Laurel Springs School Offers a Unique College Prep Experience

Laurel Springs’ College Prep Helps Students Succeed

Laurel Springs is a private, accredited online high school that offers a comprehensive array of core academic courses as well as electives required to graduate and gain admission to premier colleges and universities. Our upper school curriculum includes course options designed to challenge students’ critical thinking skills and prepare them for the difficulty of collegiate academics. We promote an environment conducive to collaboration. Students foster relationships with our teachers, their peers, and college counselors to help prepare them for the next step in their academic journey.

College Graduates Have Higher Long-Term Earning Potential

A 2017 study by the U.S. Department of Labor revealed that the median earnings for an individual with a bachelor’s degree are almost 65% higher than the median earnings of someone with merely a high school diploma. Coincidentally, employers are increasingly making a college degree a prerequisite for their open positions. In 2020, 65% of the workforce will have college experience, and 35% will have attained at least a bachelor’s degree, according to an analysis by the Georgetown Center on Education and the Workforce. For that reason, earning admission to a college or university is vital to your long-term career outlook. Laurel Springs School prepares students for the college experience by encouraging the development of critical thinking and exceptional reading and writing skills while also exploring academic passions.

Laurel Springs’ Counselors Specialize in College Prep

Laurel Springs’ upper school counselors play an instrumental role in the college prep process for our students. Our credentialed professionals cultivate lasting relationships with our students as part of their online school experience. Our college counselors provide grade-level specific seminar courses to enhance the college preparatory process. Among the skills taught during the seminars are how to prepare for standardized tests, proper time management techniques, and college and career planning practices. During scheduled meetings throughout a student’s school year, the upper school college counselor, student, and their family create and maintain an academic plan tailored to individual talents and educational goals. These plans can be modified to ensure each student is meeting his or her learning goals in preparation for college admissions requirements. Factors considered include honors or AP curriculum, as well as courses approved by the NCAA for student athletes, and University of California for UC and CSU a-g college admissions requirements.

Laurel Springs Offers a College Counseling Program

In addition to academic counseling, our upper school college counselors help students to navigate the college admissions process and prepare for each step of the progression, including college entrance exams, building a balanced college list, completing admissions applications, and choosing the right college. Our college counselors also craft letters of recommendation in support of each student and share resources to help students obtain scholarships and financial aid. Furthermore, each counselor is well-equipped to guide students with a wide range of goals, from those hoping to pursue college athletics to those who intend to apply to public universities and everyone in between.

Laurel Springs’ Curriculum Prepares Students for College

Courses are designed to promote interactivity between online and offline assignments. This dynamic approach teaches students time management and discipline principles that will be pivotal in a college learning atmosphere. Our online upper school classes are suitable for varying learning styles among college-bound students who wish to hone their ability to apply ideas creatively. Our elective courses serve as a foundation for students to establish unique, well-rounded educational experiences as they explore subjects including forensic science and international business. Additionally, we offer an assortment of Advanced Placement (AP) classes, meaning graduates have the opportunity to earn college credit before they begin their college careers. Furthermore, Laurel Springs offers University of California a-g courses. Students who plan to attend a UC institution will receive guidance from our Counseling Department to ensure they are set up to meet the UC a-g admissions requirements.

“At Laurel Springs School, I was able to take AP classes while at the same time pursuing extracurricular activities which helped me to realize my passions and stay on track for my future.”

– Zola Berger-Schmitz
Laurel Springs Class of 2015
Emory University Class of 2019, Robert W. Woodruff Scholar

 

Laurel Springs Will Assist with SAT and ACT Prep

A student’s performance on college entrance exams such as the SAT or ACT is an essential factor for college admission. Many colleges and universities require a score from one of these tests as part of the application process. The standardized tests are designed to assess one’s scholastic aptitude and college readiness. Our staff at Laurel Springs is well-equipped to prepare students for the rigor of these assessments. We will provide guidance and information to help each student understand what to expect and how to approach the SAT or ACT. Our students’ SAT and ACT scores regularly exceed the national average, which is a testament to their readiness as a result of tools provided through the upper school and its educators.

Laurel Springs Assists Students with College Admissions Essays

Another critical element of a college application is a written essay, which is often required as part of the admissions process. It is important not to overthink this portion of the application. Our college counselors will coach students on how to approach their admissions essay to ensure it is thoughtfully crafted to address the prompt and that it shares meaningful information that will highlight their positive traits, unique voice, and strengths that will help college admissions officers know they are a strong candidate for admission. Laurel Springs’ counselors will proudly help students to brainstorm and perfect their essays before submission.

Laurel Springs Counseling Department Provides College Admissions Guidance

Choosing which college to attend is one of the most consequential decisions that a high school student will make. He or she must consider a multitude of factors because the choice will significantly impact the academic experience and ultimately, the career opportunities available upon graduation. Laurel Springs’ Counseling Department assists students as they weigh the considerations that go into such a monumental decision. Among the items to contemplate when building a college list are academic major areas of study, geographical location, school size, career and academic support services provided, and the cost of tuition. By using a student’s preference of these elements as the basis for a college search, our counselors will help students narrow the list of potential colleges to a manageable number on which to focus.

Categorizing Potential College Choices

Once a student has narrowed his or her list of preferred colleges, it is best practice to separate those schools into three categories: reach, match, and safety. Reach schools are considered those that a student’s academic qualifications are below the average accepted student’s qualifications, and have the most selective acceptance rates. Match schools are institutions to which a student has academic qualifications that mirror that of the average accepted student’s profile, and therefore a reasonable expectation of being accepted. Safety schools are those that a student’s academic qualifications exceed the academic profile of the average student who is accepted. Our counselors will help students determine which schools fit into each category based on the students’ individual academic profiles.  They will also ensure that students enter the college application process with a balanced list of schools to which they will apply.

