College Counseling

Success on the Horizon

Malvern graduates consistently earn admission to the nation's best college and universities. In fact, 67% of our students are admitted to a top 50 university or liberal arts college. But our graduates' success extends far beyond their academic careers. You won't just find Malvern alumni on the campuses of Harvard, Penn State, Boston College, or Notre Dame. You'll find them excelling in the courtroom, on the radio, and in hospitals. You'll see their achievements in schools, in laboratories, and on Wall Street.

Wherever they are, Malvern men bring integrity and compassion to their chosen profession.

School Profile 2023-2024

College Bound

Malvern graduates consistently earn admission to the nation's best colleges and universities. In fact, 67% of our students are admitted to a top 50 university or liberal arts college.

College Counseling Program

Our highly personalized college counseling program is one of the school's greatest assets. We have several counselors dedicated to serving each grade - a ratio of approximately 30:1. Counselors meet individually with each Upper School family and provide support in each aspect of the college search - from planning coursework and extracurricular activities to test preparation and the application process. By senior year, each student meets with a counselor on a weekly or biweekly basis to discuss their progress and seek any guidance needed as they contemplate choosing the right-fit college.

The College Process

9th Grade

All 9th-graders take a Counseling class during their first term at Malvern, taught by our school counselors. This course is designed to help with the academic and social transition to high school, as well as beginning to provide resources to help each student reflect on who they are and what roles they play within various communities.

In the spring, families meet individually with their assigned school counselor. Students and parents are advised about 10th-grade course selection, activities, and summer opportunities, with an eye toward their individual goals.

The College Counseling Department also hosts a College Information Night for 9th and 10th-grade parents to highlight what students and parents can do early on, to help prepare for the college process down the road.

10th Grade

In the spring, students will continue their Counseling class journey, reflecting on their learned strengths from 9th grade and begin to assess potential college and career opportunities. Students are introduced to the college research tools available to them through Malvern and meet with college counselors to discuss college topics in class. The College Counseling Department also hosts a College Information Night for 10th-grade students and parents to learn about making educated decisions on course progression, extracurricular, activities, and summer plans with an eye toward the student's development and college goals.

Individual family meetings are held in the spring with their school counselor. Students and parents are advised about 11th-grade course selection and standardized testing preparation. Counselors also discuss the possibility of taking on leadership roles in organizations where the student has an interest.

We recommend that each 10th grader visit two colleges during the summer between the 10th and 11th grades. In order for a student to assess the “best fit” college for them, we encourage families to stretch their comfort zone with these visits and see both large and/or small schools, rural and/or urban settings, and various geographic locations.

11th Grade

A number of College Admissions recruiters visit Malvern’s campus in the fall and juniors are invited to meet with them during these visits.

In the fall, the College Counseling Department hosts an 11th-grade college evening for parents to discuss topics like our College Seminar Curriculum for 11th graders, the visit and list-building process, standardized testing, and other topics more focused and relevant for the junior year.

Each junior will meet individually with his college counselor in late fall/early winter. A family meeting with the college counselor takes place in the sprint and focuses on course selection, but adds a more intense dive into the individual college steps needed for each student. These discussions often cover topics like college list building, standardized testing timelines, financial aid, summer plans, and athletic recruiting (when appropriate).

By the end of spring, each student will have developed an individualized college list from their research and input from the student's counselor. This is an initial list of 20-25 schools that could be good fits for the student on an academic, social, and financial level.

The 11th grade College Seminar course further focuses on educating students about their college choices and the resources available to them. In addition to exploring the college application process, students will also learn about what makes a strong college application, brainstorm and write their first college essay drafts, create a resume, request teacher recommendations, and start the initial pieces of their Common Application. During the summer between 11th and 12th grades, students are strongly encouraged to finish the main college essay they will submit to each college. Counselors are available to assist with essay review.

In -August, the college counselors host an Application Boot Camp for rising seniors to push them further on their Common Application, work on supplemental essays, and help them better understand and manage the stress and pressures of a busy college search.

12th Grade

A number of College Admissions recruiters visit campus in the fall and seniors are encouraged to meet with them during their visits.

In the fall, 12th grade parents attend the Senior College Parent Night to learn how to best support their son's application deadlines, senior fall "to-do's", clarification on the roles of the parent, the student, and the counselor, and to ask questions.

Counselors meet weekly or bi-weekly with seniors, both individually and in College Seminar class to discuss their final college list, essay progress, application deadlines and strategy, interview preparation, and other questions as they arise.