By late June, parents receive a packet of information from their child's counselor listing specific suggestions for colleges to consider. Parents are asked to submit some biographical and educational information, as well as their ideas about the colleges they would like their children to consider. Information provided by parents about their children's life at home, such as character traits or contributions to community life, can further help the counselors know the students better and counsel them more effectively. Fall of the sixth form year . After a summer of visiting colleges and universities, each student continues the process of working with his or her counselor to refine the working list.
Students begin to focus on individual colleges, and the hard work of writing applications begins.
Choate's English Department offers support in refining and improving college essays. In addition, a series of on-campus college fairs is held each year, with more than 200 colleges and universities participating. To ask the final questions that help them sort out their choices, students also meet individually with college admission representatives who visit the campus. Counselors prepare accompanying materials such as transcripts, the secondary school report form, the class profile, and letters of recommendation. Early decision and early action applications are due between October 15 and December 15.