College Seminar and Special Events
During each college admissions cycle, Hill sixth form students point to essay writing as the primary cause of stress when completing applications. For that reason, our office encourages an early start when approaching the personal statement found on the Common Application. In our signature College Essay Writing Seminar, designed exclusively for fifth form students during Hill’s H-Term, students spend two and a half weeks brainstorming ideas, writing a first draft, and revising with help from college counselors and members of the English department who work together as instructors. Through several road trips to colleges and universities in the Philadelphia area, students also get an idea what a college tour looks like as they begin this journey. By the end of the term, students should have a solid essay to use or one they can continue to revise in the coming months.
College Seminar is a required once-a-week class in the winter term for fifth formers, taught by the College Counselors. This course covers a range of topics regarding the college process. In this course, students will develop a full understanding of the college process and their role within it. The beginning of the course focuses on outlining the variety of post-secondary opportunities available to students and ensuring that students understand the basic guidelines, terms, and structure of college admissions. Students are then given time to explore those options in a structured and guided way. Once this groundwork is laid, students can self-reflect about their ideal collegiate community, spend time reviewing their high school accomplishments, and set goals for the future. Topics discussed and explored are:
- College admissions terms
- Types of schools
- Developing a list
- Financial aid and scholarships
- Interviewing
- Creating and working on the sections of the Common Application
Throughout the course, students learn about and use the various tools and resources available in Cialfo. Cialfo features educational and data-based resources, and students can gain familiarity with the program as they continue using it as they move through the college application process. One of the greatest benefits of College Seminar is that it allows fifth form students to have regular contact with the College Counselors to build important and supportive relationships. It also gives students opportunities to ask questions more tailored to their individual process.