College Counseling

Getting ready to begin the complex college search process can be intimidating for students and parents alike. Cardin's college counseling department is always working to provide students and families with the necessary tools to make informed decisions about their future through comprehensive, individualized guidance.

It’s true that Cardin's college counseling department expertly prepares students for entrance into some of the most selective universities and colleges across the country. However, our counselors are just as focused on helping students find their individual voice and use it to recognize their “best fit” post-secondary options. By doing so, students will be empowered to investigate their options by identifying schools that meet their academic, social, career, co-curricular, and personal aspirations. In addition, the college counseling department encourages students to explore the quality of Jewish life on college campuses as well as post-secondary options in Israel.

From the start, the College Counselor is the Cardin student’s advocate throughout their college search, providing guidance on college selection, serving as a link to college admissions offices, and supporting each application with a letter of recommendation. The counselor is also here to help minimize the student’s anxiety and confusion during this process, while helping students to realize that the ultimate responsibility for submitting forms, writing essays, meeting deadlines, and contacting colleges lies with them. To provide further support, Cardin students receive accounts at the end of sophomore year to sign onto the Cardin Family Connection page. This online portal helps keep track of important dates, college visits, and college search criteria.

In junior and senior years, students receive extensive support in all aspects of the college application process with emphasis on application completion, interviewing, essay-writing, evaluating potential schools, and financial aid and grant sources. Students begin meeting regularly with the College Counselor in January of their junior year. At that point, the entire family will also meet with the College Counselor to plan for the upcoming year. The Cardin School also hosts a significant amount of colleges and universities every fall for in-school information sessions.

The college search process can be complex but also extremely rewarding. Taking advantage of the resources offered by Cardin's college counseling department can help students gain direction and focus for success.

Hallie M. Schein
Director of College Counseling

Check out Ms. Schein’s college counseling blog: http://beyondthescores.blogspot.com/