College Counseling

Academics

ACADEMICS

The college admissions process is an ever-changing one. Rocky Hill Country Day School keeps students and parents abreast of these changes while guiding students through a process of self-awareness and growth, and aiding them to be discerning decision makers, cautious consumers, and intrepid explorers as they identify colleges and universities that match their academic abilities and personal preferences, as well as their athletic, artistic, and leadership goals. Finding the right college or university is about “fit.”

Through individual and small group meetings, use of MaiaLearning software, face-to-face contact with college admission officers, and focused special events, students are empowered and encouraged to embrace post-secondary planning and to make informed decisions concerning their futures.

Info for Admissions Officers

To our friends in college admissions: until further notice all visits to Rocky Hill Country Day will be virtual. All visits booked in MaiaLearning will be posted, and reminders sent to students. It is possible that you might not see students show up to your sessions, AND that I will not be able to personally chat with you. For this I am very sorry. I do appreciate your hard work and value your time. Please follow instructions on this page to set up a virtual visit on MaiaLearning.

Jonah O’Hara

Director of College Counseling
johara@rockyhill.org

COLLEGE COUNSELING

The college admission process is exciting and dynamic. It can also feel hard to understand and wildly inconsistent. Rocky Hill Country Day School keeps students and parents abreast of these changes while guiding students through a process of self-awareness and growth, and aiding them to be discerning decision makers, educated consumers, and intrepid explorers as they identify colleges and universities whose values align with theirs, as well as their athletic, artistic, and leadership goals. Finding the right colleges is about “fit.”

Through individual and small group meetings, use of MaiaLearning’s online platform, face-to-face contact with college admission officers, and focused special events, students are empowered and encouraged to embrace post-secondary planning and to make informed decisions concerning their futures.

ACADEMICS

Jonah O’Hara

Director of College Counseling
johara@rockyhill.org

Info for Admissions Officers

All campus visits are booked through MaiaLearning, and reminders are sent to students. Please follow instructions on this page to set up a visit on MaiaLearning.

COLLEGE PROGRAMMING

College Readiness Workshop for seniors during the first 3 days of school
Host 75+ visitors from college admissions officers
Spring break college tours led by college counselor
College nights for 11th and 12th grade students and families
Financial Aid Night
Spring college fair in conjunction with Providence area independent schools
Regular college prep workshops for 11th and 12th grade students
Spring Essay Writing class during English period for 11th grade
Extensive individual essay and application review
Practice full-length SAT and ACT on campus
Official PSAT for 10th and 11th grade students
The State of Standardized Testing- live and via webinar
SAT and ACT prep courses on campus and via webinar
On-request student and family appointments for all
Course selection advising for all
9th grade parent workshop

COLLEGE VISITS

Throughout the year, college representatives come to Rocky Hill Country Day to showcase their offerings and talk to the students. This is a great time for students to ask questions and learn more about what college life is all about. We use MaiaVisits to schedule visits. College admission guests come during days and times when the maximum number of juniors and seniors will be free. This will include class meeting times, community periods, and other designated non-academic times.

TESTING AND TEST PREP TEXT

Standardized testing continues to be deeply scrutinized, and colleges are embracing test optional policies at a rapidly increasing rate. Nevertheless, we do prepare our students for the possibility that they might need test scores for their college of choice. We offer PSAT testing for Juniors, diagnostic SAT's and ACT's for sophomores and juniors, and in 2020, SAT School Day for seniors. In conjunction with our test prep partner, Summit Education, we offer winter and spring virtual and hybrid SAT and ACT prep courses. Students with approved accommodations for learning differences or physical handicap, will be provided those accommodations on all practice and official tests.

COLLEGE READINESS WORKSHOPS

Senior year at Rocky Hill Country Day begins with a bang! Seniors gather together during the first days of school for a three day experience that will get them firmly ahead in their college applications, and increase their confidence in their essays and college selections. A number of experts and guest speakers, many from college admissions and financial aid offices, will offer sessions.

Maia Learning allows students to explore, and then store, information that will lead them to a complete post-secondary plan with the aid of their college counselor and adviser.

MaiaLearning is a modern, dynamic, and responsive tool that grows with the needs of our school, our staff, and our students. It empowers and engages students in planning their futures through self-assessment, career exploration, college research, financial aid, and scholarships modules, as well as other tools. It keeps parents involved, and supports counselors by streamlining administration.