College Planning
Welcome to SJA College Advising
Personal planning starts here.
St. Joseph's Academy offers college advising, not placement, and that distinction is important. With the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet as our guides, SJA college advisors strive to cultivate meaningful relationships with each student. Getting to know each student as an individual with unique talents, strengths, goals, and interests is core to how the college advisors work because they understand college is not a “one size fits all” experience.
Students meet one-on-one multiple times with their advisor, receive intentional, personalized guidance, and are given access to a variety of resources to best facilitate the search and application process.
The College Advising department sends a quarterly email to parents and guardians with updates and information regarding the college application process.
Questions? Please contact collegeadvising@sja1840.org.
College Advising Year by Year
Freshmen & Sophomores
As freshmen and sophomore students adjust to the rigors and expectations of their high school experience, our college advisors will connect with them in low pressure class meetings to discuss navigating our curriculum and activities.
Highlights of the 9th and 10th grade experience include, but are not limited to:
- Basic college vocabulary
- Summer opportunities and developing a student résumé
- Personality types and possible career fields
- College admissions representative visits in the fall
- Pre-SAT
Juniors
The heart of our robust College Advising program begins junior year with frequent class meetings and regular one-on-one college advising meetings with an assigned SJA college advisor.
Highlights of the junior year experience include:
- Junior Parent College-Kickoff (mandatory)
- Individualized student-college advising meetings
- Personalized parent and student college advising meetings
- Optional practice standardized testing experiences
- ACT testing in spring at SJA
- Maia Learning training
- College Kickstart (college list building)
- College admissions representative visits in the fall
- Junior College Advising Seminar during the spring semester
- Resumé development
- Personal statement creation and workshops
- The Common Application
- Developing a balanced college list
Seniors
Our college advising class meetings and one-on-one meetings continue through the first semester. Seniors are supported throughout application preparation and submission of all applications.
Highlights of the senior year experience include, but are not limited to:
- Personalized student meetings
- Application timeline strategy and support
- ACT testing in fall at SJA
- Final shaping of a balanced college list
- Personal statement and supplemental essay writing support
- Continued Maia Learning usage
- Common Application support
- College admissions representative visits in the fall
- Interview support
- Resume development
- Provide financial aid and scholarship resources
- Support with a final college choice
Upcoming Events
To add the College Advising event feed to your calendar, click the grey square with white lines (shown to the top right of the events list below), click the iCAL link that corresponds to your device, and paste it into your subscribed calendars.
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COLLEGE ADVISING & RESOURCE CENTER
Opened in the fall of 2018, the College Advising and Resource Center provides ample space for student workstations, housing outlets and charging ports in various locations, as large windows boast a gorgeous view of the CSJ Walk of Peace and Prayer Garden and expansive lawn. The two 65-inch screens with built-in computers allow for admissions counselors to showcase their college campuses while presenting information sessions to students and families. Each space fulfills multiple purposes, including group meetings and conferences, in addition to casual Q&A between students and advisors. WiFi access is available throughout, as well as a small kitchenette, allowing for extended hospitality to university reps and St. Joe guests.
