College Counseling

Maimonides Upper School

Discover Your Path

The San Diego Jewish Academy offers comprehensive college counseling throughout all four years of high school. Our expert counselor works closely with students and their parents from the early stages of learning about colleges and requirements on through the admissions process. Along this journey, we work together to plan a student’s class schedule and extra-curricular activities, with an eye towards identifying and gaining admission into the college or colleges that meet their academic, lifestyle and religious needs.

SDJA College Acceptances

View college acceptances from the past five graduating classes.

Case Studies Event – Juniors
Student and teacher working together during a college counseling session

College Counseling Process

9th & 10th Grade

Upon entering the high school, students and parents first meet informally with the Dean of Academic Affairs to discuss academic counseling. We always remind freshman and sophomore students of the reality that the grades they earn early in high school do play a large part in the cumulative GPA that will be on the high school transcript that will accompany their  college applications. We also inform students and parents about the PSAT, SAT, ACT and SAT subject tests—and all of the options in front of them. At the same time, we emphasize the importance of acclimation to high school and integration into the many, many opportunities for involvement  that SDJA has to offer.

The planning conversations—about curriculum and advancement and extra-curricular activities--begun in the freshman year continue into the sophomore year. As the second year of high school continues, we begin to inform families of the realities of the college admissions process, including the choice—which takes place in the spring—of electives and course levels, standardized testing, and the creation of a college admissions resume.

11th Grade

Formal college counseling begins in the junior year.  A meeting with students and parents is held in early fall, during which an overview of the college selection and application process is offered.  The counselor meets with each family to continue the previous years’ curricular planning discussions as well as to converse about how previously earned scores on standardized testing might inform a decision about whether or not to take the SAT or ACT and how to prepare for either. A schedule for taking SAT Subject Tests is also discussed, as are summer plans.

We help our students gather recommendations, develop essay topics, research college possibilities and complete and submit to us the information we need to write personalized letters that demonstrate the unique skills, talents and strengths of each and every student. Our counselor understands the importance of conveying to colleges not only the successes that our students achieve but also the content that describes their character.

12th Grade

During the course of the application period, each student works individually with the counselor on all of the myriad aspects of the application process, including such topics as early action and early decision applications (and their implications), how to deepen their essays, how to have a productive college visit, how to have a meaningful interview with admissions representatives, how to pursue financial aid, and how (and from whom) to request teacher recommendations.