Upper School

College Counseling

Annie Wright students can go anywhere and do anything after high school. No matter their goal - large research institution, small liberal arts college, international university, visual arts conservatory, service academy - the college counseling team is here to support them every step of the way.

Preparation for the college admission process is embedded in the curriculum starting in Grade 9, allowing students to participate in activities that not only prepare them to be competitive for the process, but also to empower them to be strong students and engaged community members. College Counselors know and care deeply about each student as an individual, and can help them discover colleges where they will thrive.

Year after year, an overwhelming number of recent graduates tell us they are happy with the support for the college process, as well as the outcome.

College Counseling at a Glance

List of 4 items.

Grade 9: Laying the groundwork for a successful high school experience
- Select the most challenging courses appropriate to you.
- Explore extra-curricular activities such as sports teams, school activities or volunteer opportunities outside campus.
- With guidance and encouragement from faculty, develop a love for reading and writing.
- With guidance and encouragement from the 9th Grade Dean, focus on issues of wellness, study skills and time management.
- With your Academic Coach/ Advisor and the Director of College Guidance, evaluate your interests, activities, and strengths to set ambitious goals for the next school year.
Grade 10: Beginning to think seriously about college
- Continue to focus on appropriately rigorous academics and good study habits.
- Take the PSAT a year early, for practice.
- With support and encouragement from faculty, get involved in the life of the school and consider opportunities for leadership.
- With your parents, attend the sophomore International Baccalaureate & College Counseling night.
- With guidance from Academic Coach/ Advisor, identify and explore an area of interest and use the Spring Showcase as an opportunity to share it with the rest of the school.
- If you are interested in playing a sport in college, meet with Annie Wright’s Athletic Director to map out a plan for recruitment.
- With faculty guidance and support, evaluate your interests, activities, and strengths to set ambitious goals for the next school year and plan for an enriching summer.
Grade 11: Entering the heart of Annie Wright's college counseling
- Excel, with faculty guidance and support, at appropriately rigorous academic coursework. In addition to earning the AWS Diploma, students can pursue the full IB Diploma or IB Course Candidacy.
- Step into leadership roles in activities where you can make the most impact.
- Take the PSAT in October (scores will be submitted to the National Merit Scholarship Corporation for consideration) and a practice ACT.
- Work with your college counselor to create a customized plan for standardized testing in the spring and summer of junior year.
- Visit several college campuses and attend information sessions during several day trips in the spring with the junior class.
- Meet with college admissions officers that visit campus in the fall. (Some 75 colleges and universities visit the Annie Wright campus to meet with our students.)
- Start regular meetings with your college counselor to build a strong relationship and get individual advice on how to shape a tentative list of colleges.
- Together with your parents, meet with your college counselor to create a customized strategy for your college applications that meets your academic, financial and career goals.
- After a two-week essay-writing workshop in English class, write multiple college essay drafts before leaving for summer break.
- With the help of your college counselor, identify teachers for letters of recommendation, work through NCAA eligibility questions, shape a tentative list of schools and finalize summer enrichment opportunities.
Grade 12: Choosing a college
- Continue academically rigorous coursework throughout senior year, as your counselor will keep colleges updated on any exemplary performance.
- Register to take your final SAT and/or ACT exam.
- Meet with college admissions officers that visit campus in the fall, and when feasible, meet for an interview as part of your application. (Some 75 colleges and universities visit the Annie Wright campus to meet with our students.)
- Attend College Week, where you will: finalize the application list, review deadlines, workshop your activities list and resume, meet with an assigned essay advisor to fine-tune application essays, and meet with your counselor for a final review of all applications. (The vast majority of seniors are done with their applications after College Week.)
- Work with your teachers and college counselor to make sure all recommendation letters and applications materials are submitted on time.
- Make any final trips to visit colleges.
- Take any IB tests, as the vast majority of Annie Wright students score well enough on IB test to earn credit at colleges and universities.

College Week

Each fall, an entire week is dedicated to working on and submitting college applications. All academic classes are cancelled for seniors, faculty and staff are available to help proofread essays and write letters of recommendation, and students have the opportunity to devote themselves to preparing for their future without the added stress of juggling homework and courses.

Here are some of the things our AWS graduates found the most helpful about College Week:

Picking the brains of our super-smart faculty members!
The free work time to work on college essays and ticking boxes. I didn't know how much there was to do...
The amount of time and support offered. Wow.
Having teachers readily available to review my essay.
Being around my classmates that were also working on college essays (being focused together and supporting each other!)
Having constant people around to answer our questions/

Class of ’24 Interactive College Map

To contact the Office of College Counseling, please reach out to Monica Huggins, Director of College Counseling, +1.253.284.4348, or Jarrod Larse, Assistant Director of College Counseling +1.253.284.4339.

Nadine G. ’23

"My teachers and peers at AWS pushed and supported me to reach personal and academic goals that allowed me to see myself at excellent institutions. I also learned where to blaze my own path."

Strength Magazine Spring 2018

Read this issue of Strength magazine to learn about the college process, including how to plan, test, choose, pay, talk about it and more.

For College Admission Professionals

We welcome you to visit our campus and meet our juniors and seniors this fall! All sessions are in person after academic hours, but when students are still required and/or encouraged to be on campus. We use SCOIR for scheduling. Please contact the Director of College Counseling, Monica Huggins (monica_huggins@aw.org) with any questions, or requests for virtual meetings.