College Counseling

Strong and Self-Reliant

Canterbury provides its students with an outstanding preparation for success in higher education. This means giving students the academic foundation to meet the challenges they will face at some of the nation’s most selective universities. It also means supporting students with a personalized process of college advising that helps each find a college or university that represents an excellent personal fit. However, this is all just one part of a Canterbury education. At Canterbury, a combination of positive forces comes together to help you experience personal growth in a remarkable way. You will see the result in the form of the confidence, independence, and self-reliance you will gain here. Canterbury graduates are not just ready for college, they are ready for life.

College counseling at Canterbury combines experienced counselors, a strong individual focus, and persistent attention to detail.
Starting in Fifth Form (11th Grade), students meet each week in small groups and individually with their college counselors.

We are proud of our strong record for placing Canterbury graduates in outstanding colleges and universities. See below for lists of schools where our graduates have recently matriculated.

FIVE-YEAR COLLEGE MATRICULATION
2019 - 2023

CLASS OF 2023 COLLEGE MATRICULATION

Welcome from the Director of College Counseling

Step by step, from the initial college search to the taking of standardized tests, writing of the application essay and the final college choice, our Fifth and Sixth Formers enjoy the benefit of having a seasoned team of college counselors on their side. Our understanding of each student’s college goals, coupled with sage advice and attention to detail, ensure a successful and timely process.

At Canterbury, we pride ourselves on the individual attention each student and family receives. We feel strongly about helping students find the right fit for college and creating a supportive and informative environment for the college search and application process.

Sarah Ferland

Director of College Counseling

Frequently Asked Questions

What to expect from the College Admissions Process?

Beginning in February, Fifth Formers meet weekly in small groups and start meeting individually with their college counselor to begin formulating an initial list of colleges. During Spring Parents’ Weekend, we invite parents of Fifth Formers to College Day; parents and students attend workshops led by college admissions officers who address such topics as financing a college education, essay writing and college entrance criteria. Also on that weekend, Canterbury hosts a large college fair, featuring representatives from over 100 colleges and universities.

Soon after the beginning of the school year, the search and application process accelerates for Sixth Formers. Sixth Formers continue to meet weekly in groups and they also meet with their college counselor individually as often as needed.

Each October, the School hosts Canterbury’s College Night, which features a sit-down dinner for college admissions representatives, Sixth Formers, and Canterbury faculty members. After dinner, the students meet with the representatives at a small college fair. Throughout their child’s Sixth Form year, parents are kept up to date and alerted to deadlines through a College Office newsletter.

Our Third and Fourth Formers also hear from the college counselors, at a few select times throughout the year, to begin the conversation around the college process and help them frame their Canterbury experience, both academically and non-academically.

Do you host events?

Each year Canterbury hosts two major college programs on campus: College Night in the fall and College Day in the spring. College Night is a smaller program aimed at helping our Sixth Form students finalize their college lists and connect with representatives at the colleges to which they will apply, while College Day is a more broad program with many different colleges and universities, geared toward our Fourth and Fifth Form students as they explore the many types of colleges and universities available to them.

What does Canterbury do to help college applicants and their families?

We get to know each student and his or her parents as well as we can.
We help develop lists of appropriate colleges for each student and make educated estimates of admissions probabilities.
We keep students and parents informed about important deadlines, college visitors, and standardized test registrations.
Through phone calls and visits to college admissions offices we act as advocates for students.
We are available to parents, students, and advisors throughout the process for advice, counsel, and support.

To help accomplish these things and to keep growing professionally, we travel widely to meetings and workshops and work to keep lines of communication open with admission offices by hosting representatives at Canterbury, visiting colleges, and making phone calls.