College Counseling
"Remember that it is not sufficient to have begun well; you must also persevere and finish with resolution."
- Cornelia Connelly
Alumnae, please contact Kathryn Langstine Gazso ’94 at k.gazso@holychildrye.org to request your high school transcript.
The words of Cornelia Connelly inspire the mission and practices of the College Counseling Office. At Holy Child, the College Counseling team provides an individualized approach to college counseling, supporting the personal, academic, and collegiate goals of every student from the first day of freshman year to graduation day.
Dedicated to engaging extensively with each student and her family, the team works to ensure that each girl applies to colleges that best suit her goals and abilities and subsequently chooses a college that will nurture her interests, empower her to be the best version of herself to navigate and succeed in a diverse, interconnected world.
Click here to review the Class of 2022 matriculation list.
College Visitors
Each year, nearly 100 college admission representatives visit Holy Child’s campus - both in-person and virtually - to meet with students. The College Counseling team develops relationships with college representatives to ensure they understand Holy Child’s academic program and extracurricular offerings.
Overview of College Preparation and the Application Process
Students at Holy Child begin the college preparation process on the first day of freshman year. The courses they take, the extracurricular activities in which they choose to participate, and the relationships they establish with faculty and peers are all part of the process. From the beginning, the School seeks to empower its students to engage in a rigorous academic program that is best suited to the student’s individual strengths and interests, learning styles, and goals. At each grade level, however, there are different challenges and expectations that students will meet as they progress through their four years of Upper School.
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During the first two years, students should focus not on the college admission process but on the college preparation process. This means that students should be focused on their academic progress and their community engagement. Freshman and sophomore years are a great time to take risks by trying new activities and classes whenever possible.
In her first two years, a Holy Child student will:
Enroll in a solid academic program that challenges her to pursue academic excellence and explore new subject areas whenever possible.
Get involved in extracurricular activities that she is interested in. This is a great way to demonstrate community involvement. When available, assume leadership roles.
Discover meaningful service in areas that she is passionate about.
Develop meaningful relationships with faculty and positive relationships with peers.
Monitor her presence on social media and be mindful of how she presents herself online.
Read! There is nothing more important than finding time to read beyond the classroom. Reading is essential to preparing for college and readying oneself for standardized testing.
Gain confidence interacting with adults in group settings, as well as one-on-one.
Use summer to pursue interests in service work, attend specialty courses, participate in sports camps, or seek employment. Demonstrating commitment, responsibility and passion are imperative to the college application process.
Students and parents will also take part in the following:
Parents are invited to an information session with the College Counseling Office to learn more about preparation and to have initial questions answered.
Grade 9 students will take the PSAT 8/9 in October.
Grade 10 students will take the PSAT in October.
This testing has no impact on the college admission process; it is practice for future standardized testing.
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With more time behind them than ahead of them, Grade 11 students should be thinking about whether or not they have taken advantage of the opportunities afforded them at Holy Child and in their Communities. Grade 11 is a time to become more deeply involved in those activities they have engaged in, seeking ways to be leaders in those areas, whether in or outside of school. Grade 11 students are challenged by more rigorous coursework and the college process officially begins in the second part of the year when juniors meet weekly with the College Counseling Office as a part of the College Guidance class. Counselors cover a range of topics, including creating a balanced college list, the college interview, SCOIR, the Common Application, and the college essay.
In Grade 11, a Holy Child student will:
Demonstrate a continued commitment to her academics.
Take the PSAT/NMSQT test in October. Students who perform well on this test may be eligible for the National Merit Scholarship competition.
Take a practice ACT in December to help determine whether they should take the ACT or the SAT in the spring.
Take the ACT or the SAT. We recommend that the first testing date be no earlier than March of junior year.
Attend an individual meeting with the college counselors.
Generate a balanced prospective college list. Students are expected to begin college visits in the spring or during the summer before senior year.
Before the close of school, ask two teachers to write letters of recommendation for the application process.
Students and parents will be invited to the following:
Junior and Parent College Night. This information session takes place in January.
Meeting with members of the College Counseling Office. Parents will be invited to make an appointment after their daughter's meeting.
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Finally, students have arrived in their final year at Holy Child. The fall of senior year will be full of challenges, as seniors must strive to balance their academics, extracurricular activities, and the college admission process. There is much expected of them, too, as they are the School's leaders. Senior year is not a time to put academics aside; colleges expect continued commitment to their academics.
In Grade 12, a Holy Child student will:
Arrive at school in September with a working draft of the college essay.
Meet with the college counselors to finalize college lists and devise an action plan for the application process in September.
Complete SAT or ACT testing by October for Early Action or Early Decision applications and November for Regular Decision applications.
Complete all applications by deadlines.
Update SCOIR with admission decisions and scholarship awards.
Submit a deposit to the selected college by May 1 deposit date.
Parents and students will be invited to the following:
Senior-Parent College Night in September
Financial Aid workshop in October/November
Highlights for the Class of 2021
26% of the Class of 2021, chose to attend Catholic or Jesuit colleges. These include College of the Holy Cross, Georgetown University, Santa Clara University, and Villanova University.
Colleges with multiple enrollments of Holy Child students are Villanova University (6); Cornell University, University of Richmond, and Santa Clara University with 3 each; and College of the Holy Cross, Fairfield University, Georgetown University, University of Connecticut, University of Michigan, and University of Wisconsin with 2 each.
The Class of 2021 will be attending 49 different colleges in 20 states plus the District of Columbia and internationally (Paris).
26% will be attending colleges in the South;
15% are enrolling at colleges in both the Midwest and Pennsylvania;
13% are heading to colleges in New England;
12% will be studying in New York State;
10% will attend colleges in the West;
7% will attend colleges in the Maryland/DC area.
24% of the class will be attending public universities, including some of the most competitive in the country: College of William and Mary; Purdue University; University of California, Los Angeles; University of Michigan; University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill; and University of VIrginia.
Members of the Class of 2021 will attend some of the most selective colleges and universities in the nation, including Cornell University, Georgetown University, Harvard University, Northwestern University, University of Southern California, Tufts University, Vanderbilt University, Vassar College, and Washington University in St. Louis.
3 students were recognized as Commended students by the National Merit Scholarship Program.
4 members of the Class of 2021 are recruited athletes and will be enrolling at Division 1 and Division III colleges. They will be participating in gymnastics, sailing, soccer, and swimming.
“My teachers love Holy Child just as much as I do. It is obvious they are truly passionate about working with us. They are always easy to talk to and the assignments and discussions are challenging and interesting.”
—Francie ’24