The College Counselors at ACS work with students and parents at all grade levels. Below is an outline of our curriculum as it pertains to each year of study.
Prep Year (Eighth Grade):Counselors advise students on the orientation process at ACS. The focus is for students to acquire strong skills in English, while also setting overall academic and personal goals. The counseling office also pairs Prep students with a team of seniors who then serve as their mentors and discuss issues such as the ACS community, traditions, stress management, and academic honesty. Throughout the year, Prep students are invited to meet with visiting college and university representatives. In the second semester, the college counselors offer suggestions for summer involvement and/or study. Students interested in applying to summer programs work with their counselor on applications.
Ninth Grade: A strong start in the ninth grade year can often set the tone for a successful high school career. For this reason, the counselors focus on the transition process as students move from the Prep year ESL curriculum into a more demanding curriculum combined with a heavier course load. Counselors also advise parents on methods for student success and involvement. Throughout the year, students are invited to meet with visiting college and university representatives. In the second semester, the college counselors offer suggestions for summer involvement and/or study. Students interested in applying to summer programs work with their counselor on applications.
Tenth Grade:At the beginning of the year, the counselors introduce the PSAT program. Students are given the opportunity to take this test at ACS in October. In December, counselors review test results with students and offer suggestions for further test preparation. Throughout the year, students are invited to meet with visiting college and university representatives. In the second semester, the college counselors offer suggestions for summer involvement and/or study. Students interested in applying to summer programs work with their counselor on applications.
Eleventh Grade:At the beginning of the year, the counselors offer an overview on standardized testing. This discussion includes, but is not limited to, the PSAT, the SAT, SAT Subject Tests, the TOEFL, the IELTS, and the Advanced Placement (AP) program. At that time, students are invited to register for the PSAT test in October and AP examinations in May; both tests are administered at ACS. For other tests, students are given instructions on how to register online. In December, counselors review test results for those who took the PSAT and offer suggestions for further test preparation. Most ACS students complete the first round of all standardized testing during the eleventh grade, thus creating the opportunity to retest in the senior year, if needed.Throughout the year, students are invited to meet with visiting college and university representatives. Eleventh-grade students should attend as many of these visits as possible.Early in the second semester, the counselors present a full-day college counseling program to eleventh graders called Junior Jumpstart—the idea being that now the college process is formally ignited for the eleventh grade class. Throughout the event, students attend various workshops on educational opportunities and application processes in the UK, US, and Europe. Parents are later invited to attend an evening meeting covering the same topics along with financial aid and financing options. Following these meetings, students may begin scheduling individual appointments with their college counselors. All students are asked to meet with their counselor Ms. Davis in the second semester, and those students who are interested in applying to the UK may also schedule a meeting with Mr. McClinton and Mr. Rowlands. With the help of their counselor, students select and officially ask two teachers to serve as recommenders. In the second semester, the college counselors also offer suggestions for summer involvement and/or study. Students interested in applying to summer programs work with their counselor on applications.
Twelfth Grade: The fall semester is a busy time as seniors prepare applications to competitive universities around the world. The college counselors advise students on their college choices and financial aid/scholarship opportunities. Throughout the semester, various workshops are offered on topics such as: “Writing the Resume,” “Supplemental Essays,” and “Interviews.” Parents are invited to attend a meeting that focuses on the financial aid process in the United States. In addition, seniors are encouraged to meet with all visiting college and university representatives. When possible, they may also have the opportunity to interview with visiting admission officers.In January, the counselors organize panels where current ACS alumni return to speak with the seniors about their college and university experiences in the US, UK, and Europe. These panels provide seniors with crucial feedback on academic rigor, quality of life, professional development, and overall cultural experiences at various universities.By the end of the first semester, most seniors have completed and submitted their applications. Once decisions begin arriving, seniors work with their counselor to select a college or university that best suits their academic, personal, financial, professional, and familial needs. Finally, the counselors offer workshops on transitioning from high school into university; these sessions are organized by regional destination so that customs and culture may also be discussed.
Alumni:Sometimes students find that their college or university choice ultimately does not meet their academic, personal, or professional expectations. In this case, ACS alumni are invited to contact Ms. Davis to learn more about the transfer processes.