College Counseling Overview
College Counseling Overview
Lake Ridge Academy is college preparatory school, and the aim of both the institution and the college counseling office is to prepare to both select the right college that is the right fit and to be successful academically and socially at that institution.
We begin engaging parents and students in the college counseling process at the end of the 8th grade year. It is important that students, as they move from middle school to high school, work diligently in and outside of the classroom, select challenging courses and while maintaining good citizenship. It is these variables that help make the college process successful.
At Lake Ridge we offer all ninth and tenth graders the opportunity to get experience
with the PSAT test which is a precursor to the SAT. We offer the SAT Prep Class
course to any interested junior and senior student at a 75% reduction rate to what the student would pay as an individual at a testing agency.
Each year we have representatives of approximately 50 national and international colleges and universities visit to meet with our students at Lake Ridge Academy. We encourage juniors and seniors to attend these sessions. As the college counselor, it is paramount that I have an open door policy to address student questions and concerns and I welcome parents' and students' e-mails and phone calls regarding questions and concerns.
Our primary goal is to help you with researching and identifying a range of colleges suited to your needs and abilities. There is no single college that is the "only" one for you. A number of colleges will be wonderful matches for you, so your goal is to find
a number of colleges that will help you meet your expectations.
Students should have their final list of colleges by the end of September, and your list must include colleges in all ranges of selectivity. I urge students to apply to colleges that are "reach" schools (where your competition for admission will be fierce), "match" schools (where your credentials will be similar to those of most other applicants), and "likely" schools (where your credentials are stronger than those of most applicants and where acceptance rates exceed 50%). We recommend that you apply to a minimum of six schools (2 reaches, 2 reasonables and 2 likelies).
College decision-making is a serious business, but it is not life's ultimate choice. It is
one of a long series of decisions that will help define you as you move toward adulthood. A calm, businesslike approach with a dash of humor will serve you better than a frenzied, hectic approach. Actually, this can be fun and exciting so enjoy it.
Note; as one considers various colleges, there is no "best" college. There are only "right" colleges, often several of them, for the "right" students. Your task is to discover and choose a college that is "right fit" for you. Be prepared to compromise! No single college will be perfect in every respect.
In order to achieve positive results in your college process, one must be willing to
work hard and to take responsibility for your own work. You must investigate colleges and yourself. In the end, there are more colleges out there that want you than you can believe. Each student can decide which colleges to apply to, and set yourself up for good choices among fine colleges which you are accepted. But first, commit to two necessary prerequisites: have a sense of perspective and have a sense of humor.
Keeon Gregory
Director of College Counseling
