College Counseling

Your freshman year serves as the cornerstone for your personal and academic growth. During these early, stage-appropriate conversations with your advisor and Academic Counselors, you will gain insight into: 

• The wide array of resources at your disposal

• Diverse academic options that Canterbury offers

• The significance of building an academic transcript that demonstrates steady growth and success

• The importance of developing effective study habits right from the start

• The right balance between studies, social time, and extracurriculars

• The value of feeding your curiosity through clubs, athletics, arts, or service

Our aim is to equip you with the tools and knowledge you need to fully leverage the Canterbury experience, setting you on a path toward academic and personal fulfillment.

In the spring of your sophomore year, you'll be introduced to the College Counseling team at Canterbury. Counselors will conduct sessions covering timely topics like standardized tests, course selection, and summer planning for activities that align with your strengths and interests. 

• You'll take the PSAT in October as an introduction to the test you'll retake during your junior year. Additionally, a practice ACT is administered in the spring term to prepare you further.
• You'll also have the opportunity to attend our on-campus college fair, featuring representation from over 100 colleges.

In your junior year, your path toward college comes into sharper focus. In January, you'll meet individually with your College Counselor to align your educational aspirations with suitable higher education institutions. You'll also begin to meet weekly in College Workgroup, a scheduled class embedded into your academic schedule.  

In College Workgroup, you will:

• Identify academic interests, majors/degrees, and potential careers

• Research and develop a balanced list of right-fit colleges

• Prepare for campus tours and interviews

• Schedule and prepare for standardized tests (e.g., SAT, ACT)

• Create an activities résumé

• Request letters of recommendation from faculty

The year's programming includes two on-campus college fairs with over 100 colleges, and guest speakers from college admissions offices.

Throughout this process, we encourage you to view college selection as an opportunity for personal and academic growth, while making the most of your Canterbury experience.

Our comprehensive college preparation process culminates in the pivotal moment of submitting your college applications. Through individualized counseling, weekly college workgroups, and real-world insights, we ensure that you approach this milestone with confidence, clarity, and a sense of empowerment—the necessary ingredients in letting your best self shine through in your application.

In your senior year, you continue to meet weekly in College Workgroup as well as one-on-one consultations with your College Counselor:

• To collaborate closely with you on finalizing your list of college applications
• To write and refine essays and personal statements

• To manage deadlines

• To guide you through the intricacies of the application and financial aid procedures, as needed

• To ready you for college interviews 

• To help you manage the waitlist situation, if it arises

• To deepen the understanding between you and your counselor for more personalized and nuanced decision-making

Other senior-year programming includes:

• A fall on-campus college fair featuring over 50 colleges, open to both juniors and seniors
• Guest presentations from college admission officers during Family Weekend
• Opportunities for college visits and re-visits to make well-informed decisions