College Counseling

Tulsa’s only PreK-Grade 12 independent Episcopal school.

Welcome to College Counseling at Holland Hall.

Very few schools are fortunate enough to have the small college counselor to student ratio enjoyed by Holland Hall students. Three College Counselors attend to the needs of a class of approximately 90 seniors, affecting a ratio of 1:30. (According to The National Association of College Admission Counselors’ most recent report the national average is 395 students per counselor.)

About College Counseling

The College Counseling Curriculum

The best curriculum any student could have in order to succeed in the college search process is the strong academic one offered in classrooms at Holland Hall. College Admission directors and deans repeatedly advise students to take the most challenging courses in which they can succeed. At the core of our curriculum are teachers who, in addition to classroom activities, invite students to take advantage of office hours for personal help with the work they are assigned. Learning to take responsibility in asking for the help they need is central to their success in college.

In addition to this strong foundation, College Counseling adds these components:

9th Grade Year:

During the freshman year, College Counseling visits wellness classes to talk about goal setting and expectations. We visit with students about the importance of a strong transcript and how to calculate grade point averages. In the spring semester, we return with copies of their individual transcripts and work with students in Freshman Wellness to create a four-year curriculum plan.
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Another key component of the college counseling curriculum is familiarizing our students with standardized testing. All freshmen take the PreACT in October. Students will take the PreACT again in the spring of their sophomore year so we can track benchmark scores.

9th Grade Parent College Chat each February.

10th Grade Year:

During the fall semester of the sophomore year, students are enrolled in a one semester course, Sophomore Wellness, that is shared between College Counseling and the Wellness Team. The curriculum includes personality and career assessments, in addition to college application case studies. During the spring semester, College Counseling meets with the sophomore class to discuss the importance of leadership, maintaining a strong curriculum, a solid grade point average, and encourages them to begin visiting college campuses. A College Counselor is assigned to each sophomore student after the student’s fall semester.

Regarding testing preparation, all sophomores take the PSAT in October and the PreACT in late spring of the 10th grade year. We want all our students to see both preliminary forms of the SAT and the ACT to be informed about their testing options.

10th Grade Parent College Chat each February

11th Grade Year:

In the spring semester, junior students are in enrolled in College Seminar. This semester-long course offers classes in all aspects of the college search process, including resume building, personal statement writing, Common Application and college admission case studies. We ask junior students to register for and take a December or February ACT, or a December or March SAT, depending on the individual’s curriculum and extracurricular activities. Additional tests are available throughout the spring and summer.

11th Grade Parent College Chat each November.

12th Grade Year:

In August, just before the 12th grade year, College Counseling offers an optional “College Boot Camp.” These rising seniors complete the Common Application, update their resume, and write their college personal statements and essays. Boot Camp has proven to be an exceptional benefit toward helping reduce the stress of a very busy fall semester! Ideally, testing is complete, however, some seniors may need to test in September or October. Seniors are required to meet with their assigned college counselor once per cycle in the fall semester until all applications are complete and submitted. This meeting time affords both student and counselor the opportunity to monitor the application process and to get all questions answered.

Senior Parent Orientation & College Counseling Overview each August.

For College Reps

Annual College Forum

Spend an Evening with Esteemed College Deans and Directors.

Holland Hall Deans’ and Directors’ Event, now called College Forum, is sponsored by the College Counseling office. It is the first program of its kind in Oklahoma and has a wonderful and rich history. Dating back to 1985, this event hosts top college admission professionals from across the United States.

These experts in their field will discuss overall current trends in college admission, talk a bit about their own institutions, and answer any questions you might have.

Plan to join us Monday evening, March 11, 2024, at 6:00 p.m. for our 38th Annual College Forum in Barnard Commons of the Upper School.

Invite your friends!

College Forum History

2023
Colorado School of Mines, Jen Gagne
Southern Methodist University, Elena Hicks
University of Alabama, Jim Landers
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2022
Colorado State University, Heather Daniels
Case Western Reserve University, Bob McCullough
Trinity University, Justin Doty
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2021
No event due to Covid-19 precautions

2020
University of Richmond, Gil Villanueva
Yale University, Jeremiah Quinlan
University of South Carolina, Mary Wagner

2019
Washington University in St. Louis, Ronné Turner
The University of Tulsa, Casey Reed
Tulane University, Jeff Schiffman

2018
Tufts University, Karen Richardson
The University of Denver, Todd Rinehart
Oklahoma State University, Kyle Wray
Austin College, Nan Davis

2017
Johns Hopkins University, Ellen Kim
Clemson University, Robert Barkley
New York University, Shawn Abbott

2016
Boston University, Kelly Walter
Northwestern University, Chris Watson
Rhodes College, Jeff Norris

2015
Case Western Reserve University, Bob McCullough
Cornell University, Shawn Felton
Elon University, Greg Zaiser

2014
Occidental College, Sally Stone Richmond
University of Chicago, James Nondorf
University of Oklahoma, Matt Hamilton

2013
University of Georgia, Nancy McDuff
College of Charleston, Suzette Stille
Southern Methodist University, Wes Waggoner

2012
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Stephen Farmer
St. Olaf College, Michael Kyle
Rice University, Dan Warner

2011
Indiana University, Mary Ellen Anderson
The George Washington University, Katherine Napper

2010
Vanderbilt University, Doug Christiansen
Brown University, Jim Miller
University of Michigan, Ted Spencer

2009
Davidson College, Christopher Gruber
University of Kansas, Lisa Pinamonti Kress
Princeton University, Janet Lavin Rapelye

2008
Texas Christian University, Ray Brown
Colorado College, Mark Hatch
Columbia University, Peter Johnson

2007
Trinity University, Christopher Ellertson
Sewanee: University of the South, David Lesesne
Pitzer College, Arnaldo Rodriguez
University of Pennsylvania, Lee Stetson

2006
University of Southern California, Tim Brunold
Sweet Briar College, Ken Huus
Carleton College, Paul Thiboutot
University of Texas, Bruce Walker

2005
Willamette University, Robin Brown
DePauw University, Madeleine Eagon
University of Missouri, Barbara Rupp
The University of Notre Dame, Dan Saracino