Our Approach
Our College Counseling team considers the needs, strengths, and opportunities for the growth of every student as they support them and serve as their advocates. With years of experience and current insights about the ever changing admission landscape, they also help students develop and fine tune an application strategy that will make the most of their credentials. With strong beliefs in the adage, “It is not about where you go but what you do when you get there, our overarching goal is to help our students walk through this milestone with calm and optimism about their own ability to make the most of all their options.
Our Process
During 9th and 10th grade, Thacher’s emphasis is on students’ successful and healthy transition to our community. Again, making the most of this opportunity and establishing their place here is the best foundation for the college search. In these two years, with the guidance of their advisors and teacher, students will map out a course of study that inspires their intellect while meeting college admission requirements. In the winter of junior year, college counselors begin meeting individually with each student to get to know them and help them create a college list that meets their interests and needs. Preliminary SAT and ACT testing takes place in the winter and spring. During the fall of senior year, students attend a weekly college class and continue to meet one-on-one with counselors as they finalize and submit their applications. For a more detailed overview of our process, click
here.
Learning About Colleges Worldwide
The Covid pandemic transformed the college recruitment process in myriad ways. Travel restrictions along with the advent of Zoom, has created a hybrid approach of in-person visits to high schools along with online opportunities. This has allowed colleges to literally tap into every corner of the globe to find talented students. During these visit/meeting, students get information about the schools they’re interested in and an understanding of what each school values in its applicants. Additionally, starting in the Spring of 2021, Thacher was able to return to its partnership with Cate and southern California schools to sponsor a spring College Fair and Case Studies Workshop. This program brings about 40 college and university representatives to our campuses offering our students a unique introduction to the intricacies of the college selection process.