Academics

College Counseling

Finding the Right College: A Four-Year Program

Preparation for college is paramount at Lake Ridge Academy. As such, our school is proud of its rich matriculation history: 100% of our graduating seniors are accepted at four-year institutions, many of them highly selective.

Lake Ridge’s wide variety of resources, including a dedicated College Counseling Office, individualized essay-writing assistance, in-person and virtual visits from college representatives, personalized letters of recommendation, mock interview training, and links to merit scholarships and financial aid opportunities, ensures the student and family are well informed throughout all four years of the high school experience.

Choosing a college is about finding the right mix of academics, activities, location, resources, and faculty. The process of finding that right fit begins in 9th grade. Through several formal contacts with the College Counselor, freshmen learn how to build a strong academic and extracurricular profile.

October:

Testing
Freshmen will take the Pre ACT in mid-October. In December, the ACT will share a detailed score report highlighting each student’s strengths and potential areas of growth.

March:

Freshman Seminar
During Freshman Seminar, Mr. Rybarczyk will introduce Scoir, the college search and application service used by Lake Ridge Academy, to help students begin exploring colleges and universities.

As students transition into the sophomore year, the college conversation becomes more focused as students begin to think more seriously about testing and scores. In the spring, College Counseling will host the Spring Meeting for Sophomores and Families. At this meeting, students will learn about using Scoir to build resumes, take career assessments, and research schools. Students are encouraged to make appointments with Mr. Rybarczyk to discuss any questions and/or concerns.

October:

Testing
Sophomores and juniors will take the PSAT in mid-October. In December, the College Board will share a detailed score report highlighting each student’s strengths and potential areas of growth. While the sophomore test is intended to introduce the student to the formal testing environment, the junior test is the first step to entering the National Merit® Scholarship Program.

November:

SAT/ACT Prep Class
Open to sophomores and juniors, the SAT/ACT Prep Class will afford the student the opportunity to learn and practice test-taking strategies.

January:

Cleveland Council of Independent Schools Sophomore Event: Navigating the College Process
Held annually each January, this program will feature a panel of admissions deans representing several colleges. College Counseling will share specific details with students and families as the program is finalized.

April:

Spring Meeting for Sophomores and Families
At this meeting, College Counseling will introduce a college process checklist for the upcoming year and discuss ways to use the summer to assist in the college search/admission process.

Cleveland Council of Independent Schools College Fair
Held annually at a Cleveland-area independent school, this event features over 100 colleges and universities and panel programming. Open to sophomores and juniors only.

The junior year is important as the college search and admissions process begins in earnest. This year the PSAT counts: it puts students in the running for a National Merit Scholarship.

During the junior year, Mr. Rybarczyk will have three formal meetings with the students, the Fall Meeting for Juniors and Families, an individual meeting with each student, and a one-on-one meeting for juniors and families in early spring. Students are encouraged to make appointments throughout the year to see Mr. Rybarczyk with any questions and/or concerns.

October:

Fall Meeting for Juniors andFamilies
At this meeting, Mr. Rybarczyk will discuss the junior year college search timeline.

Testing
Sophomores and juniors will take the PSAT in mid-October. In December, the College Board will share a detailed score report highlighting each student’s strengths and potential areas of growth. While the sophomore test is intended to introduce the student to the formal testing environment, the junior test is the first step to entering the National Merit® Scholarship Program.

November:

SAT/ACT Prep Class
Open to sophomores and juniors, the SAT/ACT Prep Class will afford the student the opportunity to learn and practice test-taking strategies.

January-March:

Junior/Family One-on-One Meeting
At this meeting, Mr. Rybarczyk will discuss college visits and help develop a list of colleges based upon aptitude, merit, financial aid, interest, distance from home, and other factors.

April:

Begin College Visits
Juniors are permitted 4 college visits in the spring semester.

Cleveland Council of Independent Schools College Fair
Held annually at a Cleveland-area independent school, this event features over 100 colleges and universities and panel programming. Open to sophomores and juniors only.

