I n focus
I n focus: 2022-2023
Whitfield’s College Counseling program is designed to help students understand their strengths, interests, talents, and needs in order to ensure each individual identifies the best fit post-graduation. Through a multi-year, individualized advising model, students are guided toward collegiate experiences that will continue to challenge and support their academic and personal growth.
COLLEGE
CHOICE EXPERIENCE
R
ecognized locally and nationally for its exceptional program, Whitfield's college counseling team mirrors the school's student-centered approach by offering a tailor-made experience for students and their families. Director of College Counseling Amanda Henry and Associate Director of College Counseling Ebony Sistrunk build trusting relationships with their advisee families by carefully outlining expectations and roles for counselors, parents, and students, as well as maintaining frequent contact between home and school. Whitfield’s school size, with an average graduating class of 75 students, can be attributed to making much of this possible. Intentionality is evident in all aspects of the college choice experience from caseload, to programming embedded in the school day, to expedited deadlines. IMAGE BY GEOFF STORY
ON THE COVER: DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING AMANDA HENRY, COREY JONES, TARYN JONES '24, SHEILA JONES, AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF COLLEGE COUNSELING EBONY SISTRUNK. IMAGE BY GEOFF STORY.
2
Director of College Counseling Amanda Henry and Associate Director of College Counseling Ebony Sistrunk
Like all departments at Whitfield, the college counseling program uses a spiraling curriculum with an emphasis on individualization. The college counseling program begins informally in sixth grade, becomes more detailed and strategic in the ninth and tenth grades, and evolves into a student/parent/counselor partnership in the eleventh and twelfth grades. Whitfield families value the personalization, professionalism, and low-stress approach of the school’s college choice process which distinguishes it from all other schools in the region.
In your estimation, how is Whitfield’s approach to college counseling different from other schools? AMANDA: We prefer to use the phrase “college choice experience” as what we do is not transactional, but relational. It is important that we define the roles for all involved: the students drive the process, and the parents support. We are the ones who hold the students accountable. Additionally, we provide concierge-level service to our families—for example, a travel itinerary complete with appointments at area schools to complement your vacation to southern California.
The Gold Standard for a College Choice Experience • Clearly defined roles for counselors, students, and parents • Concierge-level service for families
EBONY: We also provide postgraduate support to our alumni. At most schools,
• Postgraduate application support for students
What are the department’s areas of strength?
Areas of Strength
once you apply to college, you are done with college counseling. That’s not the case here. For example, if a student is interested in applying to law school or medical school, we write letters of recommendation.
AMANDA: I would say that one of our biggest areas of strength is the essay writing
component of the college choice experience, which has become increasingly more important, especially in light of the test optional movement. Our students are uniquely situated to have really outstanding written materials to support their transcripts and other application documents. EBONY: Our department is well-versed in current college trends. We are continually educating ourselves on the trajectory that colleges are going in regarding recruitment and admissions, especially post-pandemic. We share that information with our students and their parents and help them understand how that data might impact their college choice experience. We are also very connected with college networks around the country through travel, outreach, and professional development.
• Essay writing component of the college choice experience • Being "up" on college trends • Leveraging professional contacts and professional organizations/ networking
AMANDA: We are deeply embedded in our professional organizations. Ebony and I have been networking for years, and have relationships with college admission professionals at schools throughout the country.
3
