College guidance at AFS is a student-centered process based on a philosophy of finding colleges that balance each student’s academic goals with financial and social needs. We measure our success from the reports of our graduates who feel they were well-supported in crafting a college list, completing applications, and matriculating at a school they feel challenged by and successful in.
A hallmark of the college guidance process at AFS is the individual focus. From the time students arrive in the Upper School, the Directors of Study help them shape their curriculum choices to match their academic goals. At the midpoint of their high school experience, as students begin the college process, Directors of Study become College Guidance Counselors, building on the foundational relationship started in the course planning process. This continued relationship makes our College Guidance Counselors at once familiar with their students but perhaps most importantly, able to articulate the nuance of their high school choices to admissions officers as they advocate for each student’s admission.
Relationship-building is at the heart of our college guidance program. Our college guidance counselors spend a great deal of time with admissions representatives, welcoming them to the AFS campus, introducing them to our curriculum, and learning more about what makes a student the right “fit”. Over time, our counselors have developed close relationships with admissions officers that allow them to speak on behalf of our students, reiterating the strengths of our applicants and how we envision their fit to the school’s mission, community and applicant pool.
This personal, thoughtful and labor-intensive approach is only possible in a small community such as ours. Partnering closely with our students and their families during this important time makes the process more manageable and leads to outstanding outcomes for our students.
For Eli Russell, who earned a perfect score on his SATs and founded the award-winning National History Day team at AFS, the list of possible colleges included many of the nation’s top-tier universities.
Read The StoryChelsea Alexander was at school when she learned from her brother that she had been admitted to Hampton University and she could barely contain her excitement. “I ran in the hallway, a couple of laps. I was excited!”
Read The StoryIn searching for a college, Hannah Kaplan was looking for small class sizes, interaction with teachers, and a sense of community — many of the same things she liked best about AFS.
Read The Story
