Students posing with college advisory stickers

College Counseling

Our College Counselors are experienced, well-trained, and student-centered. They are actively committed to providing comprehensive information, guidance, and support for both students and families as they explore the college selection and admission process. However, their primary role is to help students find colleges that are a good “fit” for them as an individual. A college where the student will thrive both academically and socially; and where they will be challenged to grow in new ways that prepare them for success after college.

With that in mind, our College Counselors stress the value of the college experience over name recognition and rankings. Students are encouraged to keep an open mind in the exploration process, by continually reflecting on what their own needs and preferences are, and by engaging actively in the process themselves. This includes investing time and energy into preparing academically, investigating options, visiting colleges, and completing the various steps in the application process.

Our robust and comprehensive college counseling program includes:

Annual Junior and Senior presentations (on the DLS campus) from college and university representatives from nearly 150 schools.
Information and guidance on the full range of post-high school options, including four-year colleges, community colleges, technical and vocational programs, gap year programs, and other possibilities.
Access to College Counselors by phone, email, and family meetings.

Seniors

Weekly mandatory College Advisory 7th period class
Individual meetings with every senior
Nuts & Bolts on completing College Applications (UC, CSU, Common App & Out of State) and supplemental material (letters of rec, essays, interviews, portfolios)
Financial Aid & Scholarship application process
Selecting a college and steps to enroll
Counselor letters of recommendation as requested

Juniors

Small group presentations with juniors
Individual meetings with every junior
Importance of academic and non-academic admission factors
Preparing for the PSAT; then interpreting the scores
College Exploration & Research; Visiting Colleges
Taking SAT & ACT exams
Optional College Advisory for Juniors

Sophomores

Intro to College Counselors & College Counseling
Admission Factors/Making the most out of high school
Introduction and preparing for the Practice ACT
Interpretation of Practice ACT scores
Classroom Workshop intro to Naviance & complete “Do what you Are”, a personality assessment

Freshmen

We believe that the primary college preparation for freshmen is to make a successful adjustment to high school. This includes doing well academically and becoming involved in activities that interest them. For this reason, there is no college counseling programming directed solely at freshmen. However, freshman students are welcome to come by the College Center (2nd floor of the Student Services Building), and parents are welcome to call or email the college counselors if they have college planning questions.

Freshmen families are also welcome to take advantage of the following programs that are open to multiple grade levels at De La Salle:

Student-Athlete College Night (October—in conjunction with the Athletic Department)
College Information for families of first-generation college-bound students (also offered in Spanish). This takes place in March every other year.
Planning Ahead to Pay for College (offered in March every other year)

College Information Nights

September: College Application Night for Parents of Seniors
Late September/Early October: College Financial Aid Night for Seniors
October: Student-Athlete College Night (hosted in conjunction with the Athletic Department)
Late January/Early February: College Planning & Academic Night for Juniors
March (every other year): College Information for Families of First-Generation College-Bound Students (also offered in Spanish).
March (every other year): Planning ahead to Pay for College.
April: College Preview Night for Juniors