Beyond Gunn - College Counseling at The Frederick Gunn School

Beyond gunn College counseling

Don’t worry. we’ve got this.

When you look back, you will agree that just about every aspect of your time at The Frederick Gunn School prepared you well for college — and for life beyond Gunn. Boarding school life is 24/7, so from the moment you step foot on our campus, you will be supported by our academic, co-curricular, and residential life programs while our four-year College Counseling program, outlined on the following pages, helps you to settle in, build your purpose, define your own journey, and get ready for what’s next.

We develop an individual college strategy for each student that empowers them to take control of their journey. It starts with a rigorous and personalized academic program and strives to inspire a deep individual passion that will help you stand out in the college application process. Dedicated College Counselors provide individualized attention to students and families, helping you to navigate the complex and dynamic college admissions landscape.

We’ll make sure you take the right tests at the right time, gather your letters of recommendation, compose great essays, and schedule your college visits. We’re here to help you, just as we’ve helped thousands of Gunn students and families through the college process before. We are here to help you succeed.

We know what it takes.

program highlights FIRST YEAR PROGRAM

Our First Year Program is a multifaceted approach to guiding students during their transition to high school. The program eases the step up to high school by strengthening study skills and establishing wellness disciplines. We will help you develop the tools and provide you with the support to be the strongest student you can be.

MY GUNN PORTRAIT

Designed to organize a student’s portfolio of work ­­— ­ ­from the classroom, to character development work, to their Junior Speech — My Gunn Portrait helps each student to craft a unique narrative as they approach the college search process. This organizational tool empowers students to keep track of all their accomplishments, making it easy to assemble their story when the college application process arrives.

COLLEGE ESSAY WORKSHOPS

At the end of junior year and again at the start of senior year, students work in partnership with our English Department and College Counseling Office to craft a personal statement and supplemental essays. Classroom time will be allotted for this work towards the end of the junior year, allowing students to further refine their writings over the course of the summer with an expectation of completing this work at the beginning of senior year.

COLLEGE SEMINAR

All students are enrolled in the College Seminar led by our College Counselors, beginning in the winter of junior year and continuing into senior year. This biweekly seminar, supplemented by a biweekly individual meeting, provides structure and guidance around the application process for seniors, ensuring that a proper focus is applied to the timely work required in the lead-up to submitting applications in the months ahead. >>>>>>>>>>>>

PARTNERING WITH THE CENTER FOR CITIZENSHIP AND JUST DEMOCRACY Our College Counseling Office intentionally connects with

programs across the entirety of our campus, yet no example illustrates this more than the work done with our Citizenship and Just Democracy (CJD) curriculum. Through this four-year program, our College Counselors meet with 9th grade students soon after they arrive on campus to begin a conversation about how a Gunn transcript is presented to colleges, and to establish the foundation that will promote an intentional set of experiences at Gunn.

Partnering with CJD is a continuous process that intentionally drives moments of self reflection, helps a student identify personal values that are put into action, and ultimately helps build a narrative that will set a student apart in the college application process.

FAMILY WEEKEND SEMINAR

All families have an opportunity to connect with our College Counseling Office during Family Weekend Seminars to learn about our approach to the college process. Hear from leading college admissions officers about the application process during the fall, and participate in our mock admissions committee during the spring, where you will have hands-on experiences reviewing transcripts, personal statements, supplemental essays, and letters of recommendation that are typical of a student’s application. Led by our College Counseling team, you will learn firsthand how college admissions teams review applications and start to understand the importance of always working to make your application stand out.

We’re with you every step of the way It is the dedicated role of the College Counseling Office to help our students and their families navigate the complex, dynamic, and ever-changing college admissions landscape, from standardized testing and preparing a list of schools to visiting college campuses, completing applications

12th

and writing essays.

11th 10th 9th

The college search process is a nuanced and individual one, however, there are certain steps that all students typically take along the way.

FOUR-YEAR PLAN >>>>>>>>>>>>

9th Grade: settling in

Unpack your room and take a deep breath.

Start making lifelong friends.

9

Embrace our

First Year Program.

Learn about tools and

support that allow you to be the strongest student

Commit to always

learning and pursuing

academic excellence.

you can be.

Comfort

Build your study habits.

Pursue

new interests.

Step out of your comfort zone.

Partner with your advisor to build

an appropriately

challenging academic schedule for your sophomore year.

