The College Counseling program at Garden Street Academy is rooted in an advisory system where each student receives focused attention in a small-group setting, beginning in 9th grade. Advisors and students work together to set academic and personal goals leading to graduation and college success. As students move through the years, they learn to identify and use the tools and information they need to develop academic goals and to discover colleges that best fit their profile. Expert guidance and support is provided by our senior counselor as we transition to the application and financial aid processes.
Our advisors and counseling staff enable students and families to gain a greater understanding of college admissions. Each student sets appropriate goals, develops a manageable timeline, and uses key resources to identify those colleges where they will find the academic programs, residential community, and overall spirit that feels most welcoming to them. In the spring of the junior year, students and families begin a series of individual meetings with the college counselor that continue through the following spring. In addition, juniors complete a comprehensive personal statement and register for SATs before summer break.
We continually foster excellent relationships with admissions officers at the colleges to which our students apply, and our personal connections are central to our ability to support and guide our students. We welcome college admissions representatives to meet with our students each year, and also take students to visit public and private colleges in the region. Our staff attends special events, conferences and workshops, and solicits feedback from our alumni every year, to enhance the experience of our students as they take one of the biggest steps of their lives.
Garden Street Academy graduates are prepared to excel in college. Our emphasis on experiential learning and community-oriented practices gives our students an awareness and maturity that allows them to be leaders at the next level. Our students engage in challenging and meaningful work at school, and are busy and engaged outside of the classroom as well. Our focused and intimate learning environment mirrors the setting of a liberal arts college and gives students the skills to work directly with teachers who are both mentors and friends. This level of preparation allows them to find success in their future endeavors.