A Clear Path to College

The college planning process is a daunting, yet exciting experience. With the constant changes in education, the process has become increasingly difficult, requiring students to start sooner with their planning and work harder to meet their college goals. Here at Knox, we take the stress out of college planning.

Our Support System

The College Counseling office helps students identify their strengths and weaknesses, and uses that data to create their potential college list. As a team, the students and their counselor will determine the best fit based on their individual needs. Students are introduced to MaiaLearning as 9th graders and actively use the program to guide their college planning.

College Counseling is a collaborative effort between the student, counselor, parents and teachers. Everyone involved has a responsibility to uphold in order for students to reach the next level in their education. Students are encouraged to work hard both in and out of the classroom to reach their full potential so they can prepare a college resume that shows them at their personal best.

Preparing for Entrance Exams

Independent college counseling and infusions of test preparation skills into our curriculum assist Knox students in gearing up for the wide range of entrance examinations necessary for college applications. We support students through the registration process and offer classes to help students polish their test-taking skills, gain confidence in the test-taking process, practice for perfection, and more.

Students sit for the PSAT every spring starting in their 8th-grade year (PSAT 8/9, PSAT 10). As Juniors, students sit for the PSAT/NMSQT in October on the National Test Date. Additionally, students sit for the PreACT in the Winter of their Sophomore and Junior years. This offers our students ample opportunities to experience the two standards in college entrance exams before determining which test they feel more comfortable with.

For students requiring testing accommodations, the Director of College Counseling works closely with the Boost Department, alongside families, to ensure all paperwork is processed for approval.

The Knox School campus is an official test site to administer the SAT, making the testing process more convenient and comfortable for our students. We host the SAT in August, October, November and June – the recommended months for college-bound students to sit for the exam.

Selecting the "RIGHT" College

Starting in 9th grade, students are given access to MaiaLearning, a college and career planning platform. With MaiaLearning, parents, students, teachers, and the college counselor can be actively involved in planning and preparing for the college application process as a team.

MaiaLearning offers interest, personality and career intelligences profilers to help our students develop a strong grasp of their strengths and weaknesses and begin to build a future understanding of that data. Additionally, MaiaLearning makes career and college planning easy with benchmarks, searches, and planning tips.

With unlimited access to the program, the progress of our students is closely monitored and driven by the College Counselor to allow for a smoother application process during Senior year.

NCAA Readiness

NCAA potential athletes are screened for eligibility starting in 9th grade and work with their college counselor to continue on the best track to meet NCAA course requirements in addition to meeting our rigorous graduation requirements. Students and their counselor also work to ensure that the two course standards they are required to meet include courses that best prepare them for their future studies and careers.

The Counseling Department works with each NCAA potential athlete to ensure that they are registered on Eligibility Center and follow all the rules and regulations as stated in the NCAA Student Handbook. The student’s counselor is an avid advocate for them while speaking to coaches, NCAA compliance officers, and admission staff at the colleges looking to recruit them.

Due to the sensitivity of the NCAA rules, regulations, and requirements, our potential NCAA athletes meet with their counselor and coach(es) often to be sure everyone is included in the planning process and working together as a team.

The Knox College Counseling Experience

College Counseling is an online course using the Google classroom platform in conjunction with MaiaLearning. The course begins in 9th grade for all Knox students and continues until graduation. The college counseling office prides itself on its open door policy that encourages students to visit often if they have questions or concerns, need assistance with their schedules or college planning process, or just want to check in! This policy allows the counselor to get to know the student(s) very well, offering a great opportunity to better advocate for them in the application and recommendation process.

Getting To Know YOU

This year allows our young students to take some time truly getting to know who they are. What are their interests, strengths, weaknesses, dislikes? Interests, Skills, and Intelligence profilers give them a strong understanding of what makes them unique and successful with tips on how to build onto their abilities and use them to their benefit. Starting in ninth grade, students begin to build a personal brand that they will “sell” to the colleges in a few short years.

Additionally, Freshmen initiate various important documents that will be used in their college applications, including their course glide paths, activity sheets, honors and achievements, service records, and test score growth trackers. These forms will be updated yearly as our students continue to develop and grow with us.

Starting in late fall, our students begin reviewing the skills necessary to be successful on the PSAT 8/9 that they take in the Spring.

To Summarize:

  • Students complete interests, skills, and career intelligences profile to compile data on their strengths, weaknesses, and interests.
  • Students begin tracking their course selections, activities, honors, achievements, service hours and test scores.
  • Students meet with the college counselor throughout the year to check in regarding grades, assignments, and planning for the future year(s).
  • Students complete various test prep assignments for the PSAT.
  • Students sit for the PSAT 8/9 in the Spring.

