THE COLLEGE COUNSELING PROCESS AT FOXCROFT

OUR PHILOSOPHY
The college selection process is not only a means to an end, but also an important journey in its own right. It presents an exciting opportunity for self-assessment, exploration, discovery and family communication. The road to college is an exciting one; College admissions is a dynamic field. What may have been true 20, 10 or even five years ago is often not true today. In addition, admissions decisions made by colleges, unfortunately, are not always predictable. If students approach the process with open minds, are serious and organized in their efforts, and are willing to face obstacles honestly and positively, they greatly increase their chances of happy outcomes in April of their senior year.


THE STUDENT’S ROLE
While the College Counselor is here to help guide students through the process, the main responsibility for applying to college rests with the student herself. Parents, teachers, friends and Mr. Horgan will offer advice and counsel along the way, but the ultimate decision as to where a student will attend college must be hers.

Meetings/Junior College Counseling Class: Beginning in January of the junior year, all 11th graders are enrolled in a class that meets one time per academic cycle. Attendance at these classes and at all class meetings regarding college matters is required. Likewise, students are encouraged to meet with the representatives of the colleges to which they intend to apply during their scheduled visits to the Foxcroft campus.

Family Connection: Each student is given a Family Connection account, which she is responsible for keeping up to date. This is a valuable resource and is most useful when the student invests the time to keep her list of prospective colleges and universities current. Each student should research her list  through Family Connection to maintain balance among, foundation, "reasonable chance" and reach schools. Every girl must have a foundation school, regardless of the number of schools and the number of reach schools on the list. Click here to access the Family Connection.

Standardized Tests: Students take a slate of standardized tests required for admission to most colleges. Many of the tests are offered on campus. Students are responsible for registering for tests in a timely manner. The Office of College Counseling provides materials and advice on completing registrations, and arranges for an on-campus SAT prep course.

Research: The Office of College Counseling works with students to develop lists of colleges to investigate further. However, students do the bulk of the research and decide on the final list of colleges to which they will apply. Students should request view books, catalogs and other information from colleges, make use of the resources available in our Office, explore websites and contact recent Foxcroft alumnae or other acquaintances at schools of interest. Family Connection is an excellent resource for research. Students should plan on visiting the colleges in which they are most interested. Whenever possible, schedule visits and interviews for the spring and summer before senior year.

Applications: Applications are completed and submitted online in almost every case. Students are required to print the confirmation page after submitting the applications to be placed in their file in the Office of College Counseling. No applications should be submitted until Mr. Horgan has reviewed the essays and given the “green light.”

Recommendation Requests: Students must ask two faculty members to write recommendations using the form available in the Office of College Counseling. Seniors should complete the student portion of both the Foxcroft Secondary School Report and the Foxcroft Teacher Report Form before giving these forms to the appropriate people to complete their portions. These will be attached to letters of recommendation and are necessary components of the applications.


THE PARENTS’ ROLE
It is natural for parents to feel almost as much anxiety as their children during the college selection process. While we believe strongly that a student must assume ownership over her college selection process, we also believe parents play a vital role in that process. These are the key areas in which parents participate:

• Advice and Encouragement
• College Visits
• Financial Aid (If applicable)
• Communication with the College Counseling Office

Our goal is for your daughter’s college search to be a team effort. We want to work closely with both your daughter and you.

OUR ROLE
We in the College Counseling Office are here to help students in any appropriate ways we can. Students and parents are encouraged to take advantage of the resources available here by visiting the office and talking to us often.

Availability and Communication: We are committed to meeting regularly with students and parents in order to help explore the opportunities available in colleges. We help guide students through the process and assist in the self-evaluation that will ensure creation of a list of schools that is both appropriate and realistic. We also keep students informed of visits by college representatives and testing information. We feel strongly that it is our responsibility to communicate with parents and students honestly and responsibly based on what we know about Foxcroft students and the colleges to which they would like to apply.

Advocacy: One of the key roles of the Director of College Counseling is to be an advocate for each Foxcroft student. The primary form this advocacy takes is in the school recommendation letter written on behalf of each student and included with each application. We also communicate directly with admission offices to provide them with further information about particular students and about Foxcroft’s programs. We are committed to supporting each student’s candidacy for admission to college.

Instruction and Guidance: The Director of College Counseling meets with every student on a regular basis. Meetings are required. In addition to the College Counseling Class required for all juniors in the spring, Mr. Horgan requires multiple individual meetings with every girl to build individual goals and strategies. Parents can always contact the office for guidance as well. Formal programs for parents and/or students are regularly offered during Junior Parents' Weekend each spring, and additional formal programs are scheduled at various times throughout the year.