Growth experiences available to students at Episcopal are found in every area of campus life. This journey of personal exploration culminates in our students finding their passions and strengths, which ultimately helps them select a college or university.
Episcopal believes that successful college decisions start with a student who is well informed and actively involved in the college search process. Therefore, college preparation begins during the 8th grade year. Supportive counselors serve as personal guides on the journey through course enrollment, testing, applications, and the selection process. Counselors help students develop a balanced college list that meets their unique needs and fits their desires for life after secondary school.
Episcopal offers support in multiple ways, including College Counseling Beyond the Basics seminars for parents and students on a range of topics such as financial aid and making the most of a college campus visit. College counselors visit Freshman Seminar classes several times during the year to guide students on how they can prepare for the college admission process by challenging themselves to learn as much as they can through academics and extra-curricular interests. Students interested in pursuing athletics or the arts in college are supported by a collaboration between coaches or arts instructors and college counseling staff. The school also welcomes hundreds of college admissions representatives to campus for students to meet with individually or in small groups. A full college fair with admissions representatives from colleges around the country is available to students every February. Seniors attend College Application Kick-Off in August to get a strong start to the year as they work on applications and more.
Students and counselors meet one-on-one throughout the application process. ESJ counselors have years of experience in the field; are knowledgeable about hundreds of colleges so they can assist students in finding the right match; and make ongoing efforts - through tours and other professional events - to keep in personal contact with admissions officers at colleges around the country. Counselors advocate for individual students as well as for the school as a whole, ensuring Episcopal is recognized for the strength of its curriculum and its impressive graduates.
Make a Successful College Choice
Our Five Year Program
Discovering your strengths and challenges are all a part of the balanced experience Episcopal offers students. This journey of personal exploration ultimately culminates in finding the right college or university.
Episcopal believes successful college decisions start with the student who is well informed and actively involved in the college search process. Therefore, college preparation begins with a meeting for parents during the student’s eighth-grade year. A supportive staff of counselors serves as personal guides on the journey through course selection, testing, application, and selection process.
Episcopal offers support through our College Counseling Beyond the Basics seminars for parents and students on a range of topics, Application Camp at the beginning of senior year, and one-on-one meetings throughout your years at Episcopal.
These one-on-one meetings establish an important rapport between counselor and student. Our counselors are knowledgeable about hundreds of colleges so they can assist students in finding the right match and make an ongoing effort – through tours and other professional events - to keep personal contacts with admissions officers from colleges around the country.
College Counseling Timeline
Students Pursuing Athletics or Arts in College
Athletes
Students who are interested in competing in collegiate level athletics will be supported and advised in the pursuit of that goal. The college counselors initiate conversations about college athletics with student-athletes and their families as early as the ninth grade. The college counseling office works hand in hand with coaches and advisors to identify university programs that are a good fit from competition, academic, and culture standpoints. Each year, approximately 20% of our seniors go on to compete at the collegiate level. Our college counseling office prides itself on staying current with NCAA eligibility standards so that our Episcopal student-athletes are ready to compete when they arrive on a college campus. Every year we send students off to a variety of colleges in many different sports.
Fine Arts
Students who want to continue their artistic passions beyond ESJ are encouraged to first speak directly to their arts instructor concerning their interest in pursuing arts at the college level. Fine and performing arts programs at different universities can vary vastly, in terms of both admission requirements and program strengths. Teachers will collaborate with the student, parents, and the college counselors to make sure that information is flowing between all parties involved. Additionally, ESJ Fine Arts and College Counseling co-host informative meetings for students and parents who would like to learn more about the process, including information for auditions and portfolio preparation.