College Counseling

This phase begins in the fall of junior year in our office, but we hope this is a natural part of student's lives and experiences at UHS already. 

November: A kickoff meeting with students and parents to frame our work.

January: Juniors complete a questionnaire for our office as well as an assessment called YouScience that gives them feedback about natural aptitudes and careers that align with them. We also begin a series of class meetings featuring speakers and researchers on college-related topics. These meetings continue throughout the spring semester.

January - February: First 1:1 meeting between students and their counselor.

Standardized test timeline planning.

Students begin to articulate what they are looking for in a college by completing a “College Research Rubric.” 

Some families want to begin thinking about visiting colleges over February or April break.  Please contact our office if you would like help planning these trips before the college process officially begins.

February - March:

The College Research Rubric frames our first family meetings, where students discuss interests and begin intentionally developing a list with their parents/guardians and counselor.  

Many students take their first SAT or ACT test.  

April:

Students create their first, very rough college lists, and have their second required meeting with their counselor.

May:

Students determine which teachers they would like to write their letters of recommendation and make those requests.

We offer a session for parents/guardians outlining general information about financial aid. 

We offer two workshops to support students in beginning applications – an essay workshop in June and an application boot camp in August. We also work closely one-on-one with students as needed to support their work and offer essay review throughout the application process.

August - October

We offer a series of required class meetings and optional drop-in sessions to support all aspects of the application process.

We meet individually with students and families on an as-needed basis.

Colleges and universities visit UHS to meet with interested seniors.

In early October, students tell us if they will be submitting an early application anywhere, and also give us a refined draft of their full college list.

In October we host a session on applying for financial aid, usually in partnership with other Bay Area independent schools.

November

Most early application deadlines are November 1 or November 15. The University of Caifornia application is due no later than November 30. 

Students work with their counselor to finalize their regular decision lists.

December

Final regular decision college lists are due early in the month.

Students receive early application responses mid-month.

January

Most regular application deadlines are January 1 or January 15.

December-February

Students receive decisions from schools where they applied in November. Please note that the application and choice phases overlap because of these deadlines.

April

Some students visit or re-visit schools before making a final decision about where to enroll.

May

May 1 is the common reply date – the date by which students must notify the school they have chosen and pay an enrollment deposit.

Transition programming on topics ranging from course selection, to nutrition, to housing, to laundry.