1.0

10th Grade: building purpose

Commit to being the best version of yourself in the

classroom and across our campus. Your GPA and

campus involvement are key components of your college application

Consider taking the PSAT in October. It’s not sent

to colleges, yet offers a

glimpse into your strengths and challenges for future standardized tests

Ensure that your

academic schedule is

purposeful and aligned with your

personal narrative.

This will set you apart .

Stay involved in your co-curriculars.

Identify a few that mean the most to you and might be leadership

opportunities to pursue in your future.

Attend College Counseling

Research some colleges

events on campus to

and start exploring what

begin understanding the

type of schools might be

composition of a

the right fit for you.

college application.

0 11 11th Grade: own your journey Your college search

process formally begins with the assignment of a college counselor

Juniors take the PSAT

in October and a practice

ACT in December. ACT and SAT tests are offered on

Join your family to hear from our

College Counseling team at Family Weekend

in the fall.

campus in the Winter and

Identify co-curricular

Students begin 1-1

Parents join 1-1 meetings

areas of interest and

meetings with College

with students and

pursue a few of them with

Counselors during the

counselors during

greater conviction than

Winter Term.

the Spring Term.

Attend college fairs

Select

Spring Terms.

in October.

ever before. college

College Counselors

present a list of colleges

for consideration during the winter and again in June.

and meet with any of the 100 college

representatives visiting our campus.

two teachers to write

recommendations for you.

12

12th Grade: ready for what’s next Participate biweekly in our College Seminar class,

where our team will guide you through the

application process.

Essay

Customize your

supplemental essays for each college —

another way we help you to stand out with your application.

Finalize a personal

Our College Essay

Workshop is here to help

you with all of your writing requirements.

Consider taking the ACT

or SAT again so that you

can Superscore your test if you plan to submit it

with your application.

statement that will allow you to stand out.

Showcase your interests

and passions in a concise and compelling manner.

Review your college

acceptances and make an enrollment deposit

by May 1.

2

VISIT

colleges our counselors

“

We are with you every step of the way. This is what we tell our students.

From the moment they set foot on campus, the College Counseling Office is committed to empowering students to take charge and actively participate in their Frederick Gunn School experience. From course selection to personal essays, our dedicated team executes a personalized counseling process for every student.

“

”

- Kate McMann ’05 Director of College Counseling

AMHERST

DARTMOUTH

NORTHWESTERN

BROWN

HAMILTON

UCHICAGO

BUCKNELL

JOHNS HOPKINS

SWARTHMORE

CARNEGIE MELLON LAFAYETTE

VASSAR

COLGATE

LEHIGH

VILLANOVA

COLUMBIA

MIDDLEBURY

YALE

CORNELL

NYU

. . . to name a few

100 +

COLLEGES THAT VISIT GUNN

The Frederick Gunn School played a pivotal role in my college process, and I most likely would not be where I am without them. My advisor kept me extremely organized in order to complete all of my requirements on time, and I had many, as I was doing college auditions along with college applications. I honestly could not have asked for a better experience with the College Counseling Office.

”

- Audrey Richards ’23 New York University, Tisch School of the Arts

ATHLETICS About 25% of our students pursue college athletics each year and each of our College Counselors are uniquely qualified to guide families through this process. The application process for an athlete can be different in important ways. Our College Counseling team and athletic coaches are here to help you weigh programmatic fit, eligibility assessments, communication strategies with college coaches, and other unique considerations that emerge in a student-athlete recruitment and application process.

Our College Counselors and athletic coaches are here to help with: Gathering recommendations for Division I, II, or III programs that best align with the athletic and academic interests of a student Adhering to NCAA recruitment policies, rules, and timelines Navigating the NCAA Eligibility Center and ensuring that you are meeting course requirements Understanding athletic-recruiting rubrics in conferences such as the Ivy League and NESCAC Crafting strategies for communicating with coaches Developing highlight video strategies

Cialfo Each student will receive a CIALFO account in their junior year to assist students and families in managing the college application process. CIALFO is a web-based program that students and parents use in researching and planning for college. Students can check the status of college applications, review our recent history with individual colleges, learn when college admissions representatives are visiting campus, and research information about academic, athletic, and extracurricular programs at individual colleges.

