Preparing for college
and beyond
At The Miami Valley School we believe that every one of our graduates will be prepared for the rigors of a competitive 4-year college upon graduation. But, we don’t believe that one-size-fits-all. Our unique blend of experiential education combined with challenging core academics makes our students ready for the challenges of college and beyond. However, we also believe that personalized attention to the process rather than just the product of finding the most selective college is integral to students success.
Planning Timeline
The goal of our college counseling program is to empower every student to take the lead in the college application process. This happens through a carefully organized and implemented program that begins well in advance of the senior year.
At MVS, the College Counseling Office is heavily involved in students’ college application and decision process beginning as soon as ninth grade. Students’ junior year is when the college process formally begins.
The focus during a student’s ninth-grade year should be discovery. Students should consider which types of courses, teaching styles, and learning methods they like best. In addition, students should seek out extracurricular and athletic opportunities. This might mean picking up a new sport or joining a few clubs. Ideally, the student is discovering passions while also forming connections with classmates and teachers. Throughout the fall, these students will have the opportunity to visit with college admissions officers who travel to MVS from around the country.
At MVS, each ninth-grade student will take the PSAT in the fall. This test will give the students a sense of their strengths as well as areas where they could seek improvement. In addition, ninth-grade students and families may also attend the College Information Night evening program hosted by the Director of College Counseling. This program not only introduces parents and students to the broad trends in the world of college admissions, but it also outlines the college search and application process for MVS students.
During the summer, students should seek employment, volunteer, or enrichment opportunities that allow them to continue to discover their passions.
Throughout the school year, students and families may schedule individual meetings with the Director of College Counseling.
The focus during a student’s tenth-grade year continues to be discovery. Students should continue to discover new passions and areas of interest, while also developing a richer self-understanding in their academic coursework and extracurricular and athletic pursuits. Moreover, students should dig deeper in identifying their values and motivations, as these traits will prove immensely helpful in identifying their college fits. Throughout the fall, these students will have the opportunity to visit with college admissions officers who travel to MVS from around the country.
At MVS, each tenth-grade student will take the PSAT in the fall. Since this is their second year taking this test, students will have the luxury of being able to compare their scores from this sitting to last year’s results. In addition, tenth-grade students and families may also attend the College Information Night evening program hosted by the Director of College Counseling. This program not only introduces parents and students to the broad trends in the world of college admissions, but it also outlines the college search and application process for MVS students.
During the summer, students should seek employment, volunteer, or enrichment opportunities that allow them to continue to discover their passions.Throughout the school year, students and families may schedule individual meetings with the Director of College Counseling.
The focus of a student’s junior year is leadership through engagement. By this point, students identified and pursued their passions via their coursework, extracurricular activities, and athletic participation. They may continue to discover new areas of interest, but they have developed a strong sense of self. They are by no means expected to know their college major or future career, but they should be able to articulate what motives them to excel. As upperclass students, they are also expected to act as leaders within the community. Throughout the fall, these students will have the opportunity to visit with college admissions officers who travel to MVS from around the country. Unlike previous years, juniors may be excused from class to attend these meetings.
Eleventh-grade students will take the PSAT/NMSQT (National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test) in October. Because of their status as eleventh-grade students, this test now acts as a tool to determine the student’s eligibility for the National Merit Scholarship Program. Preparation for this test will be offered on the MVS campus after school prior to its administration. Throughout October, each junior student will have an individual meeting with the Director of College Counseling. In November all eleventh-grade students and parents will attend the College Kick-Off meeting that formally initiates the college search and application process at MVS. An update on the landscape of college admissions, an outline of college counseling-related activities, and resources for testing and financial aid will be provided.
During the spring-term, all junior students will attend a weekly College Counseling Class taught by the Director of College Counseling. Each section is less than 10 students, providing a small, tight-knit environment where students have the opportunity to ask questions, challenge one another’s assumptions, and engage in experiential learning. The typical class follows a seminar model, through which questions are discussed. In addition to class discussions, students will “practice” what they are learning (i.e., navigating tools for research, register for a college visit, and act as a mock admissions committee). Ultimately, this class educates MVS students about the college admissions process through thoughtful discussion and authentic engagement. There are no grades given, but purposeful participation is expected at each class meeting. During one-on-one meetings with the Director that will occur throughout the spring, students are expected to bring this knowledge to the conversation.
The summer between the eleventh and twelfth grades should be used as an opportunity further pursue one’s passions and interests. A variety of summer programs are available locally, domestically, and internationally to assist students in this regard. Students should visit colleges of interest during the summer break. At the end of summer these students will attend a Common Application Bootcamp during which they will complete all sections of the Common Application prior to the beginning of the school year.
Throughout the school year, students and families may schedule individual meetings with the Director of College Counseling.
The primary focus of a student’s twelfth-grade year is ownership. At this point, students have learned about the variety of college options available to them, and because they have articulated their most important values and passions, they have also identified colleges and universities that resonate strongly with them. Each student’s list–developed along with input from the family and college counselor–is unique and reflects the earnest research that each student has completed.
Shortly after the Common Application Bootcamp, twelfth-grade students and their families will attend the Senior College Application Night program. This presentation will walk families through the specifics of applying to college as an MVS student.
Seniors will continue to meet in a class setting, during which they will work on completing their applications. The Senior College Counseling Class meets for one block every six-days. It serves as an extension of the Junior College Counseling Class, though it is of a different character. In many ways it is the fulfillment of the prior course, as the students will work on completing real applications during these class meetings. However, the class is less focused on instruction; instead, it serves as forum for students to ask questions, have face time with the college counselor, provide a support system, and given students time and space to work on their applications.
Throughout the school year, students and families may schedule individual meetings with the Director of College Counseling.
College Search Tools
Scholarships and Financial Aid
Meet the Team
Along with the Director, the college counseling team at MVS educates every student and family on the details and intricacies of the college planning process. This occurs through individualized conferences, group seminars, classroom meetings, and regular communication with families concerning all aspects of this most important phase of school life.
Sarah Jones
Director of College Counseling
Katie McCallum
College Counseling Office Coordinator
For College Reps
Want to visit The Miami Valley School? We would love to have you!
The Miami Valley School is happy to host a wide array of four-year colleges and universities on its campus each fall. For more than 50 years, we have been a leader in experiential education. Our month-long Immersion program takes students around the world to engage in authentic, interdisciplinary, and experiential learning. Students truly become our mission: compassionate global citizens and self-sustaining learners.
Our strong core curriculum is rooted in the liberal arts and is punctuated by Advanced Placement and Honors level coursework. These courses, along with our innovative Immersion program, ensure that our students are well-prepared for the rigors of college academics. Moreover, our wide array of extracurricular, athletic, and service learning opportunities enable our students to explore new passions and develop their talents.
Our students look forward to attending colleges and universities where they will continue to pursue their lifelong love of learning. For some, this may happen at a small, private liberal arts college, and for others, a larger state university might fit more appropriately. Regardless of where they choose to attend, our students hope to develop strong, collaborative relationships with their professors and classmates, and take advantage of experiential learning programs through internships and co-ops, study abroad opportunities, and purposeful research. We are confident that our students will leave their mark on your campus.
