During Grade 10, each Thaden student is matched with a primary college counselor – either Ms. Rodriguez, our Director of College Counseling, or Ms. Williams, our Associate Director of College Counseling. They are always available for individual meetings with students and families to provide personalized support during the college journey. This could include selecting courses, developing summer plans, and considering future aspirations. Students and families are always welcome to meet with a member of the college counseling team even before being assigned a primary college counselor in Grade 10. In addition, our college counselors are very involved in the life of our community and love getting to know students outside of the world of college counseling. 

At Thaden, students in Grades 11 and 12 take a weekly college counseling class that guide them through the college admissions process. Beginning in the second trimester of their junior year, these classes meet once a week for an hour. In Grade 11, the focus is on understanding the wide range of college options available, reflecting on their personal preferences and goals, and developing a list of schools to apply to. The classes extend into the first semester of Grade 12 and lead students through the application process, including the writing and revising of their college essays. By the time college counseling classes conclude, students are well on their way towards embarking on the next step of their educational journey.

At Thaden, we believe in empowering our students to make informed decisions about their future. To that end, we send Grade 11 students on college trips. Each student is part of a small group that travels to a city with a wide-ranging variety of colleges, ranging from small liberal arts schools and large public universities to specialized service academies and more. By touring different campuses and reflecting on them with their trip leaders, students begin to develop a clearer perspective on what they are looking for in their own college journey.