College Counseling at Grier

Rebecca Woolfrey
As the colorful leaves swirl outside, Grier’s College Counseling department is bustling with activity this fall. In addition to meeting one-on-one with students, Director of College Counseling Mrs. Suzanne Lyke has organized a multitude of virtual college visits, a series of financial aid workshops, and leads weekly workshops.
During the fall semester, the College Counselors focus on helping the twelfth-grade students interview, select, and apply for colleges and investigate and apply for financial aid and scholarships. Mrs. Lyke notes that early action deadlines for colleges start as early as mid-October, so this is a critical time in the lives of Grier twelfth-grade students.
 
Mrs. Lyke invites students to attend virtual college visits with admissions representatives of colleges and universities both near and far. These sessions allow Grier students to ask questions and learn more about schools like New York University, Penn State, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, University of Toronto, Lehigh University, Boston University, Gettysburg College, and many more. Through these intimate interviews, students have a chance to narrow their list of potential colleges before opting to visit in person. It also gives the student a chance to make a great first impression with the admissions representative.
 
On Sunday afternoons during the fall, twelfth-grade students join the College Counseling team for College Application Workshops, which are designed to provide guidance and assistance to students and to give students an opportunity to make progress. While younger students take the PSAT/NMSQT exam this month, Grier’s twelfth grade students will join college counselors and English teachers in the Dining Room for a special application essay writing workshop.
 
Though Grier’s eleventh-grade students will work most closely with the College Counseling Department during the spring semester when the counselors introduce them to the college readiness software Naviance, families can begin learning about college preparations through workshops, presentations, and other information shared by the College Counseling department.
 
During Parents Weekend, guardians of eleventh-grade students are invited to attend a special presentation by Mrs. Lyke to highlight the key steps of college planning and how to get started. These families may also appreciate attending the six-part series of online financial aid workshops presented in partnership with College Money Method founder, Paul Martin.
 
Grier’s College Counseling department is a fantastic part of Grier’s commitment to providing opportunities for Grier students to reach their fullest individual potential.
 
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Grier School

2522 Grier School Rd. | P.O. Box 308; Birmingham, PA 16686-0308
Phone: 814-684-3000 | Fax: 814-684-2177