College Counseling
Director of College Counseling – Catherine Gillespie
Please visit our Tandem
Edline site for newsletters, college articles,
and useful links.
In keeping with the Tandem philosophy of honoring the
individual and their unique interests and talents, the
College Counseling office works with students and their
families to ensure that each individual’s needs
are met beyond Tandem Friends School. We believe that
choosing a college is an opportunity for students to
further develop interests, define talents, and to consider
their own individual ideas, dreams and values.
The Process in a Nutshell
The college counseling staff is available for consultation,
as needed, beginning in the 9th grade. All students
in the Upper School receive the college counseling monthly
newsletter and are invited to a financial aid workshop
in the spring.
During the fall of their sophomore year, students begin
to work with the College Counseling office as they prepare
for the PSAT. A Kaplan representative provides a PSAT
preparation session prior to the test in October (all
sophomores are required to take the PSAT at this time).
Juniors are offered a 5-week preparation class conducted
by Tandem Friends teachers and a Kaplan representative
prior to the PSAT in October; most juniors then take
the SAT in the spring. Additionally, juniors are provided
with pre-college counseling sessions that cover the
admissions process, and include a preliminary college
search, essay tips, help with setting-up interviews
with faculty who will prepare the student’s college
recommendations, and ample opportunity to ask questions
about the process as a whole. The college counseling
staff meets with all juniors and their parents, as a
whole, in the spring to discuss general expectations.
Individual meetings are held with juniors and their
parents to discuss student needs and plans.
All seniors take the SAT and SAT II in the fall, as
faculty members continue to work on student recommendations.
The Director of College Counseling meets regularly with
seniors individually to review their final college selections,
assist with applications, provide general counseling
and conduct mock college interviews. Seniors begin work
on their college essays in English class and visit colleges
in the fall. Most applications, with attendant school
material, are due between December and February. When
college decision letters are received, college counselors
assist students and their parents in making final decisions.
Download the CHOICES
handbook for Juniors.
Note: This form is in PDF format. To view it you will
need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader. To download the
program, click HERE.
|
