[custom-breadcrumbs]
An Early Start to Planning Your Collegiate Career
Students are welcome to meet with members of the college counseling team as early as eighth grade, but will be assigned a dedicated college counselor in December of ninth grade. Families will have full access to their college counselor throughout their high school tenure in an effort to build a strong relationship, so that the counselor has a strong foundation for what each student’s aspirations are when considering higher education options. Mandatory individual college counseling meetings will begin in ninth grade with the student and at least one parent/guardian to discuss what colleges are looking for in the admission process, review the student’s academic performance (both grades and standardized test scores), analyze course selection options as the student maneuvers through the IB curriculum, discuss the importance of extracurricular participation, and to begin the conversation of the “must haves” when considering a college or university.
Family Education
We provide multiple opportunities for family education about the college admission process to ensure that students are making the most informed decision about where to matriculate to college. Some of these include:
- A five-part (six for 8th-grade families) college counseling coffee series specifically designed for parents in both middle and upper school to hear about the latest trends and tendencies in the college admission process.
- Student and family access to the BAIS case studies program in grade 11 to learn the intricacies of the college admission evaluation process directly from college representatives.
- An annual college financial aid night where families can hear directly about the logistics of applying for need-based aid as well as resources for merit-based scholarships.
Support Through the Entirety of the College Admissions Process
From our first official meeting during the second semester of 9th grade, to submitting an enrollment deposit at your selected institution, the college counseling department will serve as your advocate and trusted advisor to navigate the entirety of the application process.
In this spirit, the department offers a variety of resources to ensure the success of each student as they consider where to continue their education. Some of which include:
- Standardized testing practice with the PSAT and Pre-ACT in grades 9 through 11.
- Standardized testing preparation with an eight-week spring ACT and SAT course taught by an ACT/SAT professional tutor, as well as a one-week summer test preparation foundations class offered by CDS faculty.
- College representative visits to the CDS campus open to students in grades 10 through 12.
- Student and family access to the Tampa Bay Area Independent Schools (BAIS) college fair in grades 10-12 to directly speak with college representatives. Highly recommended individual grade level presentations between 8th and 12th grades.
- Individual meetings in grades 9 and 10 with the student and at least one parent/guardian present.
- Two individual meetings in grade 11 with the student and at least one parent/guardian present.
- Academic advising and course selection discussions yearly to ensure that each student’s IB pathway aligns with their collegiate aspirations.
- Attendance in college counseling advisory class to work on multiple aspects of the college admission process in both 11th and 12th grades, including: college essay creation, letter of recommendation requesting, college resume building, and Common Application work.
- Guidance and oversight as 12th-grade students submit their college applications in the college counseling office.
Keeping consistent with our approach to deliver content and information specific to each grade level, please click below to see a timeline of events.
| 8th Grade |
|---|
|
Calendar of Events
|
| 9th Grade |
|
Calendar of Events
|
| 10th Grade |
|
Calendar of Events
|
| 11th Grade |
Calendar of Events
|
| 12th grade |
Calendar of Events
|
