College Guidance
The Lake Champlain Waldorf School offers a comprehensive college and career guidance program that is tailored to the developmental needs of our students. From ninth grade we support students in learning about themselves and the world in order to better make the transition after high school. Beginning in the junior year, our college search process is guided by Strategies for College, a private college counseling firm with twenty years of experience. The combination of Waldorf values and professional expertise in college admissions makes for a thoughtfully guided journey.
Ninth Grade
- Advisor discussion about interests, goals, and plans
- One-semester study skills class, including goal-setting and learning style
- Workshop: “What are my options after high school?”
Tenth Grade
Advisor and class meeting discussion about college/post-secondary plans
Full-length practice ACT and SAT
- Workshops: “Finding Your Interests,” “What Colleges Look For” and “Art College and Music Conservatory: Different Paths” and “Knowing Yourself”
- One-on-one guidance counselor discussion to develop plan for extra-curricular activities, summer work, internships, and school electives
- Career exploration and job shadowing day
Eleventh Grade
- One-on-one meetings with Strategies for College to develop individual college search plan, list, and individual family financial plan
- Guidance counselor discussion to further explore career and personal interests, personality and direction after high school.
- 12-week after-school SAT-prep course FREE to students
- Workshops: “College visits,” “College Interviews,” and “Knowing Yourself”
- Mock interview practice sessions
- Guided college visit with guidance counselor; what to look for in a visit
Twelfth Grade
- Work with Strategies for College to narrow list to final 6-8 schools, walk through application process, and establish personal timetable for applications
- Weekly guidance meetings for updates, reminders, and check-ins through the fall
- Assistance in revising the personal statement in senior English class
- Individual financial aid meetings for parents with Strategies for College
- Coordination of all applications, including final review for completeness and accuracy, for submission by mid-November
- Expert advice and mentoring in applying to music, art, craft, or vocational school
- Assistance with planning gap year, if applicable
- Three-week intensive apprenticeship in the community based on the student’s interest
- End-of-year short course on transitioning to life after high school, with guest speakers
