Beyond College Lists

An inside look at how Eagle Hill’s college counselors support students through self‑discovery, research, applications, and decision‑making.

As a college counselor, when I tell people about my role at Eagle Hill School, I’m often asked, “Where do your students go?” as if the answer should be a pre-determined list of places that welcome students who learn differently. In fact, the answer is, “it depends.” It depends on the student, and what they are seeking, the type of environment that would allow them to thrive, and the support that will help them succeed.

As a community of diverse learners, there is no simple answer to this question, which is why there are three college counselors working with a graduating class of anywhere between forty and sixty students. Students are unique in their abilities, aspirations, needs, and desires. When guiding students through their time at Eagle Hill School and their post-secondary planning process, our office focuses on these four stages: self-discovery, research and visits, application, and decision—keeping in mind that this is not necessarily a linear endeavor, and students are encouraged to revisit these stages as their postsecondary plan evolves.

Students are unique in their abilities, aspirations, needs, and desires.

The self-discovery stage is one that we hope starts in 8^th and 9^th grade as they acclimate to and engage in the Eagle Hill School community and their home community at large. Through a few class meetings during the year, we encourage students to see high school as an opportunity to learn about themselves and their interests. We urge students to go outside their comfort zone and try new things—whether that’s an academic class, or a club or sport that’s new to them, or a community service project that piques their interest.

Of course, we hope that self-discovery is present at every stage in their work with us. Self-discovery will take a particularly prominent role when students embark on the College Orientation class during junior year through which they will tackle a series of self-assessments, and a culminating “About Me” project. This project is designed to encourage students to connect the dots between their learning differences, strengths, weaknesses, strategies for success, accommodations, and future plans.

To determine which environments may suit them best, researching colleges and programs, including visiting those campuses becomes critical.

In tandem with self-awareness, comes an understanding of their needs and wants regarding college (or other post-secondary opportunities). To determine which environments may suit them best, researching colleges and programs, including visiting those campuses becomes critical. Simply visiting a college campus often alleviates the stress that accompanies the uncertainty of life after Eagle Hill School and excites students about the possibilities for their future. We work with colleges and other programs to offer regular trips to visit campuses, we host admission rep visits—both individually, and through a college fair that takes place during Fall Family Weekend—and we guide students to take advantage of virtual college research resources as well. For those students who may be considering a gap year, or other non-college path, we host the “Alternatives to College” panel as part of Fall Family Weekend at Eagle Hill School and incorporate opportunities to explore non-college options during College Orientation classes, and our individual meetings with them.

Through their college research, juniors are taught to dig deeply into college websites and tap into other resources to find information beyond the marketing messages published by the admissions offices. Students are directed to take advantage of information gathering tools provided by our office and the College Orientation Class, as well as via SCOIR and Common App to organize their college applications—keeping deadlines and writing requirements at the fore.

When students head home for the summer before senior year, they are accompanied by a “to do” list provided by their college counselor, asking them to continue polishing their Common Application, to draft their college application essay and any supplemental essays, and to continue visiting and researching colleges. As the research and visits begin to have an impact, the beginnings of a college list will take shape. Ideally, all seniors arrive on opening day with the start of an application plan—including a complete Common App and a rough draft of their college essay(s) already done. Those Early Action and Early Decision deadlines may arrive as early as mid-October—only a month after the start of school—so the more they can complete over the summer, the easier the fall and winter will be for them when they return to Eagle Hill School.

Throughout the fall, we work closely with seniors to carry out their application plans—whether college, or non-college.

Throughout the fall, we work closely with seniors to carry out their application plans—whether college, or non-college. It can be a stressful time for students when they are juggling the demands of senior year, and college applications, so we encourage students to meet with their college counselor regularly—reviewing deadlines, editing essays, polishing applications, and in some cases helping them to complete additional academic support program applications. Although we review everything and walk them through the process of submitting their application(s), the students are the ones clicking the submit button. The students’ relief and sense of accomplishment that comes in doing so is palpable, and indeed a cause for celebration!  

As our seniors hear back from colleges, the decision-making stage is easier for some than others. For those who may be struggling to decide, we encourage them to revisit their earlier college research and the criteria that they thought were important when they began the process. Sometimes priorities will shift as students grow and mature. Also, as students continue to build their strategies for success and study skills, their wants and needs may also change. As an accepted student, we advise seniors to revisit colleges—taking full advantage of opportunities to sit in on a class, speak with someone in academic support or disability services, and really get a feel for the campus culture. We want them to be able to “find their people” in an environment that will both challenge and support them, and where they can develop all aspects of themselves.

Some will decide that while they want to go to college, they would prefer to defer their enrollment for a semester or a year and pursue other opportunities during a gap year. This is the path that I chose to take when I was a senior in high school (a very long time ago), and I am a big proponent of giving our students the “gift of time” to continue their self-discovery, and to start to understand their place in the world. Although some parents (and students) express concern about losing their academic momentum by taking a gap year, in my experience, the opposite is most often true—after a gap year, students arrive at college with deeper self-awareness, greater self-confidence, and an even better chance of success!

This year, we are proud to announce that our graduating Eagle Hill School seniors will be attending a wide range of colleges and universities, including Pitzer College, New England Institute of Technology, Parsons School of Design, the University of Denver, and the College of Charleston, just to name just a few, with a couple of students pursuing a gap year prior to college enrollment. See all of our graduating seniors’ post-secondary plans here.

Learn more about Eagle Hill School's College Counseling >>