Students and Parents

• Welcome to the Upper School!

• Take challenging courses.

• Attend the College Counseling Office's Jumpstart to College program. Learn what it takes to be successful in high school and beyond, and develop an overview for what colleges expect from a student.

• Actively participate in selected interests outside of class. If students are able to develop a high level of competence and passion in an extracurricular area, they should dedicate themselves to attaining true excellence in that pursuit.

• Start an activities list with all your extracurricular accomplishments

• Start exploring possible career paths that incorporate your interests.

• Parents are encouraged to attend the Paying for College seminar.

• Pursue an interest over the summer

• Continue to take challenging courses.

• Continue to explore possible college majors and career paths.

• Maintain participation in select extracurricular activities and add to your list.

• Consider taking on leadership roles in extracurricular activities about which you care deeply. 

• Take the PSAT and PreACT in October.

• Attend webinars with the College Counseling Office to determine the right testing timeline and exam for college.  

• Parents are encouraged to attend the Paying for College seminar.

• Consider summer volunteer opportunities.

• Attend the field trip to selected colleges campuses with the college counselors. Members of the Class of 2021 visited The College of New Jersey, Drexel University, and the University of Pennsylvania in the spring of 2019, then Lehigh University and Muhlenberg College in the fall.

• Attend college fairs and evening/weekend programs that make sense for the colleges you are researching. 

• Challenge yourself by registering for AP courses in subject areas where you feel confident for junior year. 

• Consider informal visits to college campuses over the summer.

The school code for Wardlaw+Hartridge is 311-230.  Students need to know this code when registering for College Board’s SAT testing, ACT testing and when applying to college.

Colleges will accept either the ACT or the SAT, and increasing numbers of colleges are now test-optional. (Check www.fairtest.org to see if the colleges that interest you are on the test-optional list). You will take both the PreACT and PSAT in October of your sophomore and junior years. With the help of your college counselor, analyze which test is best for you; then set up a testing calendar and a preparation strategy that will work for you. Your college counselor will help you do so.

It depends on how you have performed on your PreACT and PSAT, and how confident you feel about standardized testing.  Some students feel ready to take “the real thing” in the fall or winter of Junior year; others are better off waiting until the spring of Junior year for their first attempt, learning from that result, then taking the test again in the late summer or early fall of their Senior year.  Discuss what’s best for you with your college counselor, remembering that you will usually not need to present a score until November of your Senior year.  Further, given that more and more colleges are going test-optional, you may not need to present a score at all. Students should map out a strategy early on as to when they will take each standardized test, building in adequate time for preparation.  Talk to your college counselor about what’s right for you.

The single most important part of a student’s application is the transcript, which indicates what courses the student took and his or her final grades in those courses. Thus it is important that students undertake an appropriately rigorous course load and do their best in every class. Other factors considered (to varying degrees depending on the institution) include: demonstrated passion for learning, college entrance examinations, extra-curricular activities, leadership experience (inside and/or outside of school), teacher and counselor recommendations, the application essay, the interview (if applicable), special talents, socioeconomic background, and--in some cases--demonstrated interest, as well as--always--demonstrated understanding of why the particular college is a great “fit,” which applicants show through interviews and supplementary essays. Applicants should keep their lists to fewer than 12 colleges to be able to demonstrate understanding effectively.

As freshmen, you should prepare for college by taking challenging courses, working hard, reading often on a wide range of topics, and remaining committed to your passions and talents. Grow in leadership skills by initiating new activities or projects and by seeking leadership positions. Spend your time wisely throughout the school year and during the summer months; what you choose to do in your “free” time will tell colleges a lot about what you will bring to their campuses.

Colleges like to see that you spend your time doing something you value and consider worthwhile – something that will contribute to your growth and enrichment. Anything from a summer job to pre-college programs to community service to travel can become a significant experience, provided that you make the best of the opportunity, learn and grow from it.

A visit to campus will better enable you to determine if the college is a good fit for you, as colleges, like people, have different “personalities” as well as different programs. Preliminary visits can start early in high school, enabling students to begin to assess and prioritize the factors that play into decision-making, particularly in regard to campus size and environment. More in-depth visits should begin no later than spring of the junior year. Summer visits provide an introduction to the school’s programs and campus, and sometimes it is easier to get an interview slot at that time of year (if you are a rising senior). A return visit in the fall enables students to visit classes, talk with students and professors, and experience more fully what it might be like to be enrolled there as a student. Almost all colleges will offer an Open House or Visit Weekend in the fall offering this complete view of the college experience for prospective freshmen. These events go much deeper than the traditional information session and tour, and are geared toward juniors and seniors. It is important to note that many colleges track visits to campus in an attempt to assess a student’s level of interest in that college; a student’s “demonstrated interest” sometimes plays an important role in admission. A student’s “demonstrated understanding”-- shown through supplementary essays, interviews, and any interaction with a college representative--matters even more.

