CHARTING A NEW COURSE

STEVI SCHUKNECHT, DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING

College Counseling is charting a new course. Since I came to Trinity Valley in mid-June of 2022, the TVS College Counseling team has examined every part of our programming, curriculum, and departmental structure. We have shifted to a new online college-planning platform, redesigned the School’s transcript, adjusted the curriculum to allow for earlier college counselor assignments, and have even expanded the department. We have been busy at work examining and reshaping each part of the College Counseling experience.

As the world of college admissions shifts and changes, TVS College Counseling is adapting and anticipating the needs of our students.

It has become clear that students at TVS would benefit from longer-term relationships with their individual college counselor. To that end, we are working to assign counselors earlier for students, with our ultimate aim to pair students and counselors late in ninth grade. In order to do this, and to make ourselves available to meet with younger students while maintaining support for 11th and 12th graders, we have expanded our team. In January, Jamie Arrington joined TVS as the College Counseling Coordinator/Testing Coordinator.

Jamie is a talented professional and already has made an impact in our office. Moving forward, she will be managing our databases and systems, coordinating the administration of PSAT and AP exams, supporting our communications, and helping plan and manage the many events our office hosts. We are grateful to have her support and ideas, and we’re already finding her an indispensable member of the College Counseling team.

We have organized the focus of our work with students around themes for each year in Upper School. We begin in ninth grade with self-exploration, so that our students can discover their academic and extracurricular interests. The conversation continues in 10th grade as students take these interests and begin to research possible career paths. We then assist juniors and seniors as they move through the college-exploration and finally the college-application process. Our office facilitates assessments that helps students better understand their personality, interests, soft skills, and work values throughout the Upper School years at TVS. As they draw closer to graduation, Trojans are supported through engagement in a comprehensive college-application process and encouraged to pursue postsecondary goals that align with their interests.

Trinity Valley College Counseling has long provided exceptional programming for Upper School families. Lasting hallmark programs include the College Day Fair, College Colloquium (featuring admissions deans and directors), a formal application kickoff for seniors, and presentations about financing college and standardized testing (SAT/ACT), to name a few. These programs will continue as essential resources for our Upper School community. However, in 20222023, our team added the new 11th-grade TOE Core trip (see next page), a formal program preparing our prospective student athletes for the recruiting process, and, in collaboration with other Fort Worth Independent Schools, we are once again launching a Fort Worth Area Case Studies Program this April. This program will allow Upper School students and parents/guardians the opportunity to conduct mock file reviews with guidance from a college admission counselor and spend a few moments experiencing what it is like to be on an admissions committee as they work to make difficult admission decisions.

In January, test preparation expert Adam Ingersoll from Compass Education Group presented to the Upper School community.

Blake Amos, Director ofExperiential Education; Stevi Schuknecht, Director of College Counseling; Natalie Timson, Assistant Director of College Counseling; Zina Wormley, Associate Director of College Counseling.

As the world of college admissions shifts and changes, TVS College Counseling is adapting and anticipating the needs of our students. No matter what the future holds, our office remains committed to supporting all students individually as they prepare to further their education in a context that aligns with their individual talents, interests, and goals. While we are reimagining many aspects of our work, these four enduring principles will guide and inform our actions:

• We take an individualized approach and respect the diverse needs of our students and families.

• We partner with families through ongoing communication so they are empowered to engage in an informed college admissions process.

• We align our work with ethical standards and best-practices to support a student-centered process.

• We continually seek knowledge about an everchanging admissions landscape.

More innovations are underway, so stay tuned! We are grateful for the support of the TVS administration, staff, and community as we continue to innovate and grow.

INAUGURAL 11TH-GRADE TOE CORE TRIP

At Camp El Tesoro, crossing the bridge is a rite of passage…and the first challenge campers must conquer.

In mid-February, 93 11th-grade students, five faculty members, three college counselors, three admissions counselors, two TOE directors, and several other friends, parents, and TVS alumni convened at Camp El Tesoro in Granbury for the inaugural junior TOE trip. What we expected to be a rainy few days turned out to be beautiful and sunny.

During our time together, we learned from Aziza Janmohamed from Rice University; Justin Doty, Dean of Admissions at Trinity University; and Beverly Wheeler, Regional Director of Admission from Hendrix College. With these experts, students examined mock admission files, learned about the college essay, and reflected on the college admissions process. Each student embraced the challenge of participating in a mock interview (without exception, all students at the retreat were on time for their interview appointment!). Each student set up the Common Application, learned tools for researching colleges, worked on the college resume, and finally, heard from faculty about requesting college recommendations. In between, we shared meals, sat around the campfire, played archery tag and ultimate frisbee, kayaked on the pond, and enjoyed the beautiful weather. After the trip, I am confident they are better equipped for what is ahead. This event provided a unique opportunity for students to both reflect on their personal outlook toward college admissions and to accomplish several tasks toward preparation for that process. I dare say we also had plenty of fun!

Alex Swienton, TVS junior, participates in a mock admission interview with Dr. Alexandra Channell, Assistant Head of Upper School.

These faculty members, alumni, and friends of TVS interviewed 93 students in two hours at the junior TOE retreat!