Click here for current news and announcements from the guidance counselors.

Philosophy
The guidance and counseling department of Lauralton Hall focuses on supporting the whole student - academic advisement, college counseling, and holistic personal development. Lauralton's four counselors provide a support network for the students as they adjust to high school life and develop through the four years. Communication with parents is also a focus, with four parent meetings and workshops annually.

Structure
Each entering student is assigned a counselor who will remain with her through the four years for academic, personal and college advisement. Guidance focuses on:

9th grade:	adjustment to Lauralton, study skills and communication techniques;
10th grade:	decision making, peer pressure, life skills;
11th grade:	self evaluation through values inventory and interest inventory, college search, preparation for standardized testing;
12th grade:	college application process, transition to college.

Guidance Department Course Descriptions

College Counseling
Through individual meetings and seminar classes, counselors work with students to find colleges and universities that match their academic achievements, personal strengths and preferences and career aspirations. During numerous meetings in the spring of junior year and fall of senior year, students are advised and supported throughout the college search and application process.

Additionally, Lauralton Hall subscribes to Naviance, a web-based college application and search engine. Beneficial to counselors, students and parents, Naviance has become very popular at high schools throughout the country, thus Lauralton is encouraging students and parents to use the Naviance “Family Connection” module regularly. Students are able to track their college applications, contact college admissions offices personally, receive information on specific college deadlines and other updates, participate in the school’s guidance department-designed surveys, complete the Myer’s- Briggs “Do What You Are” Personality Indicator test, add and build resumes starting from freshman year and access current PSAT, SAT, ACT and AP scores. Both students and parents receive registration codes allowing them to access “Family Connection” through Lauralton’s Naviance site. Students and parents each have their own “personal” webpage.

The Guidance Department has produced the Guide to College Admissions, a publication that is revised annually and for use by juniors and their parents. The current version, updated in January 2011 and including valuable information and tips about the entire college application process, was prepared for the Class of 2012.

An SAT test prep course is offered by at Lauralton Hall by First Choice College Placement. Please click here for details or to register.

This publication lists numerous websites that would be helpful to parents and students as they work through the college search and application process. Listed below are a few of the sites that seem to be particularly helpful and user friendly:

Common Application with complete instructions :	www.commonapp.org
SAT registration and test preparation, college search and financial aid information:	www.collegeboard.com
College search information and applications:	www.collegenet.com www.collegeview.com
Free SAT preparation:	www.kaptest.com
Virtual college tours:	www.campustours.com
Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA); government document required for all college financial aid:	www.fafsa.ed.gov
Financial aid and scholarship information:	www.finaid.com www.salliemae.com
Scholarship information:	www.fastweb.com
General information on college athletics; Information on teams in participating colleges:	www.ncaa.org
Information on initial eligibility for Division I and Division II college athletics:	www.ncaaclearinghouse.net

Lauralton Hall College Acceptances 2007-2010

Lauralton Hall Profile for Colleges

Guidance Counselors

Connie Tallman Department Chair	203-877-2786, ext. 128	ctallman@lauraltonhall.org
Susan Fracker	203-877-2786, ext. 122	sfracker@lauraltonhall.org
Yvonne Fosse-Previs	203-877-2786, ext. 134	yfosseprevis@lauraltonhall.org
Grace Mulliken	203-877-2786, ext. 157	gmulliken@lauraltonhall.org
Michele Cihal Guidance Administrative Assistant	203-877-2786, ext. 138	mcihal@lauraltonhall.org