Close

Landing Nav

Site Breadcrumb

College Counseling

RECENT ACCEPTANCES

"In our five-year developmental model, our goal is to match each student's achievement profile and their aspirations for their future with myriad college or university options to ensure their best academic and social fit." Drew Guarino, Director of College Counseling

See Full Listing of Colleges

Cornell
Georgetown University
UNC Chapel Hill
Northwestern
Colby College

 

The College Counseling Philosophy

Carrollwood Day School's college counseling department focuses on a developmental model for students beginning as early as eighth grade. In an effort to simplify an increasingly complex college admission landscape, we invest in providing a gradual release of information that is relevant to each student's grade level to ensure that they are fully prepared for their transition to higher education. It is our goal as a department to find the most competitive fit institution for each CDS student by matching each student's aspirations with a plethora of colleges and universities that will allow students to thrive. We are proud to say that 100% of our students have been admitted to a four-year college or university since the first upper school graduating class in 2009.
The CDS College Counseling Department went out of their way and exceeded our expectations by assisting my child in the the entire college application process. The calm, professional, and caring approach along with the extensive knowledge of how the system works, made the process much easier than we could have ever hoped for. You have helped my daughter learn and understand the additional educational opportunities available to better prepare her for a smooth college transition.
Parent of 2023 Alumnus

Links for Students & Parents

Links for students and parents

With all the information out there, we've made it easy for you to find what you're looking for. Click here to find all the links for the college counseling process. 

College Counseling Timeline

College Counseling Timeline

The Carrollwood Day School college counseling department believes that planning for a collegiate career should start before the upper school journey begins, which is why we have a very unique timeline for college planning. Read more about how the CDS specialized program starts in 8th grade.

Financial Aid & Bright Futures

Financial Aid and Bright Futures

Families often ask about Financial Aid and what the process looks like. Read more about the types of financial aid available and how to determine what will work for your student and family.

College Representatives

College Representatives

Thank you for your interest in visiting Carrollwood Day School. We look forward to seeing you soon! Click here to request a visit, read our school profile, and see a campus map.

Alumni Transcript Request

Alumni Transcript Requests

If you are a former CDS student or CDS alumnus, please fill out this form to request a transcript for submission to a college/university.

CollegeStats

100%

Admitted to a four-year college or university since the first Upper School graduating class in 2009.

97%

2023 graduates admitted to a Phi Beta Kappa institution, representing the top 290 schools in the U.S.

84%

of all applications submitted for class of 2023 yielded an acceptance decision.

3

students in the class of 2023 were named National Merit Scholarship Finalists, a new school record.

96%

Students from the class of 2023 who applied to an out-of-state college or university.

51%

2023 graduates attending an out-of-state college or university.

1 of 15

Schools in the United States to earn Cum Laude Society membership and be an International Baccalaureate (IB) qualified institution.

99%

of the class of 2023 received at least one scholarship or need-based financial aid award.

 

MEET THE COLLEGE COUNSELING TEAM

 

Memberships and Accreditations

Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS)

Florida Council of Independent Schools (FCIS)

National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) 

Round Square Organization

Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) 

Southern Association of Colleges and Schools (SACS)