Programs & College Preparation | Portsmouth Abbey School, Rhode Island

Welcome to the beginning of a wonderful, albeit challenging, four years. One of the biggest challenges coming your way will be applying to colleges. We are here to support you throughout the process.  

We will meet with the entire Third Form class during the winter term to discuss how to make the most of your Abbey education. But in the meantime, please feel free to come by our office, located on the second floor of the Administration Building, if you have any questions or concerns. If you would like to schedule a meeting with one of us, email the College Counseling Coordinator, and be sure to let her know when you are free as you can’t miss class to meet with us.  

We hope that you will enjoy your four years here. Work hard to keep your grades up, get involved in activities that reflect who you are and what you love, and enjoy the friendships that will start now and last a lifetime.  

THIRD FORM CALENDAR  

Fall Term  

• Engage fully and completely in the Abbey experience. Invest yourself in your academics and do your very best work. Reach out to teachers to deepen your knowledge of subjects about which you are passionate and to get academic support. Remember: you are laying the foundation that you will build on through the rest of secondary school and into college and in your life beyond formal schooling. It is time to take ownership over your education.  

• Explore co-curricular activities (music, theater, drama, athletics, community service, student government, leadership opportunities, etc.), and don’t be afraid to try something new.  

• Read! Reading extensively and widely expands your knowledge and horizons, makes you a more interesting person, and, according to research done by the College Board, is the best way to improve your SAT EBRW score.  

Winter Term  

• Choose your Fourth Form classes and consider your academic program over the next three years. You should take classes that challenge you and interest you but in which you can be successful. Colleges pay attention to both your GPA and your course rigor in the admissions process. You are welcome to meet with a college counselor to discuss what courses you should be taking.  

• Begin thinking about college. It is a little early to decide where you want to go, but you should be listening to friends, talking with your parents and teachers, and learning about a variety of schools that might interest you. Feel free to come by our office and use our resources.  

• Take advantage of Spring Break to visit one or two college campuses. While it’s early to begin formal college visits, if you are traveling near schools that you think might interest you, by all means drive through the campus. If you think you like it, don’t hesitate to get out of the car and walk around the campus a bit. Students will be happy to answer questions, and in fact will probably be flattered that you are interested in their school.  

Spring Term  

• Consider summer programs or jobs. And just as there is no "magic bullet" activity that will "get you into" a college, there is no magic summer job or program that is "better" than any other. Get involved in something that really interests you, or get a job, or look after your baby sister so that your mom and dad can work. But also be sure to have a little fun. That’s what summer is for!  

Summer  

• Read some good books!  

• Stay active through jobs, classes, or summer programs.  

• If you are traveling with your family, take the time to stop by and visit one or two colleges in the area.  

• If English is not your first language, you MUST read in English, not in translation. The more you read in English, the higher your SAT EBRW and TOEFL scores will be; the less you read in English, the lower they will be. Extensive reading in English now will mean you will be better prepared for the rigors of a strong US university program later.

During the winter term you will be assigned a college counselor. In the spring term, you will attend a form wide technology workshop to learn about Maia Learning--a comprehensive, web-based college counseling software, which augments and enhances services offered by the Portsmouth Abbey College Counseling Office. Maia Learning also acts as a vehicle for parents to stay involved and informed in the college search and application process.  

Feel free to come by our office, located on the second floor of the Administration Building, if you have any questions or concerns. If you would like to schedule a meeting with your college counselor, email the College Counseling Coordinator and be sure to let her know when you are free as you can’t miss class to meet with us.  

Work hard to keep your grades up, get involved in activities that reflect who you are and what you love, and enjoy the friendships that will start now and last a lifetime.  

FOURTH FORM CALENDAR

Fall Term  

• Continue to take rigorous courses in which you can do well. Remember that you are laying the academic foundation that you will build on through the rest of secondary school and into college, and you are creating the academic profile that will help determine what your college options will be.  

• If your academic and study skills don’t seem to measure up to what is expected here, seek help from your classroom teachers, your advisor, and our Study Skills Specialist. Don’t let yourself fall behind.  

• Continue to explore activities and clubs. There is still time to try something new, but don’t feel that you have to be involved in a huge number of activities. Choose activities that you are truly interested in and commit yourself to being a serious participant and leader. Not sure which activity will “look best on your resume?” There is no “magic bullet” activity that is going to impress colleges more than any other. Colleges just want to know that you are involved, productive, and a strong contributor to the life of your community.  

