College preparation begins the moment a student arrives at Darrow. While at Darrow, students have the opportunity to develop their academic and leadership skills, share their talents as artists and athletes, discover interests and abilities they didn’t know they had. During their time here, many students realize new possibilities for themselves and their future.

When I meet with juniors to start discussing the college process, the conversation begins with their high school experience—what they’ve accomplished, what didn’t go according to plan, what they hope to learn and achieve during their final years of high school and beyond. It’s during this reflection that students begin setting goals and defining their criteria—this also allows me to help them define their next steps in the process and generate a list of colleges for them to research.

Beyond these conversations, Darrow students have a number of resources available to them as they pursue the college process. Students and their families have access to Naviance, a web-based program that allows them to research colleges, manage their college lists, and complete SAT preparation. College admissions representatives visit Darrow each fall, allowing students to learn more about specific schools and make connections with the admissions staff; students also have the chance to attend college fairs in the local area. Teachers, tutors, and advisors all support students throughout the process, helping them research colleges and prepare for college visits and interviews, providing feedback as they complete application essays, and writing recommendations for their applications.

During their senior year, students and I meet frequently to review their progress. We work together to refine their college lists, establish a senior year standardized testing strategy, and develop a timeline to help them prepare their applications. We review course schedules to ensure they are in the best possible academic position. We check their applications, essays, and supplements to ensure they reflect their best possible work. In the Spring, we celebrate their college acceptances and review their offers of admission. We discuss the final weeks of their Darrow career and the transition to college. Throughout the process, I regularly check-in with each student’s advisor, tutors and family; college information sessions and meetings with parents during family weekends also allow students and families to ask questions and stay informed.

Our list of college acceptances represents the diversity of our students, their interests, goals, and experiences. Darrow graduates attend colleges across the country and around the world. They attend small liberal arts colleges as well as large universities. College preparation at Darrow allows each student to find the right school and establish a foundation on which to continue to learn and grow.