Admission Counseling

College admission is changing, and not only because of the advent of AI and the profusion of Internet advice. Much of college admission has become commoditized by the proliferation of companies offering student research, internships, publishing, and summer camps and classes. Consequently, colleges have become more discerning—and often skeptical—of activities that were once seen as the clearest signals of student distinction. The best advice for students seeking admission into America’s top colleges is to make authentic choices that appear throughout the college applications. Try to imagine that you an admission officer viewing your application. Do you see yourself as likable, admirable, and authentic, or do elements of your application need improvement? Do some of your choices appear shallow, superficial, or even deceptive? Admission officers are quick to reject efforts designed to impress them through empty rhetoric, superficial activities, and other inauthentic decisions. College admission committees strongly gravitate toward students who make sensible choices that represent a commitment to personal excellence, and who communicate authentically through their essays. 

By the time many students reach 12th grade, they look back and wish that they had done things differently. For them, it may be too late to build the kind of strong application that top colleges expect from their applicants. But for students just beginning high school, the opportunities are there for the taking. Colleges evaluate each student’s entire high school career, from classes and grades to activities, honors, awards, and talent. But that is not all—admission decisions at top colleges consider 25 to 30 factors, each of which contributes to the overall picture that qualifies or disqualifies a student from college admission. Working with students throughout their high school years, Avalon strengthens all these factors and—with eyes focused on top colleges—dramatically increases each student’s chance of getting into the nation’s most competitive colleges. Because no two students are the same, each Avalon admission plan is personalized to bring out the best in each student and to make them the strongest possible candidate at their top choice colleges. 

Grade 11: By the time a student reaches 11th grade, they should have already established patterns of excellence that will guide their decisions in 11th grade. These decisions are both academic and non-academic in nature. When the goal is to get into a top college, there is a little room for error. If these patterns of excellence have already been established, Avalon will work with students to strengthen their case for admission by choosing activities that are consistent with, and build upon, the advantageous use of free time and record of intelligent decision making. If they have not yet been established, Avalon will provide guidance that will help students demonstrate their growing awareness of passion and desire to make a positive contribution to their community and to society.

Services in Grade 11 Include:

•  Biweekly meetings
•  Identify contests, awards, and honors
• Create of an early college list
• Discuss topics for college essays 
•  Solidify a testing and test prep strategy
•  Provide academic support and course selection
• Select recommenders and create brag sheets
• Delineate Demonstrated Interest Tasks
• Organize college visits
• Exploring activities, including summer programs, internships, and research papers
• Working on special long-range projects
• Creating resumes and portfolios
•  More

Grade 12: A student’s final year in school is not just the culmination of four years of high school, but of 12 years—all of which have contributed in some way to the process of applying to colleges. Activities and accomplishments surround a central narrative that must be supported through each college application that is created and submitted. Further, a deep understanding of each college's priorities and strategic vision plays a role. In finalizing the college list, Avalon takes these factors into account and provides a list that is both aspirational and realistic. We suggest that students choose far more "reaches" than "safeties," advice that is different from what most counselors provide. The list below provides some idea of the services that we provide in 12th grade, but rest assured that we do whatever is necessary to maximize each student's chances for top college admission. There is a reason that Avalon's record of success is unsurpassed; we leave no stone unturned to help our students reach and exceed their college admission goals. 

Services in 12th Grade Include:

•  Finalize the college list
•  Select recommenders and create brag sheets (if not yet done)
•  Develop EA, ED, ED-II, REA, and RA strategy 
•  Write and edit the Common App personal narrative and all supplemental essays
•  Weekly meetings until all applications have been submitted
•  Standardized test evaluation and strategy
•  Interview prep w/mock interviews
•  Academic support
•  Solidify demonstrated interest
•  Organize college visits
•  Complete special projects
•  Finalize and submit resumes and portfolios
•  Final review of applications
•  Identify and apply for merit-based scholarships (If applicable)
•  Submit all college applications
•  Continued communication until a final decision has been reached