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College Counseling
At Packer, the college application process is a highly individualized experience that puts students at the center of decision-making.
The goal of our three full-time College Counselors is to work with students to determine where they will flourish personally, academically, and socially. Beginning in 11th Grade, our counselors foster close partnerships with each student and family to identify colleges that fit their strengths and interests. Over several months, our counselors take a comprehensive approach to explore and identify each student’s specific preferences, including learning styles, desired courses and majors, student demographics, school culture, school size, campus setting, and geographic location. While students work directly with a single counselor, they benefit from the wisdom and support of the entire team, which deliberates on and collectively approves every senior’s final college list to help ensure a successful outcome.
More than 100 college admissions officers visit Packer each year, and students attend an annual fair attended by nearly two hundred colleges and universities. Our college counselors host substantive informational events for parents and students. They also offer workshops on college essay writing and interviewing and partner with Packer’s peer schools for informational events on financial aid, gap-year strategies, and specific programs of study such as engineering and fine arts. As our matriculation list below illustrates, Packer students attend a wide range of outstanding colleges and universities in the country and around the world.