Helping high potential youth gain access into the most selective colleges and universities in the country
College Counseling
Why do we steer our scholars towards highly selective, private liberal arts colleges? Click here to find out.
Schuler College Counselors and program staff provide extensive college counseling services to scholars and their families. In an effort to expose scholars and parents to selective colleges, scholars tour colleges starting the beginning of their sophomore year and will visit roughly 20 institutions before their senior year. In addition, during the summer after sophomore year, every scholar is required to attend a 2-4 week summer college program. Schuler College Counselors meet regularly with each scholar and family to discuss schools that best match the scholar’s interests and academic ability. Scholars enroll in an 8 week ACT/SAT test prep course and participate in after-school college counseling courses culminating in a three day “College Admissions Boot Camp” that takes place over the summer after junior year. The College Counseling staff also facilitates sessions on the financial aid process and the transition to university life.
Schuler Scholars matriculate to private, competitive colleges and universities. Typical Schuler colleges enroll fewer than 10,000 undergraduate students and offer a liberal arts education. The SSP uses the Barron’s rating system and the Princeton Review ranking system to determine the best fit schools for Schuler Scholars. SSP schools fall in one of four categories: The Most Competitive (includes the Ivies, Stanford and the top liberal arts colleges), Highly Competitive, Very Competitive and Competitive.
For the 2011 Schuler Scholar Program matriculation summary, click here.
For a complete 2008-2011 matriculation summary, click here.
College admissions representatives interested in meeting Schuler Scholars at one more partnership school, please contact Robert Andrews at rob@schulerprogram.org.
Summer college program directors interested in partnering with the Schuler Scholar Program, please contact Kim Michelson at kim@schulerprogram.org.
For a list of summer programs with which the Schuler Scholar Program currently has partnerships, click here.
Click here to read Director of College Counseling Rob Andrew's latest thoughts on the college application process. His post focuses on Early Decision, deferment, and the personal experiences of Schuler Scholars as they apply to the nation's best colleges and universities.
Scholars with the Bowdoin College mascot
“Early Decision is the best thing that ever happened to me. There was no competition. The minute I walked on the campus, I knew Swarthmore College was for me. Before semester finals, I already knew that I was accepted into my first choice school. The most important thing I learned about the ED process was not to sell myself short. Don't tell yourself where you won't get in. Have confidence in yourself and let the admissions office make the decision. Apply to that reach school you don't think you can get into. For my school the percent accepted was practically doubled for ED applicants. I almost didn't apply because I doubted my ability to get in. That would have been the biggest mistake I’ve ever made.”
–Kandyce McConico, Swarthmore College ‘16
Scholar Spotlight: Torrie Bates
Waukegan High School, Class of 2009
Stanford University, Class of 2013
With a class ranking of 4/848, Torie finished strongly at Waukegan High School. In addition to her stellar academic performance, she was a three-sport athlete throughout high school and a JROTC cadet. These accomplishments (among others) helped her gain access to Stanford University. She is from a single parent (father) household and is a first generation college student. Read more.