As a college-preparatory school, one of the most important missions of Central Catholic is to provide an education, guided by the principles of St. John Baptist de la Salle, which will prepare our graduates to be successful in higher education and beyond.
Today’s media frenzy about college admission is fueled by exaggerated stories and reports, an unprecedented college-bound population, and ever-greater access to colleges and information through the internet. The result is the commonly accepted myth that college is a scarce commodity that only the lucky few will access. The reality is that most colleges and universities in the United States admit a majority of their applicants and there is enough room for all high school graduates to attend a school that will be a good match for them.
The College Placement Office, in coordination with the Guidance Office, offers help and support throughout the entire four years of high school. The primary goal of the college placement program is to help students make informed choices about which colleges and universities best suit their needs, abilities, and aspirations. We are dedicated to assisting our students in finding their “best fit” college or university.
This individualized process begins informally in the ninth grade as faculty and guidance counselors work with students in planning appropriate course selection, extracurricular involvement, and other life choices.
During the Junior year, the guidance classes that students attend throughout the school year will begin to focus more on the college selection process itself. Students will begin creating a college list, scheduling campus tours and interviews, learning to write a resume and college essays, preparing for standardized testing, and learning about the financial aid process.
Formal college counseling begins during the second semester of the Junior year when students and their parents can attend the Junior College Night program where families are introduced to the college selection process.
During the course of the next year and a half of Junior and Senior year, we will try to help guide students and parents through the sometimes overwhelming amount of information regarding the college admission and financial aid process. Through this program, we try to minimize the uncertainty that can surround the college selection process.