College Counseling

Pace Academy is nationally known and respected by colleges and universities. College admission focuses on academic and extracurricular achievement in grades nine through 12, with emphasis on the junior and senior years. Students should therefore be aware of the importance of course selection, academic success, respect accorded by faculty and extracurricular commitment.

The primary emphasis in college admission is the high school transcript. Students should choose courses in which they will be both challenged and successful. Students should also pay attention to aspects of continuity and sequence.

Pace students are encouraged to take the ACT PLAN and the PSAT in grades 10 and 11 in preparation for the ACT and SAT. Juniors are encouraged to take a minimum of one ACT and one SAT by the end of junior year. Students may also want to take SAT Subject Tests to demonstrate ability in a particular subject. Pace's college counselors, class deans, applicable faculty, and learning specialists keep students and parents informed of tests and registration procedures.

College Counseling hosts an optional Grade Nine Parent College Night, an optional Grade 10 Student/Parent Case Study Night and a mandatory Grade 11 Student/Parent College Night. Formal meetings to discuss the college-search process begin second semester of junior year.

Summer essay workshops are offered to rising seniors. Seniors attend a mandatory application workshop prior to the start of senior year, followed by a mandatory Grade 12 Student/Parent Night. College counselors continue to work closely with seniors to hone college lists, plan college visits and provide support to enable students to submit all application materials in a timely manner.

Pace’s experienced college counselors maintain contact with college representatives throughout the year, regularly visit college campuses and routinely represent Pace at professional conferences. Each year, approximately 100 college representatives visit Pace to meet with students. College Counseling also maintains comprehensive historical application data, which is accessible to second-semester juniors, seniors and their parents.