dates for Seniors

Our September Senior College Night gives parents and students an overview of the coming year and all the details involved in preparing college applications.

We offer Financial Aid night at the end of September. The presentation for juniors and seniors will focus on completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) and CSS Profile.

Students are strongly encouraged to attend college visits at St. Mary’s to create additional points of contact with our reps.

Counselors meet frequently with students throughout the year, with a heavy emphasis in Fall. Students have access to their counselors’ calendars in order to find a time that works best for them. In addition, periodic senior class and TA meetings are scheduled to keep everyone informed on major deadlines and action items. At the end of the year, we celebrate everyone’s decisions and mark the graduating class on the map!

If you have a question or concern about the college process we encourage you to contact your college counselor.

Important Dates for Juniors

Juniors and their parents are invited to an informal Question and Answer session with the College Counselors in September.

Over 140 college representatives visit St. Mary’s each year, mostly in Fall. These visits provide a great opportunity for students to hear specifics about a particular college of interest. Juniors are strongly encouraged to attend these visits.

Juniors take the PSAT in October during school. The test is a practice test for the SAT. Test results are typically released from the College Board in December.

Juniors and their parents are invited to Fall College Night, typically in November for help understanding the college search process.

Students are invited to schedule individual appointments with their college counselors after Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. Students meet regularly from this point forward to ensure close communication and support throughout the college research and application process.

In February, Spring College Night is made up of rotating break-out sessions with guest speakers on topics such as How to Research Colleges, Financial Aid Strategies, How Colleges Choose, Athletics, Essay-Writing, and more.

On Junior College Prep Day in May, juniors are introduced to the Common Application, start to consider what is most important to them as they apply to college, write a draft of their Activities Resume, and go through the key fit factors: Academics, Student Life, Financial, and Admissions Selectivity. Students choose their teacher recommenders and begin to actively organize all of their application materials.

If you have a question or concern about the college process, we encourage you to contact your college counselor, assigned by TA group.

Important Dates for Sophomores

At the end of November or early December, parents and students are invited to Financial Aid Night. The freshman/sophomore presentation is designed to help get the conversation started about how to plan for college costs. We will explain how need-based aid is determined, how merit scholarships might fit into the picture, and ways to anticipate college costs.

During the spring semester, the college counselors visit sophomore classes and introduce some of the material that is available to students when researching colleges. At this time, we also invite sophomores to start exploring Naviance, our college application database, and to visit with college reps at St. Mary’s.

Sophomores take the Pre-ACT at St. Mary's  in October. The ACT is one of two standardized tests students can take as juniors for their college entrance exams. We offer the PreACT to sophomores and the PSAT to juniors as a basis for comparison in making their choice regarding college admissions testing.

Sophomores and their parents are invited to attend Fall College Night in November and Spring College Night in February. The presentations are designed to help get the conversation started about how to plan for college and begin learning about important topics around the college search process.

During the spring semester, the college counselors visit sophomore classes and introduce some of the material that is available to students when researching colleges. At this time, we also invite sophomores to start exploring Naviance, our college application database, and to visit with college reps at St. Mary's

Finally, before the end of the school year, a Sophomore College Night is scheduled to give parents and students an overview of the college research and application process.

While we have touch points with sophomores as a class, each student has an assigned college counselor, should any college-specific questions arise.

A message for parents: The early high school years are a good time to talk generally with your daughter about your hopes and plans for their education after St. Mary’s. This is a great time to learn about higher education, types of colleges, college costs, and your values as they relate to college. Discussing affordability and setting expectations are important steps to help prepare students for future college decisions. We can help you find resources to do that.

It may be too early for students to actively research colleges – student interest and readiness should drive that and it usually happens in junior and senior years – but noticing colleges when you are out and about or on family vacations, and taking time to stop at a campus book store or attend a cultural event on a college campus can help students build college awareness. Share stories about your own young adult years, college experiences, and how you prepared for your career.

Important Dates for Freshmen

In late Fall, parents and students are invited to our Fall College Night. The presentation is designed to help get the conversation started about how to plan for college.

In February, parents and students are invited to our Spring College Night, where we will present important topics around the college search process.

During Spring semester, the college counselors visit freshman classes to discuss the wide variety of colleges available, the concept of finding the right ‘fit’ and answer questions.

While we have occasional touch points with freshmen as a class, each student has an assigned college counselor, should any college-specific questions arise. We are always available to offer insights and resources.

A message for parents: The early high school years are a good time to talk generally with your daughter about your hopes and plans for their education after St. Mary’s. This is a great time to learn about higher education, types of colleges, college costs, and your values as they relate to college. Discussing affordability and setting expectations are important steps to help prepare students for future college decisions. We can help you find resources to do that.

It may be too early for students to actively research colleges – student interest and readiness should drive that and it usually happens in junior and senior years – but noticing colleges when you are out and about or on family vacations, and taking time to stop at a campus book store or attend a cultural event on a college campus can help students build college awareness. Share stories about your own young adult years, college experiences, and how you prepared for your career.