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University College Counseling

Valley International Academy provides a four-year academic and college planning program.  The counselor is available to meet with students regarding academic, college or personal issues.  Students will meet with the counselor on a regularly scheduled basis. However students are welcome to request an appointment any time they have a question or concern.  Parents and/or guardians are welcome to meet with the counselor throughout the year as well.  Below is an outline of our four-year college planning process:

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Freshman Year

The focus of college counseling during the freshman year is to ensure students get off to a good start academically, learning the basics of college planning, setting goals and a plan for reaching those goals.  During the freshman year, the college counselor spends time getting to know the students on a personal level to understand the student’s strengths and areas of growth.  The counselor will work with students on several key areas during the freshman year.

  1. Getting to know the student
  2. How to ask for support when needed
  3. Establishing academic patterns for success
  4. Goal setting for the future
  5. Introduction to community service
  6. Pursuing interests
  7. College planning basics
  8. PSAT 8/9 testing
  9. Scheduling

Sophomore Year

The focus of college counseling during the sophomore year is increasing awareness of college planning and preparation.  The sophomore year is a great time for students to begin researching colleges, to consider their strengths and weaknesses when considering college majors, and to get more involved in school and the community.  The counselor will work with students on several key areas during the sophomore year.

  1. Increasing awareness of college planning
  2. Updating goals
  3. Looking at personal and academic strengths and weaknesses when considering college majors
  4. Getting involved – finding the right niches for students
  5. College application process
  6. Summer activities to enhance college applications
  7. PSAT
  8. Subject II tests
  9. Scheduling

Junior Year

The focus of college counseling during the junior year is multi-faceted.  It is time to not only cement a student’s place in the high school but a critical time for college preparation.  The counselor will work with students on several key areas during the junior year.

  1. Getting the year off to a good start
  2. Building relationships with teachers
  3. Extracurricular involvement
  4. Community Service
  5. Leadership
  6. Academic preparation
  7. College preparation
  8. Standardized testing – SAT, ACT, TOEFL
  9. College visits
  10. Summer activities to enhance college applications
  11. Researching colleges
  12. PSAT
  13. Scheduling

Senior Year

The focus of college counseling in the senior year is the college application process and getting ready for graduation.  The college counselor will be meeting frequently with students to discuss their college plans and their progress towards those plans.  Throughout the year, there will be opportunities for seniors to interact with college representatives, to visit local college campuses, and to attend workshops to help them apply for college.

  1. Testing for the Fall
  2. Applications
  3. Workshops available to students
  4. College representative visits
  5. College essays
  6. Letters of recommendation
  7. Financial aid
  8. How to prepare for college
  9. SAT or ACT
  10. Resources at the college site
Testimonials
“Applying for colleges obviously can be a stressful task. Yet, at Valley International Academy (VIA), students don’t have to worry about doing their applications without any useful advice or help. Due to the small population, the graduates can easily approach our resourceful counselor Mrs. Filios. As a senior, I sincerely appreciate her patience and time. She’s informed me many resources regarding my interest and answered my questions. With her support, I successfully submitted my applications and supplemental materials in time. For standardized tests, our experienced math teacher Mr. Porper taught us some techniques that helped us to get higher test scores. In VIA, the preparation for colleges is like crops grown in rich soil with more advantages and possibilities”.
Rachel, Class of 2018