升学前景 (Counseling)

The Director of College Counseling reports to the Director of the Upper School and is responsible for administering all aspects of the college search and admissions process, including the following: educating students and parents about colleges, the college admissions process, trends, procedures, and testing; advising and supporting classes of 30-50 seniors and families as they go through the process; and helping students and families aspire realistically and choose wisely. 

The College Counselor helps students and families in the following ways:

• Meeting with juniors and seniors, individually to talk about the process and their college choices.  The College Counselor also advises 9th and 10th graders on curricular choices as needed.
• Working with international students to understand US college admissions, especially aspects unique to them or their home country. Making sure all documentation is on hand at application time and knowing what the different requirements might be for international students.
  
• Scheduling visits and then meeting with all college admissions representatives who visit our campus, as well as facilitating meetings between college representatives and our students.  The College Counselor also serves as a liaison with college admissions offices throughout the year.
• Writing an official school recommendation for each senior. The College Counselor gathers information from personal experience and observation as well as from parents, teachers, school records, and students themselves.  The College Counselor also completes all college application-related paperwork, both online and on paper and prepares transcripts to send to the colleges.
  
• Keeping parents informed through emails and the North Cross website’s calendar about test dates, local college events, and college visits.
  
• Planning three evening programs per year to talk to parents and students about the admissions process, testing, and what juniors need to do to be ready to apply to college. Inviting at least one guest speaker per year.
  
• Maintaining and disseminating information about standardized tests such as SAT, ACT, and TOEFL, administering AP and PSAT exams, serving as AP Coordinator, and working with students and parents to provide testing accommodations as needed.  Administering the SAT twice per year on campus, and administering the ACT twice per year on campus.
• Being available to students and parents throughout school breaks, during the summer, in the evening and on weekends is important, especially around application deadlines and decision notification times. The College Counselor also needs to work in the office during the summer and be available to meet with prospective students and parents whenever necessary.
  

Director of College Counseling

Julie Aavatsmark
jaavatsmark@northcross.org
Director of College Counseling
Transylvania University—B.A.
Appointed 2006