Academics

College Counseling

Welcome to College Counseling

At the Vermont Academy College Counseling Office, we strive to help our students find the colleges that match their abilities and interests and where they can be successful. From the moment they join our tight-knit community, we work closely with our students to determine the right balance of academic challenge and extracurricular activity to serve them well on the road ahead. Finding the right college fit is an important journey in self-awareness and one that asks our students to seek direction. We are committed to providing them with the expertise, guidelines, and resources to make that process run both smoothly and effectively. If you are interested in the resources our college preparatory school offers or if you'd like to meet with a member of our team, we encourage you to contact us today!

The College Counseling Process by Each Grade Level

List of 4 items.

9th Grade
- Develop good study habits
- Work with your teachers and advisor to get good grades
- Look into the various extracurricular programs available and of interest to you – volunteer experiences, work, clubs, sports, performing arts, etc.
- Keep a list of any awards and honors you have received, and activities or community service you have been involved in
- Participate in summer activities that keep your academic skills fresh
10th Grade
- Talk to your advisor or the college counseling office to make sure you are on track to satisfy VA graduation and college admission requirements
- Take the most challenging courses you can reasonably manage
- Take the PSAT on campus
- Start to think about fields of study and careers you might be interested in. Take electives that reflect your career goals if possible.
- Continue extracurricular activities and update your list from ninth grade. Also continue tracking any honors and awards you receive.
- If you aspire to play Division I or II athletics, familiarize yourself with academic qualification and register with the NCAA eligibility center
- Visit a college or two that are close to home
- Choose enriching summer activities such as getting a job, volunteering, participating in an academic enrichment program/camp
11th Grade
ACADEMIC YEAR
- Take the most rigorous courses you can reasonably manage
- Maintain good grades
- Ensure that you are signed up for the ACT or SAT tests in the spring. You may want to take them again in the fall of your senior year. Prepare for the standardized tests; look for tutoring as needed
- Think about the clubs, activities and work experience you have had and also what you need to add to your profile to be a stronger college candidate
- Attend College Seminar classes and meet with your college counselor
- Use available resources to develop college lists and to learn more about the schools on your list. Rank the features of colleges that are most important to you
- Narrow your list of colleges of interest and determine what it takes to be accepted. Your list should contain 8-12 colleges
- Research financial aid options as needed
- Use vacation times to visit schools – register online for info sessions and tours
- Review your ACT/SAT test scores when they arrive to see areas where you might want to improve
- Ask two of your teachers for letters of recommendation.
- Add any new awards or honors to your file
- Create a common application account
  Take AP exams (if applicable)
SUMMER
- Explore summer activities related to your career goals. If possible, you may also want to explore potential internships
- Participate in an academic enrichment or leadership program, camp, college, etc
- If you will be looking for accommodations in college, most will require current (within three years) cognitive and achievement testing for LD/ADHD accommodations; take these over the summer
- Visit colleges and go to interviews
- Maintain contact with your college advisor
12th Grade/Postgraduate
- Maintain good grades and stay focused
- Take the most rigorous courses you can reasonably manage
- Meet with your college counselor to provide college updates
- Talk about ED/EA with your college counselor
- Finalize college essay
- Check deadline dates on all college applications
- Submit applications by November deadlines
- Continue to research and apply for scholarships
- Submit applications for December deadlines
- Work with family to complete Financial Aid Forms
- Submit applications by January deadlines
- Submit college deposit by May 1
- Take AP exams (if applicable)
- Notify College Counseling office of final decisions

List of 1 items.

Matriculation List

Four-Year Matriculation List (2021-2024)

Alderson Broaddus University
Amherst College

Anna Maria College (2)

Arizona State University-Tempe

Assumption University

Ave Maria University

Bates College

Baylor University

Bentley University (3)

Bishop's University

Boston College (2)

Boston University (5)

Bryn Mawr College

Central Connecticut State University

Clark University

Clarkson University

Colby-Sawyer College

Colorado Mesa University

Colorado State University-Fort Collins

Colorado State University-Pueblo

Concordia University (3)

Connecticut College

Cornell College

Curry College

Dartmouth College

Denison University

DigiPen Institute of Technology

Drexel University

Elmhurst University

Elon University (2)

Emerson College (2)

Florida Gulf Coast University

Franklin Pierce University

George Mason University

Gettysburg College

Goucher College

Hamilton College

Harcum College

Hartwick College

High Point University (2)

Hobart William Smith Colleges (4)

IE University - Madrid

Jacksonville University

Keene State College

Lebanon Valley College

Lehigh University

Lesley University (2)

Liberty University

Long Island University - Brooklyn

Loyola University Chicago

Lycoming College

Lynn University

Manhattanville University (2)

Marist College

McPherson College (2)

Merrimack College (2)

