College Counseling

The Counseling Department at Christian Brothers High School offers a variety of services to students and parents alike. During junior year, students are assigned a college counselor to facilitate the college admissions process, however students are encouraged to begin thinking about their college plan beginning their Freshman year.

The Counseling Department at CBHS has created a College Planning Curriculum which begins in the 9th grade with academic advising and standardized testing that continues with both individual and group college counseling through to their senior year.

Our College Counselors are committed to helping students navigate the college search process to find a higher education institution that best meets their needs and abilities: academically, socially, philosophically, and economically.

Upcoming College Counseling Events

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Counseling Event Calendar

A student's counselor may be found on his profile using the myCBHS portal. Parents are encouraged to contact their son’s counselor to discuss matters of concern or to schedule appointments. The Counseling Center also welcomes walk-ins!

College admittance relies heavily on ACT and SAT scores. For this reason, CBHS provides prep workshops throughout the school year so that students are comfortable with and perform well on these exams.

ACT Testing

SAT Testing

"No matter the student's abilities, physically, emotionally, or academically, we will do everything in our power to set our students up for success.

Dr. Janet Hill, Director of Counseling

College Planning Timeline

Freshman Year

Around the age of 14, students are developmentally beginning to form their own identity and personal values. Many 9th graders are asking the questions, "Who am I?" and "What am I good at?"

The CBHS Counseling team meets students where they are to help them explore their interests, identify their strengths, and begin thinking about the future. Through in-class guidance lessons, students are provided personality assessments and asked to create a 5-year plan based on their likes and interests.

In the Spring semester, 9th graders set up their Scoir college advising accounts and begin meeting with the CBHS college counseling team in large group settings.

Please note that individual meetings with a college counselor are available by request.

Sophomore Year

During their 10th-grade year, students begin a series of tests for college readiness. In the Fall semester, students are required to take the Pre-ACT and have the option to take the PSAT. In the Spring semester, students take the PrinciplesU career aptitude test. Through group activities with counselors, students identify careers that match their interests and skills.

Together with their parents, students are encouraged to review their current academic performance and create a plan to maintain or improve grades, ensuring they meet the prerequisites for their desired colleges. Additionally, they should discuss potential career paths and college majors to identify relevant extracurricular activities, volunteer opportunities, and internships that can strengthen the student's college application.

Beginning in the Spring semester, 10th graders meet in small groups with their assigned college counselor. The goal of these small groups are to foster general knowledge about college admissions, learn common admissions jargon, and create plans for the college admission process. Individual meetings with a college counselor are available by request.

Toward the end of the year, students are encouraged to explore meaningful summer experiences such as pre-college summer camps, internships, or community service that will strengthen their college resume.

Each summer, CBHS hosts the College Summer Tour, an optional road tour for rising juniors and seniors where students can tour around 8 colleges. In 2023, students visited colleges in the TX/LA region. In 2024, students toured the St. Louis/Chicago area.

Junior Year: First Semester

Beginning in the 11th grade, students and their parents meet with their assigned college counselor. These meetings are intended to answer questions regarding the college admissions process, establish goals for the upcoming school year, and develop rapport with the college counselor. Students are encouraged to tour colleges and universities with their families.

In October, Junior students take the ACT in class at CBHS.

Juniors are invited to attend college fairs and small group college meetings with college representatives. Ahead of the Memphis Area College Night, students practice interviewing through Mock Interviews.

Junior Year: Second Semester

By the Spring semester, Juniors should be finalizing their college list. When meeting individually with their College Counselor, students will be asked to create a college list containing a minimum of 3 colleges. Students are asked to consider a "reach" school, a "level" school, and "likely" school. Students can edit this list throughout their Junior year. Additional in-class guidance lessons cover information on searching for scholarships, understanding ACT scores, and demonstrating interest to colleges.

In March, Juniors and their parents are invited to the CBHS Junior College Night. The event includes break out sessions on financial aid, NCAA guidelines, and other relevant topics.

Summer Following Junior Year

Students are encouraged to continue visiting college campuses and attending meaningful summer experiences.

Students should consider taking the ACT at least once over the summer.

Senior Year: First Semester

The Fall semester of Senior year is a very busy time for the college counseling department. Students will begin meeting with their college counselors in August to complete applications, edit admissions essays, and submit all documents.

Seniors are offered the chance to re-take the ACT on campus at CBHS in October.

When the FAFSA opens (normally in October), students and parents are invited to FAFSA night, a seminar designed for parents to ask questions and receive help completing the FAFSA form.

Many colleges have general scholarship applications with December deadlines, so students meet regularly with their counselor throughout the Fall semester to make sure their applications are in order.

Senior Year: Second Semester

By Spring semester, students are receiving admissions decisions and comparing offers. Students may continue applying to scholarships through their chosen college and third-party organizations.

Once a student makes their college decision, they must send their official ACT/SAT scores to the university through MyACT or CollegeBoard. This should only be done if the student was admitted with test scores or plans to use test scores for merit scholarships.

Towards the end of the Spring semester, students begin to focus on life after high school. Counselors meet in groups with seniors to discuss the transition from high school student to college student. Alumni also meet to prepare students during this time.

The end of the year culminates with Hat Day, a celebration where students are asked to wear a traditional baseball hat from their chosen college.

Discover all the Brotherhood has to offer!

From rigorous academics and competitive athletics, to student leadership and extracurriculars, to community service and spiritual growth, opportunities abound here. Discover why the student experience at Christian Brothers High School is unlike any other.

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