College Counseling

At Berkeley Carroll, we believe that good college choices are rooted in honest self-reflection, not sophisticated strategies for getting in to a small number of schools at the top of a magazine’s ranked list. In choosing from among the roughly 3,000 colleges and universities in the United States, Canada and English-speaking institutions abroad, Berkeley Carroll students embark on an exercise in thoughtful self-assessment, patience and organization. The experience is sometimes thrilling, sometimes a little scary, and always educational.

Berkeley Carroll’s college counseling program is individualized, holistic and deliberate. Through an 11th grade college counseling class, individual conferences, and a variety of special events, the Director of College Counseling, who has experience as both a classroom teacher and a university admission director, works to demystify the college admissions process and encourage independent thinking as students research and apply to college.

From the outset, students are at the center of Berkeley Carroll’s college process. While the college counseling office informs, guides and encourages, each student is responsible for carrying out the incremental steps of the college application process, including registering for standardized tests, completing applications, and meeting deadlines. The ultimate goal is for every senior to have a number of appropriate college options, but also to feel responsible for his or her successes.

Students benefit from the strong support of a school that knows them well; advice is tailored to the individual, and teachers write recommendations that are both comprehensive and specific. The school helps students prepare strong college applications, but the community also encourages them to regard college as the natural result of – rather than the reason for – their achievement at Berkeley Carroll.

Brandon Clarke, Director of College Counseling
718-789-6060, x6530
bclarke@berkeleycarroll.org