This answer depends on the level of selectivity at the colleges to which you are applying, as well as with regard to the major you are considering if you declare one in your application.  College admissions counselors at the most selective colleges have quipped, “It’s of course better to take the honors or AP class and earn an A!” They would definitely counsel you to take the more rigorous class, provided that it is appropriate for you to do so, even if it means a slightly lower grade in the end. Taking a less rigorous course load in the interest of protecting your GPA is not encouraged for students applying to highly selective colleges. All that said, students need to balance challenge with achievement and should discuss their course selections with their college counselor before making a decision. Remember that advanced courses like Honors and AP are meant to simulate the college classroom environment, so admissions counselors will look at grades earned in these courses as a baseline indicator of how you are likely to perform on their campus. Thus, if you tell a college that you intend to major in engineering, you better have rigorous courses in math and science, especially physics. If you even breathe the possibility of pre-med (which is not a major and does not need to be declared), your courses and grades in biology and chemistry will come under greater scrutiny. Business? Finance? Math! In the end, the college process involves a lot of elaborated common sense. When in doubt, ask your college counselor what (s)he recommends.

Not all colleges require interviews, but some do -- either by admission staff members or alumni. Others recommend but do not require interviews, and some do not offer interviews at all. It is important to be clear about what a college's interview policy is so that you can make whatever arrangements might be necessary. If an interview is offered, it is generally in your best interest to arrange for one. This is especially true if there are any special circumstances regarding your academic record that would be easier or more compelling to address in person. You also might want to ask if interviews are informational or evaluative; only in the latter case will the interview be considered as part of your application review. In either case, it is strongly urged that students conduct a practice or “mock” interview with their college counselor before sitting down for the real thing.

Early Decision

Early Decision is the process whereby a student makes a binding commitment to enroll at the institution where he or she is admitted. Students, parents, and counselors co-sign a contract that is submitted with application. Students may only have one Early Decision application at any time and will withdraw all other applications if accepted. Early Decision deadlines generally fall during the month of November; students should hear between mid-December and the New Year.

Early Decision 2

Early Decision 2 is similar to Early Decision except that the due date is later. ED 2 allows students more time to commit to one school and/or to build a stronger application. Students often receive an ED2 decision by February.

Early Action

Early Action allows a student to submit an early application and receive a decision well in advance of the normal response date without having to make a commitment to enroll at that school if accepted. Students may apply to other colleges and adhere to the May 1 national reply date.

Regular Decision

Regular Decision is the process through which an institution reviews most of its applications prior to notifying the majority of its candidates. Students are notified in late March or early April and have until May 1 to decide where to enroll.

Rolling Admission

Rolling Admission refers to the process through which an institution reviews applications as they are received; students generally receive an admission decision within six to eight weeks. Students may apply to other colleges and have until May 1 to send their deposit. Applying earlier to schools that have rolling admission can positively influence the admission decision.

Early Decision applications are recommended options only for students who have done their research early and thoroughly, and who are ready to commit to one institution, including financially. Remember that students may only submit one early decision application; the only exception to this is when a student is denied under one school’s early decision plan and chooses to apply to another school’s early decision plan whose deadline has not yet passed.

If a college offers a rolling admission plan, then yes, it is prudent to submit your application early; delaying the submission of your application may place you in a more competitive pool as the number of available spaces decreases. To that end, students are always encouraged to meet Early Action deadlines where available. These deadlines are non-binding, but still allow for priority consideration in the admissions process.

Students are sometimes tempted to apply to an excessive number of colleges, thinking that this approach might yield at least one acceptance at a most competitive college. However, a long list of applications generally suggests that a student has not done enough self-analysis or research and is approaching the process somewhat haphazardly. Moreover, it is nearly impossible to do a thorough and thoughtful job of visiting and preparing a dozen or more applications while maintaining high standards inside and outside the classroom. We want students to apply to no more than 12 colleges.

The financial aid offices at the colleges are often the best place. They can tell you what merit scholarships they may offer, what forms beyond the FAFSA (if any) are required, and information about how they typically package financial aid.

Registration guides for the CSS Financial Aid Profile can be accessed via the internet at www.collegeboard.org; the FAFSA can be accessed at www.fafsa.ed.gov. The Profile is available in the fall and the FAFSA forms are available online after October 1st of senior year.

Information about scholarships can be found outside the College Counseling Office, online at www.fastweb.com, and other online sources. Consider, too, parents' place of work, your church, township, etc. Be aware that most monies will come directly from the college you plan to attend.

The Wardlaw-Hartridge School has partnered with the SMARTTRACK® College Funding High School Initiative to provide our families with free resources to help you plan ahead and pay less for college. 

Click here to create your complimentary account. 

Most families are surprised to learn that with a little planning, they can significantly lower out-of-pocket college costs, maximize grants and scholarships, and minimize debt. We’re providing the SMARTTRACK® College Funding High School Initiative to assist our 9th-11th grade families with the financial piece of college planning. If you’re concerned that you won’t qualify for financial aid, haven’t saved enough, or don’t have an effective plan to cover the considerable costs of educating all your children, SMARTTRACK® can help.

The frustrating answer to this question is that there is no formula that one can follow to ensure acceptance into any given institution. Admissions professionals themselves acknowledge that the process is much more of an art than a science. The best advice is to pursue your passions, engage wholeheartedly in academics (both subjects you like and those you don't), and make an impact outside the classroom, too. In short, be active in the pursuit of your education and your passions.

The NCAA maintains a clearinghouse for recruiting and eligibility purposes. Students who anticipate being actively recruited for Division I or Division II schools should register to be certified as eligible recruits. Students wishing to register with the Clearinghouse must complete the Student Release Form which can be accessed through the NCAA Clearinghouse website (www.ncaaclearinghouse.net). As soon as you know you would like to play in college, you should plan to meet with the Director of Athletics and develop a strategy.