Academics

College Counseling

College Admission Starts with a Choice...and a Process

Access to a thorough college counseling program is likely a major reason families choose a college preparatory, independent school such as Sanford. Developed and proven over time, Sanford’s college counseling process

Reflects our school community’s shared values and approach to partnering with students and families
Promotes a holistic, humane, and systemic process driven by the needs of the individual student
Meets each student where he or she is—academically and emotionally—to work through our structured, communicative, and supportive student-based experience.

Our goal is to ensure that each student will complete the college admission process with multiple college options. For many seniors who have been accepted at several outstanding colleges, the most difficult task is to settle on a final choice.

List of 3 items.

The college search: A step, not an ending

Rather than being the culminating event of high school, the college search process is a unique and important step in each student's personal and educational journey. We support and guide our students as we facilitate the lengthy, detailed, and introspective process of discovering and selecting schools that provide appropriate fits for their personalities and their aspirations.
One size does not fit all

For the same reasons we value Sanford’s richly diverse student population, we promote a varied college matriculation list that ranges from large, state-supported research universities to small, liberal arts and sciences colleges; and from highly selective and prestigious schools around the country to some of the lesser-known gems our careful research has discovered.
Selecting schools: Our philosophy
We encourage students to select schools that match their learning styles and standards, value what they value, and offer opportunities and programs that fit with their interests and ambitions.

To help students through this complex process, we:
- Build relationships with students and their families
- Provide the guidance, support, and information needed to navigate the current college admissions climate and complete strong applications
- Encourage and enable students to know themselves well enough to make great individual school choices.

School Profile

List of 2 members.

Heather Stinson

Director of College Counseling

302.235.6545
Pete Williams

Associate Director of College Counseling

302.235.6546

Upcoming Events:

List of 3 events.

Dec

4

Virtual Presentation: 11th grade College Night for parents/families
9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
Join the college counselors, Heather Graber Stinson and Pete Williams, for this official (virtual) kick-off for the Class of 2027’s college search experience. All parents/guardians of current 11th-grade students are expected to attend. We look forward to sharing more with you and answering any questions you may have. Here is the link to join.

Heather Graber Stinson
Feb

25

Independent Schools, Black Students, and the College Application Process
6:00 PM to 7:30 PM
Sanford will be hosting a multi-school event in partnership with Tatnall School and St. Andrews School on Wednesday, February 25, at 6:00 PM (Geipel Auditorium), featuring Timothy Fields and Shereem Herndon-Brown. Both individuals are nationally recognized college admissions experts committed to helping families, especially those in Black and Brown communities, navigate an evolving admissions landscape. Together, they’ve authored the bestselling The Black Family’s Guide to College Admissions, hosted the Application to Admission podcast, and led a nonprofit focused on closing the information gap in college access. With more than 50 years of combined experience, they are dynamic speakers and thought leaders whose newly released second edition of The Black Family’s Guide to College Admissions includes updates on affirmative action, mental health, and the power of college essays. Their complementary “fire and ice” approach has earned them national media coverage and the 2023 NACAC John Muir Award for outstanding contributions to the profession. They will be presenting their program, “Independent Schools, Black Students, and the College Application Process.”

Geipel Center - Rubin Family Auditorium - GEI-AUD

Heather Stinson
Feb

26

11th Grade College Night (students & parents/families)
7:00 PM to 8:30 PM
The college counselors have invited a panel of admissions deans & directors to share their insights and advice. All 11th-grade students and their parents/guardians are expected to attend. We look forward to sharing more with you and answering any questions you may have.

Heather Stinson