An Inside Peek at Brewster’s Student-Centered College Counseling

Tim Cushing

Apr 5 2019

College counseling is not a one-size-fits-all process. Each student has taken a unique path to where they are. It's important when counseling a student to understand where they have been in order to help them figure out where to go. At Brewster, we pride ourselves on understanding a student’s whole story in order to assist them in finding the right place for them to further their education. We have a specific, thoughtful way of counseling our students about their college options here at Brewster.

1. Know the Student

Dean of College Counseling Laura Duffy and I know that to help Brewster’s kids successfully navigate the college process, we must make sure to get to know each student on a meaningful level. First, based on each student’s Brewster class team, they are assigned to a counselor, which allows us to attend their team meetings and know how they're doing both academically and as a community member. We also both live on campus and use opportunities to get know students through their dorm life, coaching, organizations, weekend programming, and oftentimes eating with them in the dining hall. Knowing them on a personal level allows us to guide them more effectively.

2. Manage the Process

We break down the process to a micro level that makes it manageable and fun for our students. In the spring of their junior year, we incorporate college counseling into our SEL (social and emotional learning) program, where we work with them twice a week. The students complete surveys that dive deeper into their story and allow them to have a voice in their recommendations. They will also begin filling out their common application, request teacher recommendations, and attend essay-writing workshops. We provide special sessions for international students and any students interested in applying to art schools. Once they go through these steps, they will have started or completed almost every part of the application, easing any stress about tackling everything at once. At that point, they only have to finalize their applications to put their best foot forward.

3. Call on Expertise

Another differentiating factor is the experience that Laura and I bring to the table. Laura has been in our office for more than 20 years, and her knowledge of this process is unrivaled. She has successfully helped nearly a thousand students find their post-Brewster homes. Prior to Brewster, I worked in college admission at three different institutions. Knowing what happens on the other side of this process is extremely valuable. We're also both heavily involved in the organizations that oversee our field. I currently sit on the Governing Board for the New England Association for College Admission Counseling and I am an elected member of the group that represents our organization at the national level. This allows Laura and me to keep up with current trends and build connections across the country to benefit our students.

Our goal is to ensure that each student has options that fit their individual preferences so they may choose the right place for them. When a student makes their final decision, we want them to feel empowered, confident that their work with us at Brewster has set them up for personal and academic success. It is that intentionality toward this goal that makes our college counseling approach truly special.

Tim Cushing (pictured above) joined the Office of College Counseling in 2017 as the assistant director. He is the boys’ varsity tennis coach and coaches within the basketball program as well.

Photo Credit: Ben Shaw '19