What Your Future Requires

Using the information our students learned about themselves during Freshman year, our Sophomores begin looking into careers that best fit their interests and skills. As part of their planning process, students are required to research these potential careers to see what is required of entry level professionals and of those who are in the career life-long. As a result of their career research, they can continue to plan out the best classes to take for the duration of high school, which majors to pursue in the future, and which areas are in highest demand for those specific careers. Sophomores are also encouraged to seek internships or volunteer opportunities within these potential career fields to have a hands-on experience before making final decisions for their future.

In late winter, our Sophomores sit for the PreACT followed by the PSAT 10 in the Spring. They also attend our spring college fair to begin speaking with colleges that will support their future studies while showcasing their grades, activity and achievement resumes, and service hours.

To Summarize:

  • Students begin to research potential careers building from their profiles in 9th grade.
  • Students continue to track their course selections, activities, service, and test scores.
  • Students are urged to seek internships in potential career fields and work with their counselor to find strong placements.
  • Students complete various test prep assignments for the PSAT and PreACT.
  • Students sit for the PreACT in the Winter Term.
  • Students sit for the PSAT 10 in the Spring Term.
  • Students attend the spring college fair and meet with various college representatives.
  • Students attend Representative visits throughout the year on campus.
  • Students meet with their counselor throughout the year to check in regarding grades, assignments, and planning for the future year(s).

Preparing for and Choosing the “Right” Colleges

Juniors start the year preparing for the PSAT/NMSQT in October. After the exam, they shift their focus to prepare for the PreACT in the Winter, and the SAT/ACT in the Spring.

In addition to test prep, our Juniors gather the portfolio they’ve created the past two years learning about themselves and their future careers to begin an intensive college search. They start with a larger list of schools to explore and compare, in order to narrow down their choices. In the process, they practice interview skills and questions, attend our Fall and Spring college fairs, participate in visits from Representatives and attend open houses and tour dates at potential colleges.

By March, our students work with their counselor to register for their standardized exams (SAT/ACT/SAT II/TOEFL) and continue to prepare for these exams. By June, our students have a firm list of 8 or more colleges to which they will submit applications, and have already started working on their common application and coalition application essays in addition to any required supplements for their chosen schools.

To Summarize:

  • Students work with their counselor to register for the SAT/ACT/TOEFL.
  • Students sit for the PSAT/NMSQT in October.
  • Students engage in an intensive college search alongside their counselor and compare their results to limit their lists to schools that truly highlight their skills and potential.
  • Students participate in mock interviews to prepare for college application interviews
  • Students attend college open houses and tour dates.
  • Students attend our Fall and Spring College Fairs.
  • Students attend Representative Visits on campus throughout the year.
  • Students meet with their counselor regularly to prepare for standardized exams, track their progress on assignments, and plan for the future year(s).
  • Students continue to track their course selections, activities, service, and test scores.

It’s ‘Appening!

Senior year begins by registering for any last minute standardized exams (SAT/ACT/SAT II/TOEFL) and collecting all the necessary documents required for college applications.

Most of our students apply by or before November 15th. However, college counseling continues for the duration of the year to assist students in submitting supporting documentation (test scores, graded assignments, etc) and choosing the school to commit to by or before May 1st. Their counselor will also assist with financial aid documentation and the request for additional funds from their colleges or universities. Counseling for our seniors continues until final transcripts are sent to the selected university after graduation in June.

To Summarize:

  • Students work with their counselors to register for final SAT/ACT/SAT II/TOEFL exams.
  • Students attend the fall college fair.
  • Students attend representative visits throughout the year on campus.
  • Students finalize their activity/achievement/service resumes.
  • Students complete their college applications alongside their counselor with most applications being submitted before November 15th.
  • Students continue to meet with their counselor for financial aid documentation, requests for additional funds from a college, assistance with choosing a college, making the commitment, and planning for their new journey in college.

College Fairs

Each year, The Knox School College Counseling Office requires Junior, Senior and PG students to attend a series of online and site-based college fairs. Attending the college fair is one of the many steps that our students take in planning for their post-secondary journey.

Previous College Fair Attendees:

Wagner College
Lawrence Technical Institute
Adelphi University
Saint Anselm College
University of Connecticut
Pace University
Eckerd College
Moravian College
Centenary College
Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
Hofstra University
Elon University
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
Penn State University
Mount Saint Mary’s University
Emmanuel College

Savannah College of Art and Design
Nichols College
Curry College
St Johns College
St Thomas Aquinas College
Long Island University
SUNY Oswego
Johnson and Wales
The Sage Colleges
Kings College
SUNY Alfred State
Molloy College
Concordia College
Sacred Heart University
Marist College
UMass Amherst
University of Delaware

University of Iowa
Brandeis University
Simmons College
Rochester Institute of Technology
Gettysburg College
Binghamton University
High Point University
Lasell College
University of Tampa
Albertus Magnus
St Joseph’s University
Vaughn College of Aeronautics and Technology
Academy of Art Institute
Virginia Commonwealth
Trinity College
Nova Southeastern University