Helping Students Organize College Applications

Applying to college is a multi-step process that requires attention to detail and keen organizational skills. During the process, our counselors at Laurel Springs are students’ allies to ensure that everything remains in order. We will help keep track of deadlines and specific requirements for college applications while helping students deliver transcripts, school reports, and letters of recommendation to prospective schools. After students submit their applications, Laurel Springs’ counselors will further assist by providing information about how to follow up with the schools to which students have applied.

Directing Students to Pursue Their Passions

It is never too early for students to start thinking about an intended college major or career. If a student knows what he or she wants to study, it will help determine which schools may be the best fit for them based on the programs offered. Laurel Springs’ college counselors will work with students individually to explore their interests and skill sets to determine prospective college majors and careers as well as the earning potential for different careers. By directing students toward their passions, it will help ensure that they remain committed throughout their time at college and gain valuable experience to prepare for their life’s goals.

Laurel Springs Provides Resources to Help with College Financial Planning

Attending college is one of the most substantial investments an individual will make in his or her lifetime. Between the cost of tuition, books, room and board, and other factors, it can be an overwhelming expense. Laurel Springs college counselors help educate students about financial planning for college and guide them toward resources to apply for scholarships, federal aid, and various loans that will ease some of the pressure associated with paying for school.

Laurel Springs Students Are Prepared for Postsecondary Success

We equip our students with the skills necessary for a successful transition to the next step in their academic and professional journey. We are aware of the types of skills and experiences universities covet in applicants and have tailored our curriculum and college planning strategies to meet these expectations.  Laurel Springs’ diverse student body results in different admissions statistics for each graduating class.  Our students are comprised of those who may be college bound, living domestically and internationally, who may be accelerated learners, student athletes, performers, and pre-professionals.  Each year, rising graduates are accepted to over 300 different colleges and universities around the world, including small and large private and public colleges and universities, top tier universities, research institutions, liberal arts colleges, and visual and performing arts colleges and conservatories. At the same time, many of our rising graduates choose to attend two-year colleges and vocational schools, take a gap year, or enter directly into a professional field or military service.  We subscribe to the model that there is a best next step for each of our students an part of our partnership with our students and their families is helping them to identify and attain the skills, knowledge, and resources necessary to follow the selected paths. We encourage student and parents to view our School Profile for a partial list of college acceptances updated each year, as well as our College Bound Pinterest Board highlighting the institutions where our graduates choose to matriculate each year. An education from Laurel Springs uniquely prepares students to succeed in their preferred educational and career endeavors.

College Acceptances

Below is a partial list of colleges and universities to which Laurel Springs’ students have been accepted:

• American University
• American University of Cairo
• American University of Paris
• Amherst College
• Arizona State University
• Auburn University
• Bard College
• Bennington College
• Berklee College of Music
• Boston College
• Boston University
• Brandeis University
• Brown University
• Brigham Young University
• Bryn Mawr College
• California College of the Arts
• California Polytechnic State University
• California State University, All Campuses
• Carleton College
• Carnegie Mellon University
• Clemson University
• College of William and Mary
• Columbia University
• Columbia College, Chicago
• Connecticut College
• Cornell University
• Dartmouth College
• DePaul University
• Drew University
• Drexel University
• Duke University
• Emerson College
• Emory University
• Eugene Lang College
• Fashion Institute of Technology
• Florida State University
• Franklin College (Switzerland)
• Fordham University
• George Mason University
• George Washington University
• Georgetown University
• Green Mountain College
• Goldsmiths, University of London
• Hampshire College
• Harvard University
• Hofstra University

• Hunter College
• Indiana University
• Jacobs University Bremen
• Johns Hopkins University
• Juilliard School
• King’s College London
• Lafayette College
• Leicester University (UK)
• Lewis and Clark College
• Loyola Marymount University
• Loyola University, Chicago
• Loyola University, New Orleans
• Macalester College
• Manhattanville College
• McGill University
• Middlebury College
• Moscow State Academy of Choreography
• Mount Holyoke College
• Mount St. Mary’s College
• New England Conservatory
• New York University
• Northeastern University
• Northwestern University
• Occidental College
• Ohio State University
• Otis College of Art and Design
• Oxford University (UK)
• Pace University
• Pennsylvania State University
• Pepperdine University
• Princeton University
• Purdue University
• Randolph-Macon College
• Rice University
• Royal Academy of Music, London
• Sarah Lawrence College
• School of the Art Institute of Chicago
• Scripps College
• Smith College
• St. John’s College
• Stanford University
• State University of New York, All Campuses
• Stetson University
• Swarthmore College
• Syracuse University

• Texas Tech University
• Tulane University
• University of Arizona
• University of British Columbia
• University of California, All Campuses
• University of Colorado
• University of Connecticut
• University of Delaware
• University of Edinburgh (UK)
• University of Florida
• University of Georgia
• University of Illinois
• University of Iowa
• University of Kansas
• University of Kentucky
• University of Maryland
• University of Massachusetts
• University of Miami
• University of Michigan
• University of Nebraska
• University of North Carolina, All Campuses
• University of Oregon
• University of Pennsylvania
• University of Rochester
• University of San Francisco
• University of St. Andrews
• University of Southern California
• University of Texas
• University of Toronto
• University of Utah
• University of Vermont
• University of Virginia
• University of Washington
• University of Wisconsin
• Vanderbuilt University
• Vassar College
• Villanova University
• Virginia Commonwealth University
• Virginia Tech
• Washington State University
• Wake Forest University
• Watkins College of Art, Design, and Film
• Wesleyan University
• Williamette University
• Yale University