College Counseling

List of 5 frequently asked questions.

• 9th Grade: Focus on Planning and Decision Making

  • Ninth grade College Night focuses on how colleges evaluate, understanding choices and opportunities at Portledge School, understanding the standardized testing calendar, reviewing four year timeline.
  • Ninth graders may meet with their Upper School Dean at any time with questions regarding course schedules, extracurricular choices, summer plans, and to learn more about the college process in general
  • Ninth graders may opt into the PSAT and/or the preACT to gain standardized testing experience

• 10th Grade: Focus on Exploring Options

  • Tenth grade college night features Admissions Officer speakers to learn about different types of schools and available options and encourages exploration.  
  • Tenth grade one day class trip college tour in the spring
  • Tenth graders may meet with their Upper School Dean at any time with questions regarding course schedules, extracurricular choices, summer plans, etc. but have their first formal College Counseling meeting in May of this year.
  • Tenth graders may opt into the PSAT or preACT

• 11th Grade: Focus on Finding Fit

  The college application process officially kicks off in the late fall with individual meetings between each student, their Dean, and the Director of College Counseling, followed by a family meeting to formally begin the application process.

  College Night focuses on organization, managing the process, and understanding the year ahead: ways to apply, deadlines, testing, logistics, SCOIR online application management program.
  
  College Counseling individual and group meetings will cover the following topics:

  • Self-assessment
  • Building a College List
  • College Visits
  • College Interviews
  • Application Strategy and the Common Application
  • Essays and Extracurricular Activity Presentation

• 12th Grade:  Focus on Applying

  • College Night in September discusses immediate to-dos and longer-term considerations for the year.
  • Individual student and family meetings are scheduled as needed to support students working through the process with a particular focus on application completion and essay writing.

• College Athletics: Recruiting Timelines and Restrictions

  Men’s Basketball (Division I):

  • August 1 going into sophomore year: Unofficial visits to campus are permitted
  • June 15 after sophomore year: Private communication, emails, texts, and direct messages allowed
  • September 1 going into junior year: Coaches can initiate off-camps contact
  • April 1 through Sunday before the last Wednesday in June of junior year: Athletes can take official visits (up to 5 total)
  • July 1 going into senior year: Coaches can contact athletes off-campus (limited to contact periods).
  • September 1 of senior year: Athletes can take official visits (up to 5 total), coaches can initiate phone call with athlete once per week
  • There are no legislated restrictions on when coaches can extend verbal offers

  
  

  Women’s Basketball (Division I):

  • September 1 going into junior year: Coaches can send electronic communications (texts, emails, etc.)
  • March 1 of junior year: Off-campus contact allowed at the athlete's school or residence (not on game days)
  • April of junior year after the NCAA Women’s Final Four®: Official visits (up to 5 total) can begin
  • There are no legislated restrictions on when coaches can extend verbal offers

  
  

  Men’s Ice Hockey (Division I):

  • January 1 of sophomore year: Coaches can call and send private electronic correspondence. Recruits can take unofficial visits
  • August 1 going into junior year: Off-campus contact with recruits is permitted. Athletes can receive verbal scholarship offers and take official visits (up to 5 total)

  
  

  Women’s Ice Hockey (Division I):

  • June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can extend verbal offers and contact athletes
  • August 1 going into junior year: Athletes can begin official visits (up to 5 total). Coaches can begin off-campus contact with recruits

  
  

  Baseball (Division I):

  • September 1 going into junior year: All forms of electronic correspondence allowed. Recruits can begin taking unofficial and official visits
  • July 1 following junior year: Off-campus contact with recruits is permitted

  
  

  Softball (Division I):

  • September 1 going into junior year: Coaches can make verbal scholarship offers and contact athletes. Athletes can begin taking official visits (up to 5 total). Coaches can begin off-campus contact with recruits at either their residence or school

  
  

  Lacrosse (Men’s and Women’s Division I):

  • September 1 going into junior year: Coaches can extend verbal scholarship offers and contact athletes. Athletes can begin unofficial and official visits. Coaches can begin off-campus contact with recruits at either their residence or school

  
  

  All Other Sports (Division I):

  •  June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can extend verbal scholarship offers, call, and send electronic correspondence.
  •  August 1 going into junior year: Athletes can begin official visits and coaches can conduct off-campus contact.

  *Athletes can receive non-recruiting materials (questionnaires, brochures, non-athletic institutional materials, etc.) from schools at any time. Although coaches cannot communicate with or respond to athletes directly prior to June 15 after sophomore year (with the exception of Men’s Ice Hockey, as noted above), recruiting classes are actively being built before then. Athletes can have their coaches communicate with colleges at any time, and it is becoming increasingly advantageous to have an online profile, athletic resume with stats, and/or highlight reels accessible and ready to be sent.

  
  

  All Division II Sports:

  • July 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can send printed recruiting materials
  • June 15 after sophomore year: Coaches can call athletes, initiate off-campus contact with athletes and/or their parents, and begin taking official visits
  • Unofficial visits may occur at any time

  
  

  All Division III Sports:

  •  After sophomore year: Coaches can conduct off-campus contact with athletes and/or their parents.
  •  January 1 of junior year: Athletes can begin taking official visits.
  •  Unrestricted telephone calls and digital communications are allowed.