College Counseling

Greetings…Welcome to the College Counseling Web site,

Please indulge me for a few moments — when I think about a college experience, so many wonderful things spring into my mind.  Imagine the thrill of joining a new vibrant learning community with so many people from various parts of the country and world. Consider the excitement of working with members of the faculty eager to share their expertise and to help students think both independently and critically.  And finally, add to these the fast-paced and overabundant extracurricular life that begs students to try new things, to get involved, and to serve the world around them.  The possibilities truly are limitless…there really is no other time quite like this in one’s life.

First and foremost, it is our goal as college advisors to help students consider the aspects of a college education that will most help them grow educationally and personally.  We are so fortunate at Brentwood School because we have the opportunity to get to know our students on so many different levels.  By understanding the accomplishments, challenges, hopes, and dreams of our students, we are best able to support them in the next stage of their academic lives.  Each student has unique needs and interests, and we believe the colleges to which a student applies should reflect those individual traits.  One of our greatest joys is to begin our conversations with students in the 10th grade.  By assigning each student and family their primary college counselor in the sophomore year, we are able to ensure that we have the time to develop long-lasting and meaningful relationships.  As students expand their horizons throughout high school, we are in place to support and encourage academic and extracurricular pursuits.  We hope to inspire students to take those risks that help to define their experiences and interests that will further be discovered during the college years.  We also feel that serving as our counselees’ academic advisors is most helpful in determining the appropriate curricular path and serves as a great launching point to discuss scholastic collegiate goals.

I realize that applying to college is an unbelievable adventure; there is no doubt that this process carries a certain degree of stress and anxiety.  It is important for everyone to keep an open mind; there are hundreds of possible college choices to fulfill a student’s needs.  We ask families to trust that at Brentwood we have developed a program that guides both students and families through each step.  We have several resources, workshops, and programs that help define and simplify each piece of the application puzzle.  Further information about these programs and workshops are included throughout the website.

As college advisors, we play a variety of roles throughout the year, including that of a tour guide, a source of information, a coach, a college essay critic, a cheerleader, and a shoulder for support.  Parents play similar roles and we caution parents from becoming overly involved in the admissions application cycle.  This can be a wonderful time for students to act independently and to take control of this process so that the outcome will truly mirror their needs and accomplishments.

I know that I can speak on behalf of my entire team when I say that we all love our work.  We thoroughly enjoy what we do because we are in an extraordinary position to help students find the best match for their interests and personality.  Attending college is one of life’s greatest privileges and opportunities.  We encourage our students to keep an open mind as they explore their college options and we endeavor to create a culture that focuses not upon a school’s ranking, but rather upon how each institution meets the needs of the student.

We look forward to working with all of you during this exciting journey.

Dr. Lolli Lucas Clark
Director of College Counseling