Even if they are visiting the much larger high schools in town, you can bet they are also coming to The Gregory School, because they know the quality of our students and the education they are receiving. And because of our size, TGS students have full conversations with these reps, ask multiple questions, and make an impression: They’re not watching a large group presentation. See the ever-growing list of visits on the College Counseling Center calendar and look for announcements in newsletters and on the marquee.

Think about this: 76 representatives from colleges, universities, and other post-secondary opportunities will be on campus at once to meet exclusively with our 204 Upper School students. That’s quite a ratio! ( El Mirador Gymnasium, September 17, 10 - 11:30 am)

Senior College Seminar is part of every senior's academic schedule. This year’s seminar sizes range from 4 - 11 students. In these small classes, students work closely with our Director of College Counseling, Ms. Carey Eskesen, to research schools, finalize lists, practice for interviews, write essays, find scholarships, and complete applications, with Ms. Eskesen working with every senior individually to ensure they are the strongest candidate they can be.

Junior and senior parents and guardians attend presentations with Q&A sessions about the college application process, and families are encouraged and welcome to set up individual meetings with Ms. Eskesen. Our goal is to find the right post-graduation fit for our students and their families.

As with fall’s Senior Seminar, students in the Junior Seminar meet with Ms. Eskesen during the spring semester in small classes and individually to begin thinking in earnest about life after TGS. Students take stock of their personal passions and goals, build a resume, consider locations and school sizes that appeal to them, start a list of possibilities, brainstorm essay ideas, talk about scholarships, and more.

Eighth graders and up are offered Friday Explorations and other class meetings, designed for their grade level, to begin thinking about their goals and to learn about post-graduation possibilities. Students and families in grades eight through twelve receive informative newsletters from the College Counseling Center created specifically for that grade.

 The College Funding Coach® visits our campus annually, this year on September 17 at 5:30 pm, to help families understand the costs of college and ways to cover them. (The event is open to the public. Register here.)

Regularly updated, our College Counseling webpage offers an extensive list of links on everything from standardized testing to NCAA athletics to financial aid, along with an annual spring list of summer academic programs world-wide.

Each January, our most recent class of alumni returns to campus to have lunch with the senior class and talk about their decision process in twelfth grade and about life after graduation. Nearly all are deeply satisfied with their post-TGS choices and tell us that they found “the right fit" and are pursuing, meeting, and expanding their goals. 

All of these factors combine to create a college counseling environment on The Gregory School campus that buzzes with activity, excitement, compassion, and support as we help our students launch into life beyond The Gregory School!