The college application process is intimidating and stressful – but The Knox College Counseling Experience, a program designed specifically by Knox educators and leaders with decades of experience, is stress-free for students and parents.
College Counseling – We’ve Got You Covered!
The Knox College Counseling Experience is a program designed by Knox leaders with decades of experience. We teach students to take control of the college application process and give parents peace of mind knowing that their children will be guided by experts every step of the way.
Key highlights of The Knox College Counseling Experience:
- Our program begins in 9th Grade and provides individualized, step-by-step guidance from our experienced College Planning Team
- One-on-one counseling with the Dean of Academics will help students select classes that build the most compelling transcripts, brag sheets, and resumes
- College visits, virtual information sessions, and talks with Knox alumni aid students in planning for their post-secondary journey
- Our one-of-a-kind Graduate Seminar class, designed by a college professor, is required for all seniors. This course not only completes the college application process, but provides fundamental knowledge of the freshman year college experience, and ensures that Knox graduates enter college with a competitive advantage over their peers from other high schools
Expert Guidance at Every Stage
*Although The Knox College Counseling Experience begins in grade 9, new students enrolling in grades 10+ will receive the same care and attention as all students participating in the program.
Freshman Year - Getting to Know You
Getting to Know You
This year allows our young students to take some time truly getting to know who they are. Interests, Skills, and Intelligence profilers give them a strong understanding of what makes them unique and successful with tips on how to build onto their abilities and use them to their benefit. Starting in ninth grade, students begin to build a personal brand that they will “sell” to the colleges in a few short years.
To Summarize:
- Students complete their interests, skills, and career intelligence profile to compile data on their strengths, weaknesses, and interests
- Students begin tracking their course selections, activities, honors, achievements, service hours, and test scores
- Students meet with the Dean of Academics and Academic Advisors throughout the year to check in regarding grades, assignments and planning for the future year(s)
- Students complete various test prep assignments for the PSAT
- Students sit for the PSAT 8/9 in the Spring
Sophomore Year - What YOUR Future Requires
What YOUR Future Requires
Our Sophomores sit for the PreACT followed by the PSAT 10 in the Spring. They also attend our spring college fair to begin speaking with colleges that will support their future studies while showcasing their grades, activity, achievement resumes, and service hours.
To Summarize:
- Students begin to research potential careers building from their profiles in 9th grade
- Students continue to track their course selections, activities, service learning activities, and test scores
- Students are urged to seek internships in potential career fields and work with their counselor to find strong placements
- Students complete various test prep assignments for the PSAT and PreACT
- Students sit for the PreACT in the Winter Term
- Students sit for the PSAT 10 in the Spring Term
- Students attend the spring college fair and meet with various college representatives
- Students attend Representative visits throughout the year on campus
- Students meet with their counselor throughout the year to check in regarding grades, assignments, and planning for the future year(s)
Junior Year - Preparing for & Choosing the "Right" Colleges
Preparing for & Choosing the “RIGHT” Colleges
Junior year is one of the most important years in the College Counseling Experience, as it requires students to conduct extensive research on future career paths and colleges that will support their educational journeys.
To Summarize:
- Students work with the College Planning Team to register and prepare for the SAT/ACT/TOEFL
- Students sit for the PSAT/NMSQT in October
- Students engage in an intensive college search alongside their counselor and compare their results to limit their lists to schools that truly highlight their skills and potential
- Students participate in mock interviews to prepare for college application interviews
- Students attend college open houses and tour dates
- Students attend Fall and Spring College Expo
- Students attend Representative Visits on campus throughout the year
- Students meet with their counselor regularly to prepare for standardized exams, track their progress on assignments, and plan for the future year(s)
- Students continue to track their course selections, activities, services, and test scores
Senior Year - Graduate Seminar
Most of our students apply for college by or before November 15th. However, college counseling continues for the duration of the year to assist students in submitting supporting documentation (test scores, graded assignments, etc) and choosing the school to commit to by or before May 1st. Their counselor will also assist with financial aid documentation and the request for additional funds from their colleges or universities. Counseling for our seniors continues until final transcripts are sent to the selected university after graduation in June.
To Summarize:
- Students complete the Graduate Seminar “College Freshman 101” course
- Students work with their counselors to register for the final SAT/ACT/SAT II/TOEFL exams
- Students attend the fall college expo
- Students attend representative visits throughout the year on campus
- Students finalize their activity/achievement/service resumes
- Students complete their college applications alongside their counselor
- Students continue to meet with their counselor for financial aid documentation, requests for additional funds from a college, assistance with choosing a college, making the commitment, and planning for their new journey in college
