COLLEGE GUIDANCE Nearly 95% of Long Trail students enter a four year college the fall after graduation. They attend an amazing variety of institutions of higher learning: highly selective liberal arts colleges, top-ranked research universities, colleges of music, women’s colleges, institutes focusing on science, technology, engineering, arts, and math (STEAM), as well as universities in other countries. The great success of Long Trail students in college placement is the result of their strong academic preparation and hard work combined with a highly personalized and supportive college counseling program. Since LTS has an average graduating class size of 25 students, the Director of College Counseling has the ability to truly get to know the strengths, interests, and aspirations of each student very well. The college search and application process at Long Trail School is then individually tailored to meet the needs of each student and family. Just as no two Long Trail students are alike, no two college searches or lists will be the same. It is this personal approach and connection that give Long Trail students such an advantage in the college admissions process. Long Trail realizes and appreciates that the college search and application process is not only a time for selfdiscovery and reflection, but often a time of increased parental and student anxiety. Long Trail’s personal approach helps to alleviate these stresses by ensuring parents and students have the information and preparation they need for a successful application process. From the start, our students are exposed to ideas and expectations that prepare them for their time after high school. Information about each student’s strengths, interests, and goals is gathered by our Director of College Counseling through standardized testing (PSAT, SAT, ACT), group meetings and discussions, and especially, formal, individual college meetings with students and parents. These meetings help students find their own voices and identify their personal academic and career interests. Together this information is used to identify for each student several colleges, universities, and postsecondary options which would be a great fit. Every year, Long Trail provides SAT and ACT test preparation, several college nights, workshops, and trips to regional and national college fairs to move students from the college search to application stage. Finally, we help students navigate through the application, financial aid, and scholarship processes in their 12th grade year. Long Trail strives to ensure that the college search and application process is an enriching and empowering experience for its students and families. SUPPORT SERVICES Long Trail’s Support Services Program provides a comprehensive range of individualized academic support services, accommodations, and self-advocacy skills that promote the full integration of students with learning differences into the mainstream college-preparatory environment. A Learning Specialist, an academic coach, provides guidance and scaffolding, but most importantly leads the student to a path towards independence, and is also a liaison with teachers when necessary. Students enrolled in the Support Services Program work with an individualized plan, and work one-on-one or in small groups to build skills with a variety of materials. Skills worked on include: • • • • •
Basic language skills: orthography (spelling), grammar, mechanics, and decoding Written expression: sentence variety, paragraph structure, and thesis formulation Reading comprehension: understanding text structures, vocabulary, textbook format, expository and narrative forms, preview text, inquiry, active marking of text, gleaning of main idea and supporting details, inferential reasoning, and written response Study skills: time management, management of resources, using a planner and calendar, scheduling of projects, note-taking, and test preparation Content support: support in English, science, social studies and world languages.
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