The Four-Year Overview

At our private high school in Pittsburgh, college counseling is student-centered and begins in ninth grade—when the college counselors meet with students and parents to discuss a four-year overview of the student’s Upper School experience as it relates to the college process. College counseling culminates in an intensive college application process in the senior year, when WT’s knowledgeable and experienced college counseling team supports each student as he or she navigates the ever-changing college admissions landscape. Students of our private high school are encouraged to discover their passions, both academically and through their participation in extracurricular activities in the arts, athletics, leadership organizations, publications, or civic service. Preparing students to find their place in the 21^st century global community, WT’s counselors encourage students to take full advantage of the rich array of opportunities that WT offers.

Freshman Year

Parents and students are introduced to a wealth of opportunities at WT. Students are encouraged to focus on academics and exploring the numerous extracurricular opportunities available at WT.

In the spring, ninth grade students and their families are invited by our college counselors to an introduction to the WT College Counseling process.

Sophomore Year

All sophomores take the PSAT test in the spring. At Sophomore College Night, students and their parents gain a realistic perspective on the college admissions process. Standardized testing is discussed so that students can map out and prepare themselves for these required assessments. WT’s experienced counselors guide students to think ahead about the implications of their math choices, foreign language requirements, visual and performance arts options, and the City as our Campus requirement.

Junior Year

All juniors take the PSAT in the fall, and the College Board uses this score in its National Merit Scholars program; results are announced in the fall of the senior year. Students are challenged by a rigorous curriculum. They enlarge their community service skills in Model UN, Mock Trial, City as our Campus programs, student leadership opportunities, school publications, and more. The college process ramps up during junior year. Students are informed and advised about which standardized tests to take, and when, as their college aspirations begin to emerge. The required Junior Seminar in the second and third trimesters prepares students for the intricacies of the college process: interview and presentation skills, college essays, the “how-to” of visiting college campuses, introduction to the online SCOIR college planning system, approaches to list-building, letters of recommendation, and more. A Summer College Essay Seminar is offered which enables students to draft and polish college application essays before the start of their senior year.

Senior Year

For seniors, the college process is in full swing, and students receive ongoing, frequent, one-on-one guidance as they apply to college. They utilize the rich resources available through WT and hone their college essays while receiving expert feedback from both counselors and faculty members. In addition, students carry a rigorous course load during their senior year and continue their extracurricular activities, often moving into leadership roles, such as team captain, editor, director, and president of various sports teams, publications, drama productions, clubs, and student leadership organizations. WT’s College counselors guide students as they finalize their application lists; discuss various application options; offer technical support to students completing online applications; answer students’ questions as they arise during the college application process; advise parents throughout the college application process; write counselor recommendation letters; and counsel students about their choices once the university and college responses begin to arrive.