College Counseling

Starting in freshman year, our students are guided toward establishing a strong academic record and participating in community service, sports, special interest pursuits, and leadership opportunities, actively shaping the way they will be perceived by colleges. Our counselors provide a step-by-step process for every year:

Freshman Year

• Get your academic footing. Build a foundation of good study, reading and writing skills.
• Build relationships with your teachers.
• Join a few clubs. Try some new activities.
• Take the PSAT 10 in March (school administered).
• Introduction to the college process in Freshman Seminar in the spring.
• Map out a tentative four-year course selection with your advisor in the spring.
• Drive through college campuses when traveling.
• Think about your summer plans – work, camp, volunteering.
• Spring - college counselors assigned and introduction to Scoir - a system connecting students, parents, counselors, and colleges for an improved college admissions process.

Sophomore Year

• Choose the most challenging courses you can, focusing on your areas of strength, while maintaining balance.
• Learn about the IB program and its requirements.
• Think about which AP classes you may want to take.
• Take the PreACT in October (school administered).
• Attend the Charlotte Area Case Studies program with college representatives in April.
• Visit colleges. Attend an information session and take a tour.
• Try a new activity. Volunteer to take on a leadership role. Implement a new initiative in one of your clubs that has never been done before.
• Meet with your college counselor in the winter (and as needed).

Junior Year

• Challenge yourself in class. Participate. Ask good questions. Find your “voice” so teachers can write about your academic abilities and interests.
• Spend time with your teachers and establish a rapport with them.
• Attend the "College Night for Juniors" event in November.
• Seek out leadership opportunities in your clubs and with sports teams.
• Think about what you might do to make an impact and help others.
• Attend information sessions when college admissions representatives visit campus.
• Complete a survey on Scoir to prepare for your college conference.
• Attend an individual meeting with your college counselor at the beginning of the second semester.
• Start building a list of prospective colleges with your college counselor.
• Spend school breaks visiting colleges. Attend an information session and take a tour. Speak with students you know who attend that college.
• Take the PSAT in October (school administered) – the qualifying test for the National Merit Scholarship program.
• Take an ACT and/or a SAT (not school-administered). Decide which test you prefer and potentially take it again in the spring of junior year and/or fall of your senior year.
• Ask one or possibly two teachers (consult with your college counselor) to write a recommendation letter by the end of junior year.
• Start working on essays and the Common Application over the summer.

Senior Year

• Review Senior Year Checklist: Family and College Counseling Responsibilities. 
• Keep an open mind and open communication with your college counselor throughout the process.
• Attend the "College Application Boot Camp" in August.
• Attend information sessions when college admissions representatives visit Country Day in the fall.
• Visit colleges – try to visit when students are on campus.
• Complete standardized testing, if necessary.
• Stay ahead of deadlines. Give yourself time to write, reflect, and edit your essays.
• Make a lasting impression in your extracurricular activities. What can you implement, start, and influence as your legacy at Country Day?
• Submit SAT/ACT scores to colleges or self-report scores if choosing to apply with test scores.
• Complete the Self-Reported Academic Record (SRAR) if required.
• Use your Scoir account to organize the application process and keep it updated regularly.

Gap Year

Are you interested in travel, service, adventure, and experiential learning before enrolling in college? Taking a “Gap Year” between high school and college can provide valuable personal insight and an opportunity to recharge in a meaningful way. Learn more information here.

Below is a helpful checklist for seniors and their families about the application process, deadlines, testing, college visitors, and more, including College Counseling support and student responsibilities.

Application Process

College Counseling Responsibilities

• College Counseling (CC) will review students’ Common Application Activities List and will read students’ essays and provide feedback, comments, and suggestions, as requested. A two‐week lead time is recommended for essay review.

• CC will send official transcripts, letters of recommendation, school report and profile, and senior year courses to all colleges students apply to. CC will send mid‐year transcripts and final transcripts. CC does not send or report SAT or ACT scores to colleges.

Student Responsibilities

• All other parts of the application should be reviewed by at least one parent/guardian.

• Students are responsible for reading emails from the colleges they apply to, and for setting up and regularly checking their application portals for information from the colleges.

• Students are responsible for submitting their applications, paying application fees and submitting standardized test scores.

Early Decision/Early Action

College Counseling Responsibilities

• CC advises students on the strategy of when and how to apply to different colleges.

• CC recommends students apply to at least one college with a Rolling or Early Action deadline (non‐binding) where they are likely to be admitted. Receiving an early acceptance helps the student feel confident.

Student Responsibilities

• Students and parents/guardians are responsible for understanding the Early Decision (binding) plan, making only one Early Decision application at a time, signing the Early Decision Agreement, and adhering to the binding contract.

Testing

College Counseling Responsibilities

• Many colleges and universities remain test optional. CC will help students determine whether to send scores to each college on their list.

• Colleges do not prefer one test over the other; students may take the ACT and/or SAT and submit their best scores to colleges.

• Charlotte Country Day’s CEEB code is: 340666.

Student Responsibilities

• Contact Lauren Folger‐Sweeting in ERP to apply for extended time; this is an application process, reviewed and decided by the testing agencies.

• Students are responsible for self‐reporting or sending official test scores from the testing agencies to colleges. Students should check with each college to confirm their test score reporting policies.

