Appointments to see a university counsellor

To see one of the University Counsellors, you must make an appointment using our on-line booking system.

To book an appointment, you need to be logged into the Brentwood system through your school email account. Also, you must ensure that you have opened your Google Calendar at least once to ensure that the times between the two systems are in sync.

To access our on-line appointment system, click HERE to go to the correct page on the University Counselling website... 

Although we shouldn’t have to tell you, do not make an appointment during a class—academic, arts or athletics—you cannot skip to attend a University Counselling appointment!

interested in applying to colleges in the united states?

US Applicants

Based on attendance to our first USA Sundays workshop on February 18 (and those who contacted Mr. Rodrigues about not being able to attend), the following Grade 11s have identified themselves as US Applicants:

• If you missed our first USA Sundays Workshop on February 18, please see the presentation slides available on the Presentations page under Student Resources section of this website. 

• Even if you were in attendance, take some time to review those slides and ensure you have a firm grasp of the messages in them. Ask you parents to review them and then have a discussion with them about the information provided.

• If you intend to be a US Applicant and are not listed above (because you did not come to the Workshop), please email Mr. Rodrigues.

• US Applicants should start making your Initial Appointments with Mr. Rodrigues to discuss your plans for US applications... We will be expecting you to make an appointment to:

1. discuss your testing plan

2. review your academic records that we have on file 

3. your preliminary campus choices

4. your ideas for your Personal Essay based on the CommonApp Essay Prompts

Our next USA Sundays workshop will come right after spring break.

US Personal Essay: the commonapp essay prompts

One of the big tasks that US Applicants have is to look at the CommonApp Essay Prompts and to pick one for their First Essay Draft. The CommonApp Prompts from this past admissions cycle are (and they are unlikely to change):

• Some students have a background, identity, interest, or talent that is so meaningful they believe their application would be incomplete without it. If this sounds like you, then please share your story.

• The lessons we take from obstacles we encounter can be fundamental to later success. Recount a time when you faced a challenge, setback, or failure. How did it affect you, and what did you learn from the experience?

• Reflect on a time when you questioned or challenged a belief or idea. What prompted your thinking? What was the outcome?

• Reflect on something that someone has done for you that has made you happy or thankful in a surprising way. How has this gratitude affected or motivated you?

• Discuss an accomplishment, event, or realization that sparked a period of personal growth and a new understanding of yourself or others.

• Describe a topic, idea, or concept you find so engaging that it makes you lose all track of time. Why does it captivate you? What or who do you turn to when you want to learn more?

• Share an essay on any topic of your choice. It can be one you've already written, one that responds to a different prompt, or one of your own design.

Many Schools Have Extended Their "Test Optional" Admissions Policies... While Others Have Not

We continue to see schools announce that they are extending their Test Optional admission policies through to the (Class of) 2025 admissions cycle. It would seem that the foothold that standardized testing has had in the admissions process is loosening... and this may alter the approach that students take to the whole process.

At the same time, there are some schools who have returned to requiring the Standardized Testing for Admissions, so it will very much depend on where you eventually apply. Indeed, there was big news from Dartmouth College recently about the return of their standardized testing requirement. If this the beginning of a major shift... perhaps!

We still encourage students to consider the SAT as part of their approach to applying to schools in the US, but the landscape will certainly be predominantly Test Optional for you when you apply next year.

Registering for your first SAT

Some Grade 11s who already know that they will definitely will be applying to the US have been asking about the official SAT. As you can see on the Grade 11 Timeline, we recommend that students in Grade 11 take the SAT for the first time in March. The March 2023 date is the first Saturday of spring break... while everyone else leaves on Friday, students who wish to write at Brentwood will be able to stay the Friday night, take the SAT Saturday morning, and then depart for their break. The registration deadline for the March SAT is February 23. Please make an appointment with one of the University Counsellors for help with getting registered.

And while the May and June dates seem a far way off, we have limited space at Brentwood on these dates, so you will want to register early.

The following students are registered to take the upcoming SATs:

• March 9 SAT: Megan C., Albina D., Sienna G., Hamish G., Youto I., Pearl N., Luke O., Frederick O., Oluwatoni O., Evan R., Ruby S., Grace Si., Sloane S., Grace St., Kevin V., Matson W., Kyle Y.

IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, PLEASE FILL OUT THE TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS FORM THAT MR. RODRIGUES SENT TO THE MARCH SAT TAKERS!

• May 4 SAT: Lavinia B., Albina D., Evan M., Dara M., Shunsuke N., Pearl N., Karter P., Kennedy P., Mia R., Ruby S., Grace Si., Sloane S.

• June 1 SAT: Hamish G., Evan M., Dara M., Jacob M., Frederick O., Karter P., Kennedy P.

March SAT Takers & Travel

As we get closer to the March SAT date, we will be connecting with you to confirm your travel plans. When the SAT has fallen on the first Saturday of spring break like this, we have made arrangements for buses to take our students to the ferries/airport as needed. More to come!

Testing Schedule for the SAT

Regardless of how you are preparing for the SAT, you need to get your testing schedule organized. What we recommend for all Brentwood students is:

• 1st sitting of the SAT = March or May or June 2024 (Grade 11)

• 2nd sitting of the SAT = June or August 2024 (Grade 11)

• 3rd sitting of the SAT, if needed = October 2024 (Grade 12)

Not every student needs to sit the SAT three times, but virtually all students will take it 2 or 3 times.

Testing Accommodations for the SAT

Do you get testing accommodations at Brentwood because of an IEP? If you believe you might be eligible for accommodations for the SAT, then you need to submit an application with the CollegeBoard for them. You need to see Ms Rogers in the Learning Centre as she must submit the application and required documentation to see if you qualify for accommodations. They are not guaranteed!