College Guidance
Park Tudor's two full-time College Counselors carefully guide Upper School students and their families through the process of application and admission to college. The counselors work with students on an individual basis, first to ascertain their particular needs, aspirations and interests, then to identify the colleges or universities that will suit them best. Considerable time and support is given to every applicant's preparation and presentation, assuring that nearly all of our seniors attend the colleges of their choice.
Highlights of our program:
• 100% college placement rate
• 98% of students attend one of their top three colleges of choice
• 95% of young alumni surveyed say they were extremely well-prepared for college
• In 2006, our 107-member class accepted nearly $1.2 million college scholarships from nearly $3.6 million offered
Grade 9
• Group college planning sessions with students to discuss course selection, building of transcripts and extracurricular participation in preparation for college
• Evening program for parents to introduce college planning and discuss academic preparation, standardized testing, service, leadership, extracurricular and summer activities
• Northside Indianapolis College Fair: Evening program for students and parents to explore college opportunities
Grade 10
• Group college planning sessions to discuss academic preparation and testing requirements for college
• Administration of PLAN test: This “pre-ACT” test measures basic academic development in the areas of English, math, reading and science reasoning and includes a preliminary career assessment
• Administration of PSAT: Preliminary SAT test composed of three sections (verbal, math and writing)
• Sponsorship of Career Saturdays for students and parent(s) using career assessment tools for future college and vocational choice• Presentation by College Admission Deans during students’ morning college planning session: advice on academic and extracurricular considerations for college
• Full-day bus tour of two campuses: Students visit a large public university and a small private college to develop skills in distinguishing between types of schools and to become acquainted with admissions requirements and terminology
Grade 11
• Bi-weekly group college planning sessions to discuss the college search and admission process in detail
• Evening program for parents to discuss the Junior Year College Planning Calendar, including registering for SAT/ACT exams, activity profile, questionnaires (student and parent), individual family meetings and college visits
• Administration of PSAT/NMSQT test: Preliminary SAT allows juniors to compete for National Merit Scholarships based on the Selection Index (cumulative score) of their verbal, math and writing scores
• Visits to Park Tudor by college admission representatives
• Students take “Strong Interest Inventory”: General assessment of career interests and related fields of concentration used in college planning conferences
• College Night: Representatives of nearly 30 selective public and private colleges and universities make presentations and meet students and parents
• Alumni College Panel: Recent Park Tudor graduates return to discuss college choice process and adjustment to college freshman year
• College Admissions Forum for parents and students featuring four deans of admission: Topics include advice on college search, how admissions decisions are made, and how to stand out as an applicant
• Mock Admissions Committee Seminar: Students meet with college counselors in small groups to review applications and select candidates for admission to a selective college
• Individual conference with college counselor and parents to develop potential list of colleges, review career inventory, discuss testing options and course selection
• Registration for SAT/ACT/SAT II tests as appropriate
• Northside Indianapolis College Fair: Evening program for students and parents to explore college opportunities
Grade 12
• Individual conferences and group college planning meetings: Students finalize and submit college applications, including essays, recommendations and activities; research and apply for scholarships; discuss and prepare for interviews; make final college choice by May 1
• Registration for SAT/ACT/SAT II tests as necessary for college applications
• College planning evening program for parents
• College Night: Representatives of nearly 30 selective public and private colleges and universities make presentations and meet students and parents
• Visits to Park Tudor by college admission representatives
• Campus visitations during official “College Visit Weekends” and other times as appropriate; interviews scheduled as needed
• Alumni College Panel: Recent Park Tudor graduates return to discuss college choice process and adjustment to college freshman year
• Spring Seminar on issues surrounding transition to college
The College Counseling Office maintains a library of college catalogues and viewbooks, financial aid information, and testing material.
Park Tudor hosts more than 100 college admission representatives annually, coordinates the college admission testing program, and writes the all-school recommendation. All applications are funneled through the office where transcripts, school profiles and recommendations are added before mailing.
Campus Visits
We are happy to have college representatives visit with our students on campus. To make an appointment for a campus visit, please contact the registrar, Ms. Mary Pendexter, or the college guidance director, Mr. Larry Eckel, at 317/415-2719.
J. Laurence Eckel (leckel@parktudor.org)- Director of College Guidance and Coordinator of Counseling Services
Sue Stemen (sstemen@parktudor.org - Associate Director of College Guidance and Coordinator of Career Counseling
Mary Pendexter (mpendexter@parktudor.org) - Registrar