Financial aid In support of helping students and families understand how to finance a college education, we have partnered with SMARTTRACK. The free platform provides resources that can help significantly lower out-of-pocket costs, maximize grants and scholarships, and help pay for college in a more tax-advantaged way. In partnership with the College Counseling Office, SMARTTRACK hosts two webinars throughout the academic year for our families.

Student outcomes FRED Repeat Freshman

Three-sport Varsity Captain

Guest appearance - Winter Musical Contributor to Music Program (bass)

Head Tour Guide, Head Prefect, Gray Party

CIVIC CHANGEMAKERS Created a civil discourse podcast where local political leaders were interviewed to help identify solutions to ease tense PROJECT: partisanship during COVID-19.

MARY Four-year Senior Boarding Student

Passion for disability advocacy

Field Hockey, Head Tour Guide, Gunn Scholar, Co-Founder of the First Aid Club

Independent Study: The impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on infectious disease

CIVIC CHANGEMAKERS Created a nonprofit organization to raise awareness and advocacy for people living with disabilities during COVID-19.

PROJECT:

DANIEL Entered as a Sophomore

Utilized Center for Academic Excellence

Football, Model United Nations, Judaic Society, Gray Party

Keen interest in politics and social justice

CIVIC CHANGEMAKERS Pursued passion for politics and policy making by interning for a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.

PROJECT:

ABIGAIL Four-year Senior Day Student

Fall Play, Winter Musical, Vocal Ensemble (four years)

Head Tour Guide

Organized and led weekly dance club that became a co-curricular program

CIVIC CHANGEMAKERS Volunteered at a local nursing home, providing music therapy for Alzheimer’s patients.

PROJECT:

A • C C S C S S S L H C U P I I U I • S T I • O S

AMHERST COLLEGE• BARD COLLEGE • BABSON COLLEGE • BENTLEY UNIVERSITY • BOSTON COLLEGE • BOSTON UNIVERSIT • BOWDOIN COLLEGE • BRANDEIS UNIVERSITY • BROWN UNIVERSITY • BRYN MAWR COLLEGE • BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY CARNEGIE MELLON UNIVERSITY • CASE WESTERN RESERVE UNIVERSITY • CLAREMONT MCKENNA COLLEGE • COLB COLLEGE • COLLEGE OF THE HOLY CROSS • COLLEGE OF WILLAM & MARY • COLORADO COLLEGE • COLUMBIA UNIVER SITY • CONNECTICUT COLLEGE • CORNELL UNIVERSITY • DARTMOUTH COLLEGE • DENISON UNIVERSITY • DICKINSO COLLEGE • DREXEL UNIVERSITY • ELON UNIVERSITY • EMERSON COLLEGE • EMORY UNIVERSITY • FAIRFIELD UNIVER SITY • FLORIDA STATE UNIVERSITY • FORDHAM UNIVERSITY • FRANKLIN AND MARSHALL COLLEGE • FURMAN UNIVER SITY • GEORGIA INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY • HAMILTON COLLEGE • HIGH POINT UNIVERSITY • HOBART AND WILLIA SMITH COLLEGES • ITHACA COLLEGE • JAMES MADISON UNIVERSITY • JOHNS HOPKINS UNIVERSITY • KENYON CO LEGE • LAFAYETTE COLLEGE • LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • LOYOLA UNIVERSITY CHICAGO • MACALESTER COLLEGE • MAN HATTANVILLE COLLEGE • MARIST COLLEGE • MIAMI UNIVERISTY OHIO • MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY • MIDDLEBUR COLLEGE • MOUNT HOLYOKE COLLEGE • NEW YORK UNIVERSITY • NORTHEASTERN UNIVERSITY • NORTHWESTER UNIVERSITY • OCCIDENTAL COLLEGE • OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY • PENN STATE UNIVERSITY • PRINCETON UNIVERSITY PITZER COLLEGE • PROVIDENCE COLLEGE • PURDUE UNIVERSITY • RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE • ROCHESTE INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY • RUTGERS UNIVERSITY • SKIDMORE COLLEGE • SMITH COLLEGE • SOUTHERN METHOD IST UNIVERSITY • ST LAWRENCE UNIVERSITY • SWARTHMORE COLLEGE • SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY • TEXAS CHRISTIA UNIVERSITY • THE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF PARIS • THE UNIVERSITY OF NORTH CAROLINA AT CHAPEL HILL • TRIN ITY COLLEGE • TUFTS UNIVERSITY• TULANE UNIVERSITY • UNION COLLEGE • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELE • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SAN DIEGO • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SANTA BARBARA • UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, SANTA CRUZ • UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO AT BOULDER • UNIVERS TY OF CONNECTICUT • UNIVERSITY OF DENVER • UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA • UNIVERSITY OF GEORGIA • UNIVERSITY O ILLINOIS URBANA-CHAMPAIGN • UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI • UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN • UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANI • UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA • UNIVERSITY OF ST ANDREWS • UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT • UNIVERSIT OF VIRGINIA • UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON • UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN • VASSAR COLLEGE • VILLANOVA UNIVER SITY • WAKE FOREST UNIVERSITY • WILLIAMS COLLEGE • WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY IN ST LOUIS • YALE UNIVERSIT

