Head of School Letter: The College Counseling Experience at Shorecrest

The first words of our Mission are clear and define our purpose: “Shorecrest is a college preparatory school.” In fact, we like to say that "Preparatory" is our middle name! There is the expectation that our students will learn, grow, and thrive throughout their educational journey on our campus, ultimately graduating and enrolling in their chosen institution of higher learning. Preparing for college means we both expertly guide families throughout the application process and ensure that our graduates have the skill set to excel once they are at college. Because we know that every child is unique, we focus our college counseling process on addressing the individual needs, hopes and dreams of each student and work to create an experience that supports the goals of each family.

The College Counseling Office (CCO) at Shorecrest assists families with the increasingly complex process of applying to college. Through a robust counseling program that begins in the Middle School, we help families make better-informed and thoughtful choices about academic preparation and co-curricular pursuits, which will play a critical role in their college application outcomes. The CCO’s goal is to support students in their Upper School experience by focusing on their academics, building strong relationships with their teachers and peers, and becoming deeply involved in the life of the School and the broader community—all of which contribute to success in the college process. 

As you can imagine, each graduating class at Shorecrest is composed of unique and talented students, and their varying aspirations lead to remarkably diverse and ambitious college choices. Last year our 87 seniors applied to 226 distinct colleges and universities. Following a highly personalized process, 84 graduates enrolled in 50 different schools located across 23 states, and an additional three students chose to take gap years before beginning their college education. Shorecrest is known nationally for its rigorous academic curriculum and extensive co-curricular program. View a comprehensive list of colleges and universities where Shorecrest students have been accepted over the past five years.

With four full-time college counselors who are available year-round, Shorecrest provides a robust menu of College Counseling programming, starting in seventh grade with The Shorecrest Advantage. Throughout all four years in the Upper School, there are grade-specific evening events (including First Year Foundation, Sophomore Strategies, Junior Journey, Senior Recharge and Senior Launch), most of which are open to all parents in the community. Unlike many other schools, we have a dedicated college counselor for ninth and tenth grade students and families. Individual meetings with families begin in the ninth grade as we help students build their academic and co-curricular profile and discuss their goals to ensure that they are most competitive and aligned for their college aspirations. Shorecrest has an informative college counseling web page and robust handbook. We also offer programs that focus on students pursuing arts and athletics in the college process, and the financial aid process. Each fall we host over 75 visits from college and university admissions representatives; and we are the site of the Annual HBCU (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) College Fair—the only event of its kind in the Tampa Bay region. Every year we also participate in the Tampa Bay Case Studies college event and we connect students and families with college representatives at the BAIS (Bay Area Independent Schools) College Fair held each October at the St. Petersburg Coliseum. 

Our four college counselors bring a wealth of talent and national experience to their profession. Director Myra Simpson sits on the Board of Trustees for the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC), the premier organization for college admissions. Our counselors have undergraduate admissions experience at a nationally-competitive performing arts conservatory and colleges/universities rated as "Most Competitive" by Barron's. In each of the last three years, CCO members have been selected to present sessions at the Southern Association for College Admission Counseling (SACAC) Annual Conference. All are members of the Association of College Counselors in Independent Schools (ACCIS). Their personal relationships with admissions officers from a vast array of colleges and universities allow our counselors to personally advocate on behalf of Shorecrest students.  

The focus of the College Counseling Office is to provide individualized support for each Shorecrest student and family with the motto of “We Guide and You Decide.” Looking ahead, all Shorecrest families are cordially invited to The Shorecrest Advantage: Exploring Shorecrest Upper School on Wednesday, October 15 at 7pm. During this virtual event, you will hear from members of the Upper School Administration and the College Counseling Office about the various academic and extracurricular opportunities available for students in the Upper School and the benefits of Shorecrest's comprehensive four-year college counseling program.

Join link: https://shorecrest.webex.com/shorecrest/j.php?MTID=m0d08fe0733fce505e03a908b517cccca

All the best, 

Nancy