Millersville University of Pennsylvania

Nazareth University (2)

New York University (2)

Northeastern University (2)

Norwich University (3)

Pace University (2)

Palm Beach Atlantic University

Paul Smiths College of Arts and Science

Plymouth State University (3)

Pratt Institute-Main

Providence College (2)

Purdue University-Main Campus (2)

Queen's University Kingston

Quinnipiac University

Recording Arts Canada, Montreal

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (2)

Roger Williams University

Royal Military College of Canada

Sacred Heart University

Saint Michael's College (6)

Salem State University

Salisbury University

Salve Regina University (2)

Sierra Nevada University

Smith College

Southern New Hampshire University

Springfield College (2)

St Catherine University

St. Lawrence University (2)

Stevenson University

Stony Brook University

Suffolk University

SUNY College at Oswego

SUNY Fredonia

Syracuse University (4)

Texas Christian University

The University of Alabama (2)

The University of West Florida

Towson University

Trinity College (5)

Tulane University of Louisiana

Union College (NY) (2)

United States Military Academy

University of Arizona

University of Bridgeport

University of Central Florida

University of Colorado Boulder

University of Connecticut

University of Denver (3)

University of Florida

University of Hartford (2)

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

University of Kansas

University of Maine (2)

University of Maryland-Baltimore County

University of Massachusetts-Amherst (3)

University of New England (3)

University of New Hampshire-Main Campus (2)

University of New Haven

University of Rhode Island

University of the District of Columbia

University of Toronto

University of Utah

University of Vermont (10)

Vassar College (2)

Vermont State University (All Campuses) (4)

Virginia Tech

Westminster University - UT

Wheaton College - Massachusetts

Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Resources for College Admissions Representatives

College Rep Visits

For College Admissions Representatives, click here to schedule a visit or virtual tour.

Vermont Academy School Profile

For prospective students and College Admissions Representatives, click here for VA’s School Profile.

Meet the College Counseling Team

List of 3 members.

Maryann McArdle

Director of College Counseling

(802) 869-6235

Vermont College of Norwich University - BA

Bio
Maryann is a 30-year veteran at the Academy and a proud mother of four VA alumni; Ollie ’94, Eli ’96, Rosie ’02, and Conor ’06. Having "worn many hats" during her time at VA, she enjoys her current position in the College Counseling office, allowing her to work closely with students throughout their college process. Maryann is an avid musician and gardener and lives with her husband, artist Mark Ragonese, in Bellows Falls.
John Zall

Head Coach, Boys' Prep Basketball / Associate Director of College Counseling

Northeastern University - BS
Trinity College - MA

Bio
John Zall joined Vermont Academy in 2021 as the Head Boys' Prep Basketball Coach, Associate Director of College Counseling, and Sociology teacher.

John’s experience coaching at the college and NBA levels showed him how a student’s high school experience impacted the rest of their life, which is why he’s shifted the focus of his career. As a coach, he hopes to provide every student-athlete a solid foundation that will allow them to thrive academically, athletically, and socially after their time here at Vermont Academy.

Before coming to Vermont Academy, John spent five seasons coaching at Trinity College in the prestigious New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC). While John was at Trinity, his team consistently finished in the top half of the league, and many players went on to garner all-league selections.

Before Trinity, John spent one season coaching with the Dallas Mavericks in their Player Development Department. During that season, the Mavericks qualified for the NBA Playoffs, and he worked closely on the court with the entire roster, including Dirk Nowitzki, the NBA's 6th All Time-Leading Scorer.

Other coaching stops include Franklin Pierce University, a Division II school that competes in the Northeast 10, and John D. O'Bryant High School, a member of the Boston City League.

John graduated from Northeastern University in 2013 with a BS in Sociology and Trinity College in 2019 with a MA in Public Policy. John resides on campus in Alumni Hall.
Caitlin Holton '96

Associate Director of College Counseling / 12th Grade Class Dean / Equestrian

(802) 869-6284

University of Vermont - BA

Bio
Caitlin Holton joined Vermont Academy in 2014 in the Student Life office with a background in business. As an alumna of the Class of 1996, and parent of Wildcats Hannah ’26 and Sophie ’28, Caitlin has a longstanding relationship with Vermont Academy and has assumed a variety of leadership roles on campus including Assistant Dean of Student Life, Class Dean of various grade levels, advisor, Equestrian coach, affiliate dorm parent, and is currently in the role of Associate Director of College Counseling. Caitlin believes in developing supportive relationships with her students and is passionate about working with them to achieve their goals and personal and academic growth.

Caitlin obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Vermont where she took a special interest in psychology, sociology, relational behaviors, and childhood development. She lives off campus in Dummerston, VT. When she is not on campus, Caitlin enjoys horseback riding, snowboarding, traveling, and spending time with her family.