College & Career Planning
We’ll help you find the best college and career choices for students with dyslexia and other learning differences.
The Office of College and Career Planning guides students and families through the transition from Spring Valley to successful postsecondary life. We provide comprehensive, individualized, future-planning services for every high school student. Our process begins freshman year and encourages students to explore their unique strengths and long-term aspirations. By graduation day, 100% of our seniors have a clearly-articulated plan for the next chapter of their lives.
The Office of College and Career Planning provides guidance in the following areas:
Post-secondary planning
Career selection
Standardized testing (accommodations, preparation, and administration)
Applications and essay writing
Financial aid and scholarships
College and Career Preparation
With the ever-changing and increasingly competitive world of college admissions, Spring Valley School recognizes the importance of equipping students with the knowledge and tools they need to be successful in their studies post-high school.
The college prep program offers individual and group meetings, visits with college representatives, SAT and ACT advice and assistance with applications, interviews, and scholarships. College Prep Instructor Sandra Foster values identifying students' strengths, serving as a resource to parents, and ultimately assisting students in selecting a college that will allow them to reach their educational and career goals.
COLLEGE AND CAREER PREPARATION COUNSELOR
Sandra Foster, DrPH
College and Career Advisor
Dual Enrollment
Many 11th-12th grade students have the opportunity to earn college credit through Spring Valley's Dual Enrollment program in partnership with Landmark College. 21 students are currently enrolled in the Dual Enrollment program, including 5 juniors potentially earning 12 college credits by graduation. In addition to earning college credit, the range of course offerings allow students to select courses that fit their unique needs and interests. They can choose courses that count as core classes (e.g., Humanities I), they can explore fields in which they would like to major (Intro to Business; Intro to Programming), they can take classes that will further prepare them for college and life (Composition & Rhetoric; Personal Finance), or they can explore a subject they simply love (Creative Writing).
These courses place high demands on executive function and time-management skills (e.g. submitting multiple assignments a week; self-paced studying; scheduling and keeping appointments with professors). The benefit of the Landmark courses is that the students have a professor and a course advisor (at SVS) who can support them with the transition and any potential challenges. This support leads to greater success (and learning) and improves the students' confidence for future courses and college life itself. Students become comfortable with using Canvas, one of the most commonly used course platforms. Even if their future college uses a different platform, they'll be better equipped to engage with the platform. Students also learn how to engage with professors (and peers) in a professional manner. They learn soft skills such as writing professional emails and learning how to self-advocate when they need help.
DUAL ENROLLMENT ADVISOR
Jocelyn Burrill
Dual Enrollment Advisor
From Spring Valley To . . .
