Spotlight on College Counseling

Similar to an iceberg, the college counseling process reveals little to the outside observer, but underneath is a vast network.

At McGehee, College Counseling is a long-term and highly individual experience, according to Headmistress Eileen Powers. "In 1998 we had one part-time guidance counselor whose job description included college counseling. I made it my focus not only to hire a fulltime college counselor whose sole job was to assist our students through this process, but also to educate our students and their families about the many opportunities available to them. After receiving an independent school education at McGehee, our graduates are capable of succeeding at our country's top colleges and universities. Our girls possess the leadership skills, academic acumen and athletic abilities that make them very attractive to selective schools. We presently have girls attending Princeton, Harvard, Brown and Middlebury, as well as Vassar, Washington and Lee and the University of Virginia."

McGehee's college counseling process is both a formal and individual process. Counseling is going on all the time and Ms. Jessica Henricksen, our college counselor, is available to meet with students during their free periods or after school. Our website is kept up to date with the latest list of colleges and universities visiting the McGehee campus and New Orleans metro area, articles from national sources, links to a vast array of resources, SAT and ACT test dates and deadlines, as well as a timeline of what to do when.

The college counseling process formally begins in freshman year as part of a year-long seminar entitled, "Empowerment: Taking Charge." Other topics broached in this seminar include financial literacy, study skills, and health issues, to name a few. Twice a year Ms. Henricksen meets with the freshman at the beginning of the year to explain the importance of their transcript and its development in the coming years.

During their sophomore year, students continue meeting with Ms. Henricksen in a similar seminar format. Since this is the first year the girls will take the PSAT, courses are offered through the school to help prepare them for these crucial college entrance exams.

Juniors meet with the college counselor on a regular basis. First semester the junior class meets as a group with Ms. Henricksen several times and then second semester they meet once a rotation in Junior Seminar. At Parents' Night, Ms. Henricksen holds a special gathering for the parents of juniors to introduce the process and initiate a meeting with the parents and student. Parents are given a questionnaire and the form is to be filled out by parents and returned to Ms. Henricksen before their January family meeting. The questionnaire not only helps Ms. Henricksen get to know the girls and their families, but it gets the families thinking about the choices to be made. Single sex or co-ed? Public or private? Large or small? Local or out of state?

Senior Seminar puts Ms. Henricksen and the girls together once a rotation, including a full day in October when they focus on finalizing all the paperwork for their college applications. In the spring, although the applications have long been completed and mailed, Ms. Henricksen continues to meet with the seniors to discuss issues such as financial aid, being patient as they wait for college responses, and weighing their options.
Please browse our College Counseling section of the website to learn more about the process.