The Director of Student Services oversees our College Counseling Program. In Grade 9, the Director speaks to the students about transcripts, grade point averages, and the College Counseling Program. He also goes to a Parent Evening to explain the college counseling timeline and what services are available.
In Grades 10 and 11 our students are encouraged to take both the PSAT and PLAN standardized tests. These tests are administered at DWS. Waldorf students are generally not familiar with the format of standardized testing, so we want to give them this extra practice before the “real” SAT and ACT tests taken in the spring of Grade 11 and fall of Grade 12.
In Grade 11, the students have a college counseling class one period a week where we engage in a variety of activities: students are surveyed as to their interests for post-High School activities, including college; we discuss their plans for which test to take and when; we have guest speakers who are deans of admissions or admissions representatives from many national and local colleges; we talk about using college catalogs and the Internet for college searches; and we talk about any concerns that may come up. In the spring of this year we will begin offering to Grade 11 students an individual appointment with the Director. Sometimes parents also request appointments. The Director will also make presentations at Grade 11 and 12 parent evenings this year.
In Grade 12, the counseling is completely individualized. The year begins with a counseling session with each student and his/her parents. Further assistance is available all year from the Director and the English teachers, who are available to review essays. All High School faculty members are available for recommendation letters and cooperate in this endeavor.
DWS students have been accepted to all types of colleges (see our list of College Acceptances). They have also gone on to employment, service work, travel, and apprenticeships. Over 85% of the graduating classes attend college within one year of graduation.
College Counseling Services
The Director of Student Services oversees our College Counseling Program. In Grade 9, the Director speaks to the students about transcripts, grade point averages, and the College Counseling Program. He also goes to a Parent Evening to explain the college counseling timeline and what services are available.
In Grades 10 and 11 our students are encouraged to take both the PSAT and PLAN standardized tests. These tests are administered at DWS. Waldorf students are generally not familiar with the format of standardized testing, so we want to give them this extra practice before the “real” SAT and ACT tests taken in the spring of Grade 11 and fall of Grade 12.
In Grade 11, the students have a college counseling class one period a week where we engage in a variety of activities: students are surveyed as to their interests for post-High School activities, including college; we discuss their plans for which test to take and when; we have guest speakers who are deans of admissions or admissions representatives from many national and local colleges; we talk about using college catalogs and the Internet for college searches; and we talk about any concerns that may come up. In the spring of this year we will begin offering to Grade 11 students an individual appointment with the Director. Sometimes parents also request appointments. The Director will also make presentations at Grade 11 and 12 parent evenings this year.
In Grade 12, the counseling is completely individualized. The year begins with a counseling session with each student and his/her parents. Further assistance is available all year from the Director and the English teachers, who are available to review essays. All High School faculty members are available for recommendation letters and cooperate in this endeavor.
DWS students have been accepted to all types of colleges (see our list of College Acceptances). They have also gone on to employment, service work, travel, and apprenticeships. Over 85% of the graduating classes attend college within one year of graduation.