Meet the team Kate McMann ’05 Dean of College Counseling Kate was named Dean of College Counseling in 2024, and served for three years prior to that as Director of College Counseling. All Highlanders benefit from her innovative approach to the college process, which integrates the school’s mission, Core Values, and citizenship curriculum and includes My Gunn Portrait, a tool that makes it easy for students to access, share, and take pride in their written work. In addition to advising students during the college search, Kate is a house parent and student advisor, and in 2023, became Gunn’s first Head Coach for Girls Junior Varsity Ice Hockey. A former DIII athlete, Kate played ice hockey and lacrosse at Hamilton College, where she majored in sociology and helped lead the Women’s Lacrosse Team to a National Championship in 2008. Since returning to Gunn in 2009, she has worked in Admissions and College Counseling and coached field hockey and lacrosse.

Emily A. Gorman Associate Director of College Counseling, Director of Standardzed Testing Emily holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Emmanuel College and an MBA from The Kogod School of Business at American University. Prior to joining Gunn as Associate Director of Admissions in 2018, she worked in the admissions offices of Emmanuel College, Syracuse University, and Georgetown University. She became Associate Director of College Counseling in 2021 and also serves as Director of Standardized Testing, working alongside Ruthie to ensure testing is strategically aligned and to oversee all standardized testing administration for the school. Emily finds great fulfillment in guiding students through the college search process, combining strategic guidance with genuine empathy to help each student share their unique story. She believes the college application journey is deeply personal and individual, and she takes pride in helping students navigate its complexities while discovering programs and communities where they will thrive. The Head Coach for Girls Junior Varsity Soccer, she also serves as an advisor, house parent, and Senior Class Dean. Emily serves as faculty advisor for the Judaic Society and helps organize student activities on the weekends. She previously served as Head Coach for Girls Varsity Soccer and as an Assistant Coach for Girls Varsity Lacrosse.

Antony Howard Associate Director of College Counseling Antony joined The Frederick Gunn School in 2025 as Associate Director of College Counseling and Head Coach of Boys Varsity Soccer. A graduate of the University of Greenwich, London, where he majored in sports studies, Antony brings to Gunn both college recruitment knowledge and high-level coaching experience. He previously served as Director of Coaching at Club AC Connecticut and as an assistant coach at the University of Bridgeport, where he was heavily involved in guiding athletes and their families in the college recruiting process. He was successful in helping student-athletes to think about their future in terms of academics as well as athletics and he is bringing this background to Gunn students as they engage in the college process. Antony played soccer professionally for AFC Wimbledon from 1999-2006 and came through the Fulham Academy system. At AC Connecticut, he launched the club’s inaugural USL Academy team, serving as both USL Academy Head Coach and First-Team Assistant Coach.

Ruthie Napoleone P’27 Essay Specialist and Testing Coordinator Ruthie holds a bachelor’s degree in economics from Marist College and received her master’s in school counseling from Central Connecticut State University. In her role as Essay Specialist, she meets with students individually to encourage them to dive deeper in their essay writing. Her goal is to help them tell their story in an authentic way that communicates their values and the impact they hope to have when they leave Gunn. She is a resource for students when they are drafting or editing their primary essay or supplementals, and can help students to share a part of their story that might not be revealed through their high school transcript, activities, or application. As Testing Coordinator, Ruthie oversees standardized testing administration (SAT, ACT, PSAT, AP) for the school. Prior to joining Gunn in 2023, she was the development manager for the American Mural Project in Winsted, Connecticut.