Personalized Pathways After Graduation 

Eagle Hill School's college counseling guides students toward their best next step.

At Eagle Hill School, success after graduation is not measured by how many students attend the same colleges—it is defined by helping each student find the right next step. This year, thirty-nine seniors submitted 215 applications to 137 different colleges, a testament to Eagle Hill’s deeply individualized college counseling process. With three dedicated college counselors supporting an average of fifteen–twenty students each, Eagle Hill ensures that seniors receive thoughtful,  guidance aligned with their strengths, needs, and long-term goals.

“Our process has no formula because every student has a different trajectory,” shared College Counselor Karen Goudey. Director of College Counseling Jed Geary reinforced that philosophy, noting, “We’re not gaming the system—we’re helping students get in on their own merit.” That intentional approach is producing strong outcomes: more than seventy-eight percent of seniors have already been accepted to at least one college, with several students committing early to schools they genuinely love. Just as important, those results reflect a wide range of colleges and programs—demonstrating that Eagle Hill students are not being funneled into the same paths, but supported in finding places that understand who they are and how they learn.

This year, Eagle Hill seniors have been accepted to an impressive variety of institutions across the country, including: Pitzer College (CA), Trinity College (CT), Villanova University (PA), High Point University (NC), Binghamton University (NY), Marist University (NY), Parsons School of Design at The New School (NY), Vassar College (NY), Marshall University (WV), College of Charleston (SC), Bucknell University (PA), Dickinson College (PA), Northeastern University (MA), University of Denver (CO), and Massachusetts Maritime Academy (MA).

What sets Eagle Hill apart is the depth of advocacy and support students receive throughout the application process.

What sets Eagle Hill apart is the depth of advocacy and support students receive throughout the application process. Counselors read essays multiple times, work directly with students to submit applications, and—when necessary—reach out to admissions offices to provide critical context. If a student’s transcript shows a jump, gap, or turnaround, counselors help colleges understand the full story behind the numbers. “It’s not that students are succeeding here because it’s easy,” Karen explained. “It’s because they’ve found their stride and their people.” While that level of advocacy isn’t always required, Eagle Hill counselors step in when needed to ensure students are seen for who they truly are—not just what appears on paper.

This individualized process extends to how college lists are created. Counselors carefully consider each student’s fit, sometimes filtering out dozens of schools before presenting a refined list. A carefully discerned college list reflects the time and care counselors invest in understanding each student’s academic needs, learning profile, and support requirements. Counselors regularly contact college academic support offices directly, asking detailed questions about tutoring models, frequency of support, and delivery methods to ensure recommendations truly align with a student’s needs.

Counselors emphasize meaningful involvement over “checking boxes,” helping students explore what they enjoy, what they don’t, and where they thrive.

College counseling at Eagle Hill begins well before senior year. Underclassmen are encouraged to fully engage in campus life—trying new sports, joining clubs, exploring the arts, participating in service, and working summer jobs—not to build a résumé, but to discover genuine interests. Counselors emphasize meaningful involvement over “checking boxes,” helping students explore what they enjoy, what they don’t, and where they thrive. This authentic engagement not only helps students clarify potential academic and career interests but also prepares them to arrive at college as active, involved community members, something colleges increasingly value.

Exposure is another cornerstone of Eagle Hill’s College Counseling program. Students have the opportunity to participate in monthly college visits, virtual and in-person admission meetings, guest speakers in the College Orientation class, and large college fairs, including those during Fall Family Weekend and a national fair in Hartford, CT, featuring more than 300 colleges. Juniors are invited to visit multiple campuses over the course of the academic year to compare vastly different environments, from urban to suburban, helping them discover what feels right. Jed Geary emphasizes that visiting campuses is the single most important piece of advice he gives students. “The more the kids can see a campus, it becomes real for them—and then they can say, ‘Yes, this is a good fit for me,’” he shared. Those experiences often reduce anxiety and increase confidence in the decision-making process.

Amid shifting trends in college admissions, including a rise in early applications, a preference for schools closer to home, and growing media-driven pressure, Eagle Hill’s counselors work intentionally to support students through this process. Anxiety around college admissions has increased significantly in recent years, and counselors are clear that this process is not a game to be won, but a search for solid, realistic options after Eagle Hill. In the College Orientation class, students learn to research schools, master the application process, assess their chances of acceptance, and discover academic, financial, and personal opportunities that suit them best.

Eagle Hill’s counseling philosophy also recognizes that college might not be the right—or immediate—path for every student.

Eagle Hill’s counseling philosophy also recognizes that college might not be the right—or immediate—path for every student. Counselors actively support students considering gap years, certificate programs, and hands-on apprenticeships in fields such as construction or HVAC. Students exploring these options engage in the same reflective process: researching programs, clarifying goals, and identifying environments where they will thrive. Counselors are also strong proponents of gap years, sharing firsthand experience and highlighting how time away from academics can help students reset, gain perspective, and return with renewed focus.

Above all, Eagle Hill’s College Counseling program is designed to support students—and families—through what can be an overwhelming process. Counselors encourage students to start early, engage fully, and take a deep breath. “Work with us,” Karen advises. “Engage in our process.” Whether a student’s next step is a four-year college, a gap year, or an apprenticeship, Eagle Hill meets each student where they are. For families, this means Eagle Hill is not only a place where students discover how they learn best, but where they are guided, step by step, toward a future that fits who they are becoming.