College Counseling

No two students go about this process the same way, and whether a student brings a color-coded spreadsheet of college facts to a meeting or has no idea what a college campus even looks like, we navigate the waters together and find the right fit for each student's post-Tatnall years.

 

2024 - 2025 College Profile


Tatnall's Annual College Counseling Events

  • Senior College Night
  • Three yearly Junior College Nights
  • Financial Aid Night
  • Mock Admissions Night
  • Freshman/Sophomore College Night
  • Ten-session college program series for juniors
  • Senior essay and application workshops

Inside Tatnall's Ten-Session College Series for Juniors

Session 1: PSAT Return & Cialfo Introduction:

Students will receive PSAT scores from October and review the score report. They will also be briefed on the upcoming six months of College Counseling individual and group meetings and take a look at Cialfo (the web-based college counseling system we use).

Session 2: Get to Know Yourself/Self-Reflection:

Students will take assessments and complete questionnaires in order to better understand themselves as students, members of the community, and future college students. The information gained during this session will be discussed in the first individual meeting between student and counselor.

Session 3: Cialfo and the College Search:

Students will be introduced to various search functions of Cialfo (Tatnall's web-based college counseling system). With the help of Cialfo, college lists will be generated during the second individual meeting with the student and counselor.

Session 4: Autobiography:

Students will draft an informal autobiography used only for the counseling process. For many, this is the first time writing something personal, so it loosely prepares students for the personal statement/college essay.

Session 5: The College Visit:

Students will learn about a productive and effective college visit, including when, how, and where to visit.

Session 6: The Essay #1--It's role:

Students will be introduced to the college essay/personal statement and how it impacts a college application.

Session 7: The Essay #2--Brainstorming Topics:

Students will complete a series of exercises to help brainstorm topics for their college essay/personal statement.

Session 8: Choosing Teacher Recommendation Writers:

Students will be introduced to the role of teacher recommendations, learn how to select the most appropriate writers for those recommendations, and prepare to ask two academic teachers to write letters on their behalf.

Session 9: Essay Writing Workshops:

Students will attend one essay workshop in June, write a full draft of the college essay/personal statement, and hand it in to the college counselors for suggestions and edits before the senior year begins in August.

Session 10: Application Workshops:

Students will attend at least one application workshop in August to begin completing the Common Application.


We have always heard how amazing the college counseling program at Tatnall is, and living through it we were NOT disappointed! The counselors truly listen and take the lead from the students and their families guiding them and showing them different options, meeting them at their level and pace, educating everyone on live breaking news in the college world, and making themselves available anytime, anywhere and it is truly remarkable. The level of attention from these two incredible women is unbelievable. We are forever grateful for making this life-changing process as smooth and as enjoyable as possible.

Class of 2024 Parent


College Acceptances