Academics
Counseling Center
College Advisement
Notre Dame School strives to facilitate each student’s human, spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growth in a warm, nurturing environment.
College Advisement
College Advisement
The Notre Dame School Counseling Department has its own website dedicated entirely to the college application process as the information is extensive. Students may use the site to learn all about applying to college. It includes links to learning the important steps of the application process, applying for scholarships, and registering for standardized tests. Students will also find other great resources from the counseling office, including information about internships and after-school programs. To visit the Counseling Department’s website, CLICK HERE!
Notre Dame School Uses Naviance
Naviance is a comprehensive college, career and life readiness solution that helps districts and schools align student strengths and interests to postsecondary goals. All students are introduced to naviance in 9th grade during their counsel classes. Some of the features students explore in 10th and 11th grade are:
College Lookup: This research tool provides comprehensive information on thousands of colleges. In addition to general and admissions information, further data is presented on academics, cost and financial aid, student body characteristics, extracurricular and athletic programs. A link to each college’s website is provided.
College Search: Enter criteria such as size, location, cost, availability of specific majors or athletic programs, and students can produce a list of colleges that meet their criteria.
In senior year, Naviance is used as a communication tool for counselors and teachers to the student’s colleges. We send information such as the school profile, transcript and letter of recommendation.
ND’s Three Counselors Guide Each Student All Four Years
9th Grade Goals:
- Ability to identify resources within their school community
- Make new friends with their peers
- Take advantage of opportunities both inside and outside of school
- Join a club/sport/activity that they enjoy
- Be comfortable with collaborating with teachers and asking for extra help
- Go outside of their comfort zone
- Think about how they spend their free time/summers
- Begin thinking about meaningful community service
9th Grade Counseling Class:
- Introduction to High School
- Identifying Resources
- How to make the most of high school
- High School expectations
- Notre Dame School Curriculum
- “Get to Know You” Group Assignments & Activities with peers
- PSAT 8/9- Introduction to the test & review.
- PSAT DAY IN OCTOBER
- Introduction to Naviance (College & Career Exploration)
- Self Esteem, Mental Health and Growth Mindset
- Time Management & Motivation
- Study Skills
10th Grade Goals:
- Exposure to both the PSAT and Practice ACT
- Navigate interest areas when considering a college major
- Commit to club/activity/volunteer activities that shape a students identity
- Begin researching colleges, visiting a college if possible
- Starting to think about AP courses
- Continue working hard in their classes, attending academic centers, building relationships with their peers and teachers
- Plan to have a productive summer
Sophomores complete a Career Exploration Project/Portfolio designed to help them explore potential careers, understand the educational and skill requirements for those careers, and plan actionable steps toward achieving their goals. This project will culminate in a portfolio that showcases their research, reflections, and plans for their future.
The portfolio includes the following components:
- Reflection on personal interests, strengths, values, and skills and consider how these traits align with different careers.
- Comparing careers based on factors such as job responsibilities, education/training required, salary range, job outlook, and work environment.
- Identifying colleges, universities, or training programs that align with chosen careers. Including admission requirements, programs offered, campus environment, and other relevant details
- Outlining steps to achieve your career goals. Like coursework, extracurricular activities, internships, certifications, and other experiences and explaining how each step will bring you closer to your chosen career.
During Junior Year, Group Counseling Classes Are Focused On Teaching Students What To Look For In A College.
We take a very hands-on approach to the college process working with students one on one with all aspects of the college application. We also host a variety of parent nights to keep them informed about the process.
Starting after Christmas break, students will dive into college prep through classes that cover:
- Building resumes
- Completing the Common App
- Developing a balanced college list
- College interview preparation
- Registering for the SAT/ACT
- Completing the Student Reported Academic Record (STAR)Begin crafting the college essay
Counselor Meetings: Individual counselor meetings will begin the week after February break -Special Planning Sessions With Their Counselors Help Them Develop A List With Approximately 20 Colleges to research in the Spring.
12th Grade - Senior Year:
- Unlimited College Meetings With Counselor
- Senior College Classes Where We Cover:
- Completing the Common App
- Financial Aid
- Sending Sat/Act Scores
- Naviance And Common App Review
- STARS Report for 11th and 12th Classes
- What To Expect On Campus
- Financial Aid Night In The Fall for Parents
Over 60 colleges visit Notre Dame to recruit our seniors and actually interview them at ND. Favorite college visitors from over forty schools include representatives from: Columbia University, Carnegie Mellon, College of the Holy Cross, Fordham University, Lehigh University, Marist College, University of Scranton, University of Notre Dame, and the University of Pennsylvania.
During the second semester, we await the college decisions and celebrate the positive responses from some of the nation’s top colleges and universities. We are always impressed with our students’ accomplishments as we post scholarship awards that match the seniors’ hopes and dreams.
Our enrollment is at full capacity, and 100% of our graduates are accepted to four-year colleges and universities. Over 94% of graduates over the last nine years have been awarded academic scholarships towards their undergraduate program.
Standardized Examinations: The Major Types of College Admissions Tests
- PSAT/NMSQT: Preliminary Scholastic Aptitude Test/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test
- SAT: Scholastic Aptitude Test
- ACT: American College Testing Program
- AP: Advanced Placement Tests
We host a variety of parent events such as Introduction to the counseling center in 9th Grade, 10th Grade College Night, 11th Grade College Night, Senior Financial Aid Night, SAT VS. ACT webinar, Paying for College Webinar and Various UK Admission webinars.
Notre Dame School of Manhattan
Accreditation
Notre Dame School is a member of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools and the Parents League of New York. Notre Dame is accredited by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), and New York State Association of Independent Schools (NYSAIS).
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