Scoir

College Counseling Responsibilities

• CC manages the college application process with Scoir and invites students to register with Scoir.

  CC creates prospective college lists in Scoir and provides data‐driven predicted admission outcomes based on historical CCDS statistics and outcomes.

  CC sends transcripts, recommendation letters and all CCDS supporting documentation through Scoir.

Student Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for registering with Scoir and inviting their parents/guardians to register

• Students maintain and update their college lists in Scoir and designate which colleges they are applying to in Scoir.

College Visitors

College Counseling Responsibilities

• CC hosts over 100 college admissions representatives throughout the fall.

• A comprehensive list of college visitors is posted on Scoir’s calendar feature. The list is also emailed to juniors and seniors, and posted on Teams, BucsNet, and around campus.

Student Responsibilities

• Students must get permission from their teachers 24 hours prior to the college visit.
• If a student is not able to participate in a scheduled meeting with a college representative, they should let their college counselor know and they will provide the student with the admissions representative’s contact information.

Interviews

College Counseling Responsibilities

• Some colleges offer admission and/or alumni interviews. Public universities typically do not. Students are encouraged to interview whenever possible, if comfortable doing so.

• CC helps students prepare for interviews, including a mock interview and feedback.

• Alumni interviews are generally casual conversations, however, the alumnus completes a report after the interview to submit to the admissions office, so students should prepare accordingly.

Student Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for setting up interviews. For alumni interviews, the interviewer will reach out to the student after the application has been submitted. Students should check email and application portals daily for communication. Be sure to check junk/spam folder as these emails sometimes get filtered out of the inbox! It is a good idea to send the interviewer a thank you email afterward.

• Students are responsible for scheduling all college visit/exploration opportunities, including information sessions, campus tours, and interviews. Students should check college admissions websites for information.

College Athletics

College Counseling Responsibilities

• CC will send transcripts to the NCAA Eligibility Center, but students must first register (https://web3.ncaa.org/ecwr3/). A student‐athlete will not “clear” until they have completed both semesters of 12th grade English.

• CC will work with the CCDS Athletic Department to communicate with college coaches and admissions reps; CC will send transcripts to college coaches and admissions offices when requested.

Student Responsibilities

• Student‐athletes are responsible for registering with the NCAA Eligibility Center and sending test scores directly to them.

• Students must take a proactive role in communicating with college coaches.

Communication with Colleges

College Counseling Responsibilities

• CC visits college campuses regularly and serves on college admissions advisory boards.
• CC maintains long‐standing relationships with college admissions professionals around the country.
• CC will give your student advice on how to show demonstrated interest with colleges that track it.
• CC advocates for students with college admissions colleagues. CC does not get students into college; students get themselves into college!

Student Responsibilities

• Students are responsible for checking their college application portals regularly.
• Students are responsible for maintaining communication with college representatives, when appropriate and as advised by their college counselors.

Financial Aid and Scholarships

College Counseling Responsibilities

• CC hosts a Financial Aid Information program every fall with Charlotte Latin and Providence Day.
• CC provides guidance to families regarding the college financial aid process ‐ CC does not provide financial planning.
• CC directs families to helpful financial aid websites and tools, such as the Net Price Calculator, found on each college’s website.
• CC encourages students to thoroughly research scholarship opportunities on college websites and provides families with helpful websites for outside merit scholarship research.
• CC posts information regularly on scholarship opportunities.
• CC encourages families to have early and honest conversations about affording college.

Student Responsibilities

• Students and parents/guardians are responsible for researching and applying for financial aid and scholarships.

College Counseling Overview

• Applying to college is a collaborative process—communication is important!
• The college application process changes every year, and each college has different policies and procedures – CC stays current with national college admission trends.
• CC guides students on how to best present themselves in their applications.
• CC helps students find colleges that are good fits ‐ academically, socially, financially.
• CC will talk with parents/guardians about their student; CC will not talk about other students.
• CC expects students and parents/guardians to engage ethically with the college application process – submit only one Early Decision application at a time and submit only one enrollment deposit to only one college/university.
• CC encourages discretion throughout the college application process.
• Each child is unique. Try not to compare students with their friends and peers. Try to filter conversations about the college admission process and stay focused on your own child. Most importantly, support your child through this process—celebrate their successes and lift them up when needed.

Note about Independent College Counselors

While Charlotte Country Day School does not prohibit the hiring of independent counselors, we do not believe there is a need for it, and it often creates additional pressure and confusion for students.

Independent counselors are expected to work in support of, not in place of Charlotte Country Day School College Counselors. Given the importance of open communication in the college process, we ask that the family inform the CCDS college counselor if they are working with an independent counselor.

PreACT & PSAT Information for Students and Parents

Read this presentation to learn detailed information about the PreACT and PSAT, including:

• Why Country Day administers the PreACT and PSAT
• What skills the tests measure
• What the test structure is
• How the tests are scored
• How the PreACT and SAT compare
• How to improve performance scores
• When to take the tests

Interpreting Your PreACT Results

Your PreACT Student Report contains a lot of information about your skills, interests, plans, and goals. You can
use this information to make sure your remaining Upper School courses are the best ones possible to prepare you for college and to help you consider your options for life after high school.