The Providence Country Day School is committed to preparing students for a lifetime of learning and leadership. The college counseling process, in which students and their parents participate collaboratively, supports the continuation of each student's educational journey. Determining what the next step should be is an experience that requires self-exploration, extensive research, maturity, risk-taking, good decision-making and ultimately self-confidence to make the final decision. No student should have to undertake this process without guidance and assistance from experienced professionals. Our College Counseling Office is committed to guiding students and their parents through the maze that is the college search process.

While formal college counseling beings in the junior year, the journey really starts as soon as the student enrolls and makes his/her first course selections, designed to create a strong and appropriately challenging academic program. Together with advisors, students begin to build programs—both academic and extracurricular—that reflect the breadth of their interests and depth of their commitments.

Our students receive guidance about course selection, standardized testing, and long-range academic planning. As juniors, they meet with the Director of College Counseling in multiple settings—individual meetings, family meetings, class gatherings, and special programs. During the spring of the junior year and the fall of the senior year, the students work closely with the Director to hone the list of colleges to which they will apply. They receive assistance creating applications and essays that will reflect their talents and achievements. Throughout the two years, the students and parents are invited to attend college fairs, participate in on-campus programs featuring college speakers, and meet with the 85 college representatives who visit PCD each fall.

Ultimately, the goal of our college counseling program is to help PCD students and their parents find the right college match.  We believe it should be an exciting and collaborative process—one that gives our students every chance for success.

Sincerely,
Kathleen Skiff
Director of College Counseling