College Counseling

Our counselors also visit a number of college campuses annually, meeting with admission officials and establishing valuable contacts. In turn, admission representatives from top colleges and universities across the country come to Holland Hall’s Upper School yearly to meet with our students. We also host Deans of Admission at our annual Deans’ and Directors’ Event early in the spring semester; again building rapport with them and allowing them to see first-hand the advantages Holland Hall offers its students.

Involvement is at the heart of a student’s Holland Hall education. Holland Hall students are valued for their individuality, their integrity and their enthusiasm for learning. The College Counseling department works continually to make sure universities recognize our students’ academic and extracurricular strengths.

All this leads to quality and in-depth counseling with each student and his or her family. Our counselors partner with the student and parents to seek the best “fit,” that is, the most suitable colleges.

College Counseling Handbook

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/10th 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.

• 9th/10th grade Parent College Chat each February.
• College Financial Aid Information Night each September.

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.
• College Financial Aid Information Night each September.

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.

• 12th Grade Parent Orientation for College Counseling each August.
• College Financial Aid Information Night each September.
• College FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) Workshop each October.

Welcome, College Admission Colleagues!

We look forward to welcoming you to our campus and to Tulsa.

Our calendar is now available by searching for Holland Hall at: www.scoir.com Making appointments in SCOIR is a free service to you. SCOIR also provides its college advising and document management platform free to Title 1 eligible high schools to facilitate the admissions process and expand college access. Their admission essential solutions are available to every college at no cost. Holland Hall encourages your institution to sign up with SCOIR!

While you are in Tulsa, we hope you will explore and visit some of our area attractions including Oklahoma original dining and shopping. Click here to learn more about Tulsa shopping, dining, attractions and hotels.

Directions to the College Counseling Office in the Upper School:

To find the Upper School building, enter through the main gate on the south side of East 81st Street, between Yale and Sheridan. A directional sign will be on your right. The Upper School is color-coded YELLOW. Watch for directional signs in yellow. You will follow the road all the way to the first stop sign. Take a left at the stop sign. The Upper School building will be on your right. Take the first left into the parking lot. Visitor parking is on your right. Walk back toward the Upper School and look for the single glass-door entrance with a sign to its left that reads, “Upper School / Visitor Entrance / Administrative Offices / Admissions.” Enter through this door and register with the receptionist at the front desk. Please have a valid driver’s license with you for registration purposes. Someone from College Counseling will meet you and show you to our offices.Please note: Holland Hall is a completely smoke-free, nicotine-free campus.

Campus Map

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 27, 2023, at 6:00 p.m. for our 37th Annual College Forum in the Walter Arts Center Holliman Gallery on the Holland Hall campus.

This year we welcome Elena Hicks, Dean of Admission at Southern Methodist University, Dale Gaubatz, Dean of Admission at Colorado School of Mines, and Jim Landers, Dean of Admission at the University of Alabama.

Invite your friends!

College Forum History

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

2022-2023 ACT/SAT Test Dates.

HOLLAND HALL CEEB CODE: 373-615

ACT

Register at www.actstudent.org

Registration: $63 or $88 w/ writing*
Late Registration: + $36
(Other charges may apply)
$16 per score report per college

* Prices are subject to change

# April 18 – An ACT district test (Holland Hall students only) will be administered at Holland Hall during the school day. This test is optional (there is a fee) and will be given to 11th grade students who choose to test. No registration is needed for this test, only a reservation with College Counseling.

Registration for national test dates opens each July 1st for the following school year. Sign up now for email reminders at actstudent.org
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SAT

Register at www.collegeboard.com

Registration: $60
Late Registration: + $30
(Other charges may apply)

* Prices are subject to change