Upper School
US Curriculum

Introduction to College

Our College Counseling Office has created a curriculum designed to introduce Hackley juniors to the college search and application process, with regularly scheduled meetings throughout the school year.

College Counseling Course

List of 1 items.

  • Introduction to College: Preparing for the Search and Application Processes

    1 meeting per eight-day cycle/0 credits. 

    Required for juniors. All juniors will be registered for this course automatically.

    The college search and application processes play a big role in the lives of juniors and seniors, but are juniors ready? This course will introduce juniors to the world of higher education and their many collegiate options. It will also give students tools to learn about their options and understand the role higher education may have in shaping their lives. Finally, it will help students understand the admissions process and how to maximize their options.

    Topics are likely to include the following:
    • College options: the rich and varied college landscape, establishing your own selection criteria, how to search out, evaluate and choose your options
    • Standardized testing: SAT, ACT, AP; requirements, test-optional schools, score sending strategy, and planning
    • Career exploration and college majors
    • Introduction to to college search tools
    • Higher education rankings, reputations, and actual results: what’s in a brand name?
    • How colleges choose among their applicants and how to figure your odds
    • Creating a balanced list and the “win-win” scenario
    • College contact: visits, interviews, and meeting college representatives
    • How to apply: the Common Application and others
    • College application essays, “supplements”, activities and recommendations
    • How to support one another during the search and application processes