These counseling sessions, led by Bruce and Mary Anne, cover the concrete issues of what the student looks for in a college, such as size of student body, location, and price. These questions form the basis of Sandia Prep's college counseling philosophy, which is to help each student find the college that is the best fit for that student's interests and needs. This college would be a place where the student can grow, take risks, and be happy. In addition to helping students succeed in life after high school, Sandia Prep's college counseling program aims to enrich students' experiences while still at Prep. Once a student has focused his search to a dozen or fewer schools, the visiting phase begins and can last from summer to the fall of the senior year.
Parents frequently accompany their students on trips to colleges around the country.
This gives both parent and student a chance to view first-hand the academic and social experiences at individual schools. Meanwhile, testing dates for the SAT and ACT arrive, adding more stress to an already emotionally charged process. Again, students find support and resources in the S.A.C. Room. Pamphlets explain what kind of scores are expected from students. And Bruce and Mary Anne step in when the stress level gets too high.