College Advising: Expectations, Policies, and Ethics

Applying to college can seem a complex process, during which College Advising, students and families adhere to high ethical standards. While the process involves many details, primarily for students and for College Advising, we outline core expectations below that support the work. Note the largest set of responsibilities, below, belongs to the student, a predictor of college success and independence.

Expected of Seattle Academy students:

Students are the final monitors on all colleges deadlines and requirements, completing office/college assignments and meeting deadlines. Students and families research and meet financial aid requirements.
Checking first with teachers, students meet virtually or in person with selected visiting college representatives from colleges that seriously interest them and follow-up on outside opportunities to research and to interview.
Students secure teacher recommendations no earlier than May 1st and by June 15th, following College Advising instructions which include confirming for the College Advisor when teachers say yes.
Students submit a proposed college list to MaiaLearning by October 1st and alert College Advisor to any additions or changes to that list.
Students apply to more than one “likely” college (as estimated by College Advising) where admission and funding seem possible.
Students complete all applications in their final list in MaiaLearning, the completion of which (including likely schools) is used by College Advising to help predict (but not guarantee) overall outcomes. Eliminating schools from the list without first consulting with College Advising renders moot College Advising’s predictions. Students should delete an application only after first checking with College Advising. College Advising only sends documents to colleges listed in (and by deadlines in) MaiaLearning.
Students (and sometimes families together) register for standardized tests, only if taking them, and later arrange to have scores sent to colleges after checking the specific strategy with College Advisor.
Students confirm the receipt of each application, giving colleges a week or two to process documents.
Students keep college advisors aware of developments in their college plans, and confirm for College Advising the outcome of all applications.
Students do their own application work, accurately reflecting their life and record, and working with College Advising to answer any discipline questions honestly if asked.
Students must commit to one school by May 1st of 12th grade unless required early under a binding Early Decision plan and not engage in so-called “double depositing” (sending commitments by May 1st to multiple colleges) which is both unethical and could jeopardize admission at the schools where they have sent commitments.

Expected of College Advising:

College Advising guides students toward best-fit colleges that both challenge them and give them choices.
College Advising counsels families but does not tell students where they can or cannot apply, or where they should enroll.
College Advising continues to push students toward high quality applications that are the students’ own work and students’ ultimate responsibility to submit.
College Advising writes for each senior a supportive, confidential letter of recommendation, sent to colleges along with similarly supportive teacher recommendations, the Seattle Academy school profile, the most current transcript, a final first trimester transcript, and other materials as arranged by student and advisor.
College Advising follows the expectations of the National Association of College Admission Counseling.

Expected of Seattle Academy families:

Families support their student(s) in the college selection and application process, establish necessary collaborative dialogues with college advisors and teachers, and make college applications the student’s project as much as possible.
Families are well served by reinforcing College Advising in its efforts to counsel Seattle Academy applicants, especially as regards a varied college list, and supporting an ethical approach to college admission.
Families emphasize student independence, good mental and emotional health, and ethical decision-making.
Families must support commitment to one school by May 1st and not engage in so-called “double depositing” (sending commitments by May 1st to multiple colleges) which could jeopardize offers of admission at each school where they have sent commitments.
College Advising’s goal is for each student to follow to College Advising’s advice, especially regarding the national admission landscape and admissibility within it. Students will hopefully refine and communicate their honest and vivid identities, take healthy approaches, and treat one’s self, classmates, teachers, family, and College Advisors positively and graciously throughout. Ultimately, students should graduate from Seattle Academy proud of one’s academic and co-curricular résumé, of one’s interpersonal relationships, and of the work necessary to apply to a diverse selection of good-fit colleges.