During the required Senior Seminar, students will be led through all aspects of the college application process, from narrowing the college list and writing the essay to navigating financial aid and scholarships. With a thorough understanding of unique backgrounds, needs, and accomplishments, Mr. Rybarczyk will write a personalized college recommendation for each senior. Students are encouraged to make appointments to see Mr. Rybarczyk with any questions and/or concerns.

September:

College Night for Seniors and Families
This meeting will provide families an overview of the senior year. Topics to be covered include the Senior Seminar role in the admissions process; submitting the application; timing and deadlines; sending scores; financial aid; and scholarships.

Cleveland Council of Independent Schools Financial Aid Night
Open exclusively to parents of seniors, this presentation will help parents understand the difference between need-based and merit-based financial aid. Specific attention will be devoted to how and when to complete the FAFSA and the CSS Profile.

September - May:

College Visits
Seniors are permitted up to 6 days for college visits. Students should reserve at least one day to attend their chosen school’s spring Admitted Students Day.

Download the 2023-2024 Lake Ridge Academy School Profile

College Admission Reps: Schedule a Visit

The Class of 2023 was accepted to the following list of colleges and universities:

Students will be attending colleges in bold

Academy of Art University
University of Akron
The University of Alabama
Allegheny College
Arcadia University
University of Arizona
Baldwin Wallace University
Ball State University
Barry University
Baylor University
Belmont University
Beloit College
Bethany College
Bowling Green State University
University of California-Davis
University of California-Riverside
University of California-San Diego
University of California-Santa Cruz
Canisius College
Capital University
Case Western Reserve University
University of Cincinnati
Clemson University
Cleveland Institute of Art
Cleveland State University
Connecticut College
University of Dayton
Denison University
Duquesne University
Eastern Michigan University
Elon University
Fordham University
Gannon University
George Mason University
Hamilton College
Hawaii Pacific University
Heidelberg University
Hiram College
Hobart William Smith Colleges
Ithaca College
John Carroll University
Kent State University
Kenyon College
Lafayette College
Lees-McRae College
Loyola University Chicago
Loyola University New Orleans
Manhattanville College
Marquette University
Mary Baldwin University
Maryland Institute College of Art
University of Massachusetts-Amherst
University of Massachusetts-Boston
University of Massachusetts-Lowell
Medaille College
Miami University, Oxford
Michigan State University
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Morehouse College
Oberlin College
Ohio Northern University
Ohio University
Ohio Wesleyan University
Otterbein University
Pace University
Pennsylvania State University
University of Pittsburgh
Point Park University
Pratt Institute
Purdue University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
University of Richmond
Rochester Institute of Technology
Saint Louis University
Sarah Lawrence College
Savannah College of Art & Design
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
School of Visual Arts
Skidmore College
Slippery Rock University
Stony Brook University
Syracuse University
The University of Tampa
Technologico de Monterrey
Texas A & M University
The George Washington University
The New School
The Ohio State University
University of Toledo
Transylvania University
Union College
University of Mount Union
University of Vermont
Washington & Jefferson College
Wellesley College
Wells College
Wittenberg University
Wofford College
The College of Wooster
Xavier University

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Other Class of 2023 Stats:

  • The 31 Lake Ridge Academy graduates garnered over $5.6 million in college scholarships
  • 68% attending a private school and 32% attending a public school
  • 58% attending a school in Ohio, 42% attending a school outside the state
  • 4 National Merit Scholarship Finalists, 4 National Merit Semi-Finalists, 2 National Merit Commended Scholar

See our History of Valedictorian and Salutatorian Matriculation

ALUMNI TRANSCRIPT REQUESTS

Alumni transcript requests can be made by completing this Transcript Request Form. Provide full information as to where the transcript should be submitted. Please allow up to one week for processing from the time of request.

Meet the College Counseling Team

Rhett Rybarczyk

Rhett Rybarczyk

  1. Director of College Counseling
[email protected]
(440) 327-1175 ext. 9173
Vanessa Butchko

Vanessa Butchko

  1. Coordinator of College Counseling
  2. Upper School Administrative Assistant
[email protected]
(440) 327-1175 ext. 9174