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 for you.
- Explore extracurricular activities such as sports teams, school activities, and volunteer opportunities outside campus.
- With guidance and encouragement from faculty, develop a love of learning and self-discovery.
- With guidance and encouragement from your grade-level advisor, focus on issues of wellness, study skills, and time management.
- Begin introductory work with our Grade 9-10 college counselor to learn about summer programs, early college search advice, and specific pre-college programs.
Grade 10: Beginning to think seriously about college
- Continue to focus on appropriately rigorous academics and good study habits.
- Take the PSAT in the spring for practice.
- With support and encouragement from faculty, get involved in the life of the school and consider opportunities for leadership.
- With your parent or guardian, attend the sophomore International Baccalaureate & College Counseling night.
- With guidance from your Grade 9-10 college counselor, identify, explore, and nurture areas of interest; and create opportunities to share your knowledge with others.
- If you are interested in playing a sport in college, meet with Annie Wright’s Athletic Director to map out a plan for outreach and recruitment.
- With guidance and support from faculty and your Grade 9-10 college counselor, 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
- Continue to excel 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) followed by the SAT in the spring.
- Work with your Grade 11-12 college counselor to create a customized plan for standardized testing in the spring and summer of junior year.
- Meet with college admissions officers who visit Annie Wright. Over 75 local, national, and international colleges and universities come to campus to meet with our students and College Counseling team throughout the year.
- Begin meeting with your Grade 11-12 college counselor to develop a strong relationship and get individual advice on how to build a well-rounded college list.
- Together with your parents or guardians, meet with your Grade 11-12 college counselor to create a customized strategy for your college applications that meets your academic, financial, and career goals.
- Visit colleges throughout the school year
- Attend special programming to begin working on your college essays.
- With the help of your Grade 11-12 college counselor, identify teachers for letters of recommendation, shape a tentative list of schools, and finalize summer enrichment opportunities.
Grade 12: Choosing a college
- Continue academically rigorous coursework throughout senior year, as colleges will receive your midyear transcript.
- Register to take your final SAT and/or ACT exam.
- Continue to meet with college admissions officers who visit Annie Wright.
- Attend College Week to fine-tune your essays, activities list, resume, and applications. Meet with your Grade 11-12 college counselor for a final review. Many seniors finish their applications during College Week.
- Your Grade 11-12 college counselor will make sure all recommendation letters and supporting materials are submitted on time.
- Visit colleges you are considering attending.
- Take any IB tests, as the vast majority of Annie Wright students score well enough on IB exams to earn course credits at colleges and universities.

Why Annie Wright College Counseling

List of 4 items.

Philosophy of Advising

As a team of four counselors (three working closely with students in Grades 11–12 and one dedicated to guiding students in Grades 9–10), we take a developmental, student-centered approach that meets students where they are, listens to their goals, and supports them in presenting their strongest, most authentic applications. We want students to apply to a well-rounded list of colleges that truly ‘fit’ them and will help them thrive in their life beyond AWS. At the core of our work is partnership: with students, with families, and with one another.
1:1 Advising & Low Student Case Loads

Our Grades 11-12 college counselors work with a max of 35 students, often fewer, per grade. Their sole focus is on college counseling and advising for careers beyond life at AWS. Each counselor spends considerable time getting to know each student, supporting them in a customized college search, and becoming a professional staff member students can rely upon for advice. Our college counselors focus on support, accessibility, and communication to ensure that each student has all the opportunities possible to apply to colleges with the strongest application.
Monday Advisory

Throughout September and October, seniors spend Monday afternoons with the college counseling team reviewing key aspects of the college application process: essays, personal insight questions, supplemental questions, activities list, etc. We also give students time to work with counselors in advising groups to ensure students have frequent access to their counselors
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 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 who were also working on college essays (being focused together and supporting each other!).
- Having constant people around to answer our questions.
Post College Week, the counseling office hosts “Appy Hours” once a week from 2:00 pm - 4:00 p.m. through February 1, offering students a quiet place to work and get help in a similar model to College Week. While students still have classes during this window, it provides students with additional time and space to work on applications and ensure all are in by the most common final regular decision deadline of February 1.

Class of ’26 Interactive College Map

To contact the Office of College Counseling, please reach out to:

Monica Huggins, Director of College Counseling
Chris Feliciano, Assistant Director of College Counseling
Cassandra Kopriva, Assistant Director of College Counseling
Jarrod Larse, Assistant Director of College Counseling

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."

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 note that it is our policy to only allow college visits, in person or virtually, from regionally accredited and not-for-profit institutions. We'd love to welcome every college/university that wishes to visit, but due to our school schedule, we may not be able to approve every request. Thank you for your understanding. Contact the Director of College Counseling, Monica Huggins, with any questions or requests for virtual meetings.