College Counselors: Kate Grant and Nancy Donehower

Catlin Gabel CEEB Code: 380845

Catlin Gabel's college counseling program, with its emphasis on personalized guidance, helps each student explore the many college opportunities available. Through individual counseling sessions throughout the junior and senior years, Catlin Gabel's two college counselors help students identify those colleges that best suit their interests, abilities, and goals. Counselors guide students through all aspects of the college admission process, from developing appropriate college lists to completing applications, writing essays, and applying for financial aid. Parents are kept informed and involved in the college counseling process through several written communications as well as parent information sessions.

College counseling begins in the Upper School with a group meeting in the fall of the junior year. During winter term, juniors fill out an extensive questionnaire and write a self-descriptive essay. These are used as the basis for individual conferences with a college counselor and are designed to help each student define their direction after Catlin Gabel. Students and parents are then given checklists and deadlines to guide them through the college admission application process. Juniors and their parents are invited to a meeting in the winter to discuss all aspects of applying to college. During spring term, juniors meet weekly in small groups with a college counselor as well as in individual appointments.

All juniors take PSATs and SAT Is and, where appropriate, Subject Tests  (formerly called SAT IIs); seniors take both SATs Is and Subject Tests.

Because colleges look at more than test scores in viewing an applicant, a college counselor writes a profile of each senior's school career. This includes information about academic strengths and weaknesses, extracurricular activities, work experience, character, personality, and family. Students select appropriate faculty members to write letters of recommendation in support of their applications as well. During fall term a college counselor meets weekly with small groups of seniors to keep students informed throughout the process.

Contact Information:

2009-10 College Transitions Guide