Academics

College Counseling

College Counseling at the Willows Academy is an entire program that assists students and their families through the college search and admission process. It starts in the Ninth Grade and continues to the Twelfth Grade. We offer individualized attention to students at every step of the process. The goal is to help students examine their future and life goals.

DISCOVER

Program Highlights

The College Series

The College Series is an annual three-part program designed to help parents and students better understand the college admission process led by financial aid and college admissions experts.

Test Preparation

We are dedicated to helping our students prepare for these tests and reduce their stress levels. To achieve this goal, we provide two prep opportunities for the SAT and ACT.

College Counseling Live Chats

Families can attend 40-minute zoom sessions throughout the year from the comfort of home that cover specific college topics.

Lunchtime Visits

College representatives from around the country visit Willows Academy to share their insights about their schools, the application process, testing, and much more.

Key Features

Willows Academy offers a personalized college counseling program that starts with freshman year and intensifies during junior year, culminating with the college decision senior years. We believe that the college process is unique to each student, and our small size allows for a more individualized approach. The counselor-student ratio is small, which provides more time for mentoring and individual assistance.

9th & 10th Explore

8th Grade Step-Up to High School Program
9th & 10th Grade College Nights: Freshmen and Sophomores are prepared for the steps in the college search and admission process.
Holistic Approach: At this stage, students are encouraged to develop strong study habits, focus on academic achievement, and increase extracurricular involvement.
Test Preparation: All sophomores take the PSAT in October with the juniors.

Juniors Prepare

Kick-Off to College: Juniors and their parents learn about college admissions during an introductory presentation.
College 11: This second semester course is designed to prepare students for the college application process.
Lunches with the Counselor: Juniors set individual meetings with the counselor after meeting in groups of friends to provide a more relaxed and comfortable introduction to college counseling.
Essay Writing Workshop: Led by representatives from either the University of Chicago or Xavier University, this annual workshop discusses the ins and outs of writing a strong application essay.
Testing: All juniors take the PSAT in October. Willows is proud of our historically strong performance, which has produced several National Merit Finalists and Commended Students.

Seniors Apply

Application Mania: Additional time in school and outside school hours to help students fill out applications.
College 12: Seniors attend a weekly seminar to learn about the college selection process, write essays, and become experts at navigating the Common Application & Naviance systems.
Individualized Mentoring: Students meet with the College Counselor in one-on-one
sessions to discuss goals and possible college choices.
Testing: Willows provides programs with reputable companies to offer students extra assistance in preparing for standardized tests as well as two prep opportunities for the SAT and ACT.
Preparation for College: We provide a personalized approach, guiding each senior through the application and decision-making process. By the end of high school, our Eagles are ready to “soar” at some of the finest institutions across the country.