The Office of College Placement Offers Comprehensive Support Services Experienced Staff Addresses the Needs of Today’s College Applicant
Chaminade High School’s Office of College Placement continues to expand the support it offers all grade levels. New staff members have joined the team, including one position that is the first of its kind at any school in our region. Over the last 20 years, college tuition, inflation rates, and the cost of living here on Long Island have all increased markedly. Data from U.S. News and World Report indicate that tuition and fees for private
Mr. Matthew Kaplan ’97 advises students on applying Early Action.
universities have increased 168% over this period. Even the costs for in-state public schools have shot up a staggering 243%. To address this reality, Chaminade has added Mrs. Carolyn Bianco to its College Placement Team as a financial aid advisor. Specifically, Mrs. Bianco focuses on how need-based aid is determined, how to develop individual strategies to optimize need-based aid, and how to complete FAFSA and CSS/Financial Aid Profile applications. “This is an exciting time for students and parents, but with that excitement comes the reality of having
to pay for college,” she explains. “This may seem overwhelming, but preparing early is key, and I am happy to help in any way I can.” Mrs. Bianco is part of a College Placement Team that includes longtime college placement officer Mr. Robert Hazelton ‘82 and Mr. Matthew Kaplan ’97, Chaminade’s full-time college placement coordinator. Mr. Kaplan serves on several national counselor advisory boards and visits campuses throughout the United States, learning about the unique opportunities of each school. “The team and I encourage our students to research and visit schools, and so we practice what we preach. We visit campuses as often as we can, and we work diligently to maintain the valuable partnerships we share with these colleges and universities.” Working alongside Mr. Hazelton and Mr. Kaplan are full-time guidance counselors Mr. Nicholas Auriemma and Mr. Adam Giardina ‘03. Mr. Auriemma and Mr. Giardina lead College Prep 11 courses, advising juniors on standardized testing, Naviance management, and building a balanced, well-considered list of colleges to which they will apply. For seniors, Mr. Kaplan oversees College Prep 12, which focuses on the nuances of applying with strategy. Two recent additions to the team are Mr. Jarrett Armstrong ‘12 and Mr. Paul Meyfohrt. After graduating from Chaminade, Mr. Armstrong went on to receive an M.Ed. in Mental Health Counseling. Mr. Meyfohrt joins us from Greenwich High School (CT), where he served as a guidance, college, and career counselor for 14 years. Before that, he worked