Guidance Department - Mercy High School Burlingame

College counseling is about helping your student understand and determine her strengths, goals, and aspirations in order to pursue admission to a college or university where she can achieve success and satisfaction. College preparation is emphasized throughout the four years at Mercy. Our College Counseling office will set the stage of discussing college during freshman year, and begin meeting with students and parents more consistently junior year (sophomores can request meetings as well, though it's not required during sophomore year). Working closely with the College Counselor, and her advisors and teachers, each student is guided through a thorough, informative college admissions process. In the fall, representatives from nearly 50 colleges and universities visit the campus to meet with our students and provide information about their schools each year.

Our primary goal in the college admissions process is to assist your daughter in finding the right match for her. To this end, the process is highly personalized and focuses clearly on her desires and the criteria she has established for choosing the right school. We are proud of our college placement record primarily because our graduates report to us that they achieve success at institutions that are right for them.

Class Levels

9th Grade

In 9th grade, students meet individually with their academic advisors and discuss a 4 year plan. 9th grade is the time to adjust to high school: check out clubs, extracurricular activities and ways to get involved. Focus on classes and develop academic interests. Drop by the College Counseling Office to have your questions answered, to say hello or just to hang out. In the summer, recharge, do something interesting, and maybe visit colleges nearby to get a sense of different campus settings.

10th Grade

Students meet with their academic advisor to create schedule for 11th grade - junior year is important so think about taking honors and APs. Pursue activities of interest in and outside of school. Students can schedule an optional individual with their college counselor. In the summer, try to continue activities you did over the school year or last summer—colleges like consistent commitment. Colleges also want to see leadership roles, if you're in a club or sport, think about what leadership roles might be available for you in that activity in 11th or 12th grade.

11th Grade

Starting January of junior year, we begin meeting individually with students and families to discuss your academic records, interests, and goals. It is required for all juniors to meet with the college counselor at least once.

We will explore the various factors that can influence college choices, such as location, size, proximity to a city, relative degree of competitiveness and selectivity and the availability of special programs or facilities. Students will research colleges and reflect on what is important to them.
We will touch on essay writing, testing, interviews, recommendations, campus visits, the admissions decisions process and any other concerns that students may have.
Spring break of Junior year is a good time to make preliminary college visits while college students are on campus. Admissions offices will be in the thick of their meetings and thus tours and information sessions may be limited, but an informal visit will help you think about what type of college you might be interested in and why. If possible, visit both a larger university and a smaller college.

12th Grade

Prior to the fall semester, there will be a college application workshop; and during the fall semester there will be a class held during advisory periods
There is an initial required college meeting to discuss thoughts developed about schools over the summer. Students will narrow their lists. Students can meet individually as much as they need.
The college counselor will hold a college night for families and a separate additional financial aid night.
Throughout the fall, college admissions representatives will visit Mercy. Most sessions will be held in groups as they are simply informational. It is the student's responsibility to see those representatives when they are on campus, and to arrange with teachers to be excused from class when necessary. Most visits will be during lunch or advisory period.
As decisions from colleges arrive, the college counseling office helps each student and their family in making their final choice.

Applying for Financial Aid

Most financial aid is awarded on the basis of need (this is called "need-based aid"). Academic scholarships get the most publicity, but the bulk of financial aid goes to students who can demonstrate "financial need." Financial need is simply the difference between the amount a family can pay—as calculated from the financial information in the application—and the cost of attendance.

Regardless of how a college awards its financial aid, whether by need alone or need and merit, most colleges will expect that families will file at least one form: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). It is produced by the US Department of Education and processed by Federal Student Aid Programs. This form must be filed every year and includes such information as income and asset information from both students and parents. (Typically the form asks for parent income information on the parent who provided the most financial support during the previous 12 months).

Additionally, if a student is applying to Private Colleges, the CSS Profile might be required. A list of schools that require the CSS Profile can be found here. This form is available in early fall and typically asks for more specific information about assets and home equity. The individual institutions may then send an additional list of questions specific to their criteria for determining financial aid eligibility.

Merit based aid from schools is considered automatically by schools- students do not need to submit specific scholarship applications to colleges.

Families should check with each institution to see which forms are required and what the deadlines are but it is strongly recommended to submit them as early as possible (once students know their final list of schools).

College Representative Visits

Fall 2022 Schedule

09/13/2022	Oregon State	Corvallis	2:30 PM	Mansion	Brides Room
09/15/2022	University of Southern California	Los Angeles	2:30 PM	Mansion	Brides Room
09/19/2022	Loyola Marymount University	Los Angeles	11:00 AM	Mansion	Brides Room
09/20/2022	New York University	New York	2:50 PM	Mansion	Brides Room
09/22/2022	University of San Francisco	San Francisco	2:30 PM	Mansion	Brides Room
10/07/2022	University of Portland	Portland	8:30 AM	Mansion	Brides Room
10/07/2022	St. Mary's College	Moraga	11:30 AM	Mansion	Brides Room
10/17/2022	Chapman University	Orange	11:30 AM	Mansion	Brides Room
10/19/2022	University of Rochester	Rochester	2:40 PM	Mansion	Reception Room
10/20/2022	UC Irvine	Irvine	9:00 AM	Mansion	Brides Room
10/20/2022	St. Olaf College	Northfield	1:25 AM	Mansion	Brides Room
10/21/2022	University of Oregon	Eugene	2:15 PM	Mansion	Brides Room
11/02/2022	Gonzaga University	Spokane	11:30 AM	Mansion	Brides Room

For questions and more information, please contact our College Counselor:

Aurora Kearney Nevett
College Counselor
650-343-3631
anevett@mercyhsb.com

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Academic Counseling
Wellness Counseling

Academic Counseling

Academic Counselors partner with students in reaching academic success by helping them set goals, create action plans, and select courses that appropriately challenge each student. The academic counselor provides this support both one-one-one and through group presentations. A Mercy girl's counselor will stay with her throughout her four years allowing for a continued deepening of that relationship and improved focus on each student's unique needs.

Please find more information on Academic Requirements HERE.

Details on the Support Process are outlined in our Student & Parent Handbook.

Wellness Counseling

Our wellness counselor is dedicated to supporting the needs of the whole student. Services provided include individual and group counseling services to students, crisis intervention, conflict mediation, and clinical consultation for families regarding outside treatment options. Our wellness counselor works closely with students, parents, teachers, and school administration to develop and implement school-wide health awareness events and educational opportunities. She works to promote a positive overall school climate.

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