Our college counseling program takes an individualized, student-centered approach, helping each student identify their strengths, interests, goals, and aspirations and develop a thoughtful plan for life after graduation. Through coaching and guidance throughout high school, students build the skills, confidence, and self-awareness needed to make informed decisions about their future. As a college preparatory school, our curriculum equips students to find success at four-year colleges and beyond into graduate studies, as well as explore additional options including two-year colleges, trade and technical schools, apprenticeships, and other career-focused programs.
We prioritize open communication and collaboration with families, working together to understand each student and support their growth and development. Ultimately, our goal is to ensure that every student graduates with access to excellent post-graduation options that reflect their unique interests, abilities, and goals.
The College Prep Process by Grade
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Fall and Winter: Western Slope College Fair, Career and College Counseling workshops. Peak School Expedition Week College Trip.
Spring: PSAT 8/9 Testing, Optional Test Prep class.
How you can prepare on your own:
Concentrate on academics
If you don’t already pursue any, consider a long-term extracurricular commitment
Begin visiting colleges when traveling
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Fall and Winter: Western Slope College Fair, Career and College Counseling workshops. Peak School Expedition Week College Trip.
Spring: PSAT 10 Testing, Optional Test Prep class.
How you can prepare on your own:
Concentrate on academics
Visit college campuses with your family
Additional SAT/ACT prep
Continue pursuing goals outside of the classroom, such as athletics, arts, community service, clubs, or other extracurricular commitments
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Fall: Western Slope College Fair, Career and College Counseling workshops.Optional PSAT/NMSQT testing.
Winter: Peak School Expedition Week College Trip. Optional Test Prep class, SAT/ ACT testing.
Spring: Family Meetings with College Counselor. Begin building college lists, brainstorm personal statement, prepare timeline for college applications. SAT/ACT testing.
How you can prepare on your own:
Concentrate on academics
Visit college campuses with your family over school breaks and into the summer
Continue studying for the ACT/SAT & register for an exam.
Continue pursuing goals outside of the classroom, such as athletics, arts, community service, clubs, or other extracurricular commitments
Begin working on college applications & essays over the summer before senior year
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In the 12th grade, you matriculate into the college counselor’s Base Camp—The Peak School version of homeroom—which allows for more one-on-one time with the college counselor during the final stretch of your college prep and application process.
Fall: College Essay Boot Camp in English class. Regular meetings with College Counselor to finalize college lists and complete college applications.
Winter: Senior Project Third Quarter Work Study experience.
Spring: Decide among the colleges you have been admitted to!
How you can prepare on your own:
Stay on track to finish your college essays before the end of the fall bootcamp by working on them over the summer
Don't let your academics slip! Avoid the senior slump
Line-up an internship for your third-quarter senior project
Continue pursuing goals outside of the classroom, such as athletics, arts, community service, clubs, or other extracurricular commitments
Take a deep breath, have a cup of tea, and celebrate finishing the college application process!
Annual College Trip
Why are college campus visits so important? For all the online research and virtual tours you do, there is no better way to become acquainted with a college and its offerings than to step foot on the school grounds. A campus tour is an invaluable opportunity to get a sense of what life will be like as a student there. Our annual college trip allows The Peak School students to get a first-hand look and feel of several campuses over the course of the trip.
Where do Peak Students go to College?
There is no one kind of school that Peak students prefer. We take pride in the fact that Peak’s matriculation list reflects the unique mix of personalities, interests, and goals of our senior class. Explore the map below.
American University of Technology
Arizona State University
Bennington College
Bowdoin College
Brigham Young University, Idaho
California College of the Arts
California Polytechnic State University
Chapman University
College of Charleston
Colorado College
Colorado Mountain College
Colorado School of Mines
Colorado State University
Connecticut College
Eckerd College
Evergreen State College
Flagler College
Ft. Lewis College
Grand Canyon University
Hamilton College
Hofstra University
James Madison University
Johnson and Wales
Kansas State University
Landmark College
Lewis & Clark
Lynn University
Meredith Manor
Metropolitan State University
Montana State University
New Mexico State University
New York University
Northeastern University
Oklahoma State University
Oregon State University
Otterbein University
Quest University
Regis University
Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
San Francisco State
Santa Clara University
Savannah College of Art and Design
Seattle Pacific University
Seattle University
Seminole State College of Florida
Skidmore College
St. Johns University
SUNY Fashion Inst.
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
The New School
UMASS Amherst
UNC Wilmington
University of British Columbia
University of California Santa Cruz
University of Colorado Boulder
University of Colorado, Colorado Springs
University of Colorado, Denver
University of Denver
University of Guelph
University of Montana
University of Missouri Kansas City
University of Northern Colorado
University of Oregon
University of Portland
University of Puget Sound
University of San Diego
University of Utah
University of Vermont
University of Victoria
University of Wyoming
Utah State University
Western Colorado University
Western Washington University
Westminster College
Whitman College
Whitworth University
William and Mary
Woodbury University