College Guidance and Counseling

College Counseling

Transformative Guidance, Not Just a Checklist

Families seeking private school college counseling near Philadelphia often value the individualized approach at Abington Friends School.

At Abington Friends School (AFS), our college counseling and guidance program helps students navigate the college application process with confidence, clarity, and purpose. Rather than treating college planning as a series of deadlines, we approach it as a thoughtful four-year journey. Through close relationships, expert guidance and intentional planning, our counselors help students discover colleges and post-secondary pathways where they will thrive.

Beginning in ninth grade, students work closely with advisors, teachers and college counselors to build an academic path that reflects their evolving interests, goals and strengths. Our college guidance program integrates academic advising, personal reflection and family partnership to ensure students are well prepared for the college search and application process.

What makes the AFS approach distinctive is the depth of our relationships and the breadth of our support. Our college counselors work with students on far more than application deadlines and college lists. We provide individualized guidance on:

Course selection and academic planning
Summer opportunities and enrichment programs
College research and campus visits
Financial aid and scholarship opportunities
The personal and emotional aspects of choosing the right college fit

With extensive knowledge of the college admissions landscape and strong relationships with colleges and universities across the country, our counselors help students identify schools that align with their academic interests, personal values, and long-term goals.

At AFS, college counseling is not an add-on to the high school experience—it is a natural extension of our educational philosophy. Our goal is not simply to help students gain admission to strong colleges and universities, but to help them find communities where they will grow intellectually, contribute meaningfully and thrive as individuals.

Your Story, Powerfully Told—By People Who Truly Know You

One of the greatest strengths of the AFS college counseling program is the personal advocacy our counselors provide for every student.

Our college counselors are respected voices among college admissions offices nationwide. Through hundreds of campus visits and ongoing relationships with admissions representatives, they maintain a deep understanding of colleges and universities and the qualities they seek in applicants.

When admissions officers visit AFS, they experience our rigorous curriculum firsthand and develop a nuanced understanding of the preparation our students receive. As a result, our counselors are able to speak with credibility and authority when advocating for each student.

They help present students as more than grades or test scores—highlighting individual strengths, contextualizing academic achievements, and explaining how each student will contribute to a college community. This level of personal advocacy helps ensure that AFS students stand out as thoughtful, well-prepared candidates in an increasingly competitive college admissions process.

College Guidance Seminar for Juniors

Every junior participates in our College Guidance Seminar, which introduces students to the full college search and application process.

Through the seminar and individualized meetings, college counselors work closely with students, families, and advisors to help students explore college options and develop a thoughtful college list. Students learn how to evaluate colleges based on academic programs, campus culture, and long-term goals.

Throughout the process, students gradually take greater ownership of the college search—developing the confidence and independence needed to make informed decisions about the next chapter of their education.