College Counseling

Guiding Students to Find Their Fit After High School

Colleges and universities are asking strategic questions about the future of learning. As a result, Mount Vernon intentionally fosters deep knowledge of science, cultures, and society; intellectual and practical skills; a commitment to personal and social responsibility; and the ability to apply learning to complex problems and challenges. With enthusiasm and devotion, the College Counseling team maximizes every Upper School student’s potential, recognizing their unique goals and aspirations.

Four Year Plan

Over the course of four years, our College Counselors cultivate strong relationships with every Upper School family, in order to find the optimal college fit for each student. Through academic advising, a significant amount of planning and preparation go into creating the blueprint for this customized, comprehensive, and collaborative process, as well as an individualized master plan for each student.

Freshmen

Grade 9

How does Upper School work?

The year for building a strong network and foundation.

Learning Strategies
Counselors work with freshmen to take inventory of what learning strategies work best for them and how to best maximize them in the classroom.

Game-Based Learning
Counselors use Family Feud style games to teach students about differences in the ACT / SAT, the college application process, and other counseling and college terms they need to learn in a fun and interactive way.

Sophomores

Grade 10

How do I get involved?

Exploring Opportunities for Deeper Involvement on Campus.

Atlanta Invitational Case Studies
Sophomore families participate in an invite-only mock admission process with 75 top colleges from around the United States to learn in-depth about how an application is reviewed for admission.

Counselor Assignment
At the end of the year, each family is assigned a dedicated College Counselor who will work with them throughout the remainder of your student’s tenure at Mount Vernon

Juniors

Grade 11

How do I make an impact?

Legacy Building and Creating vs Participating.

One-on-ones with your family’s college counselor
To kick off the one-on-one process, each student meets with his/her college counselor to begin mapping out his/her college process.

Customized College Search Guidance
All students receive a customized list of colleges to consider based on their individual passions, talents, and preferences.

National College Fairs and College Visits
On average, 120 colleges and universities will visit Mount Vernon in the Fall.

Seniors

Grade 12

How do I make an impact?

Legacy Building and Creating vs Participating.

One-on-ones with your family’s college counselor
To kick off the one-on-one process, each student meets with his/her college counselor to begin mapping out his/her college process.

Customized College Search Guidance
All students receive a customized list of colleges to consider based on their individual passions, talents, and preferences.

National College Fairs and College Visits
On average, 120 colleges and universities will visit Mount Vernon in the Fall.

2015-23 College Acceptances

Mount Vernon continues to expand its footprint with graduates accepted to schools such as Harvard University, Stanford University, United States Military Academy West Point, Barnard College, American University, University of California – Santa Barbara, Georgetown University, Swarthmore College, University of Colorado, Auburn University, Georgia Tech, and University of Georgia.

FAQ

Will my student have a dedicated college counselor?

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While the college counseling experience begins freshman year, all Upper School students will be assigned a college counselor in the Spring of their sophomore year. This will be the student’s counselor for the remainder of their Mount Vernon experience.

How many colleges and universities visit Mount Vernon each year?

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On average, 120 schools will visit with students in the Fall.

How many advanced placement courses are offered?

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15 Advanced Placement Courses are offered in the Upper School:

AP Biology
AP English Literature and Composition
AP Calculus: AB
AP Environmental Science
AP Calculus: BC
AP Government and Politics
AP Chemistry
AP Physics 1
AP Computer Science Principles
AP Statistics
AP Economics
AP US History
AP English Language and Composition
AP World History

Students can take no more than 8 AP courses during their Upper School experience. We find that most students take an average of 5 AP courses.

How much scholarship money, on average per year, are students awarded?

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Typically, each senior class has brought in $4-6 million (excluding HOPE Scholarship).

What percentage of students attend out-of-state schools?

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On average, 75% of students attend an out-of-state school (2014-2019).

Do students apply to schools outside of the united states?

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Yes. Students have or are applying to schools in Canada, China, France, United Kingdom, and Australia.

 

What are some notable scholarships and awards students have received?

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Morehead-Cain (University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill)
Jack Kent Cooke Scholarship
National Merit
Stamps Scholar (Georgia Institute of Technology)
Robertson Scholar Finalist (Duke University)
Jefferson Scholarship Semi-Finalist (University of Virginia)

Is there an assessment of my child's aptitudes and strengths?

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Yes. In grade 10, all students take a YOUscience assessment, which produces a 30-40 page aptitude report.

Where can I find the upper school core course catalogue?

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Where can I find the upper school electives course catalogue?

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Meet the Team

Each member of this team brings experience from the college acceptance side of the process, evaluating applications from all 50 states and around the world. Having made admission decisions, structured financial aid and scholarship packages, and shaped incoming college classes, their vast understanding of the college admissions system is a tremendous asset to our applicants.

Erin McCubbin
Executive Director of Student and Graduate Success

Aerial Dickerson
Associate Director of Academic and College Counseling

Ryan May
Associate Director of Academic and College Counseling

Alejandro Ramirez
Associate Director of Academic and College Counseling

Chief Admissions Officer

Kirsten Beard

We look forward to learning your story and sharing our school with you. Use the button below to schedule a time with us to start your Mount Vernon journey.