• Take the PSAT: The Abbey Academic Office signs up students for the PSAT and then administers it to all Fourth Formers in October. This is a practice test and doesn’t “count,” but you should do your best so that you will have a better idea of what your standardized test profile will look like.  

• Read! Reading extensively and widely expands your knowledge and horizons, makes you a more interesting person, and, according to research done by the College Board, is the best way to improve your SAT reading score.  

Winter Term  

• Receive and review PSAT scores: The best way to prepare for next year’s “official” PSAT is to understand what you missed on the practice test.  

• Choose your Fifth Form classes; consider your academic program over the next three years. You should take classes that challenge you but in which you can be successful. You should expect to work hard. You are welcome to meet with your college counselor to discuss what courses you should take.  

• Begin thinking about college. It is a little early to decide where you want to go, but you should be listening to friends, talking with your parents and teachers, and learning about a variety of schools that might interest you. Feel free to come by the College Counseling Office and use our resources.  

• Take advantage of Spring Break to visit one or two campuses. While it’s early to begin formal college visits, if you are traveling near schools that you think might interest you, by all means drive through the campus. If you think you like it, don’t hesitate to get out of the car and walk around the campus a bit. Students will be happy to answer questions, and in fact will probably be flattered that you are interested in their school.  

• You may also want to consider doing some prep for the SAT or ACT over the break.  

Spring Term  

• Review Maia Learning, the application research and management software, during the group technology workshops.  

• Attend a small group meeting with your college counselor to ask any questions you might have.  

• Consider summer programs or jobs. Get involved in something that really interests you, or get a job, or look after your baby sister so that your mom and dad can work. But also be sure to have a little fun. That’s what summer is for!  

Summer  

• Read some good books!  

• Stay active through jobs, classes, or summer programs.  

• If you are traveling with your family, take the time to stop by and visit one or two colleges in the area. There is an excellent check list on the Abbey college counseling website that will help you rate the schools you visit.   

• If you don’t think you do well on standardized tests (your scores on the PSAT will give you a good indication of that), then you may want to consider taking a test prep class or doing some self-prep.   

• READ! And if English is not your first language, you MUST read in English, not in translation. The more you read in English, the higher your SAT reading and TOEFL scores will be; the less you read in English, the lower they will be. And extensive reading in English now will mean you will be better prepared for the rigors of a strong US university program later.  

Welcome to the beginning of the college search and, sooner than you think, the application process. We are well aware of the fact that this can be a very stressful time in the life of the student and of the entire family. We, too, want what is best for you, and we will work very hard to make the process as smooth, painless, and successful as possible.  

We will begin to schedule appointments with you and your counselor after we return from winter vacation. The College Counseling Coordinator will email you at your Abbey email address, so be sure to check your emails regularly. These meetings are very important and attending them should be a priority. As a courtesy, please email your counselor or the Coordinator if you will be unable to attend a meeting. Missing a meeting without notifying the College Counseling Office results in a 1/2 class cut.  
  
Keep in mind that Fifth Form grades are extremely important, especially if a student is considering applying to college as an early decision or early action candidate. You should also continue to maintain significant involvement in athletics and extra-curricular activities that interest you. You do not need to worry about adding a lot of random activities, but you should be establishing and maintaining a reputation for commitment, dependability, and leadership.  

Continue to familiarize yourself with Maia Learning; explore all of the features available to you and if you haven’t already done so, begin to use the college search features.   
  
Serious college counseling begins in the Winter Term. You will meet with your counselor a number of times, both individually and in small groups. Now is the time to start reflecting on what you want from a college. It’s not too early to start thinking about specific colleges, but it is too early to worry about creating your “college list.”  That time will come! For now, most importantly, stay focused on your classes; your grades count, and so does the knowledge you gain by being fully engaged in your classes.  
  
And finally, never hesitate to email or make an appointment with your college counselor; we’re here to help.  

FIFTH FORM CALENDAR  

Fall Term  

• Your Fifth Form grades are very important; in fact, many colleges give them more weight than Third or Fourth Form. So, starting with Fall Term, make every effort to earn your highest grades yet.  

• You will take the PSAT in October. The Abbey Academic Office will sign you up. Do your best on it. Colleges won’t see these scores, but this test, taken seriously, will give you a good look at what your SAT scores may be.  

• While you probably haven’t yet created a list of schools you want to apply to, you can still start researching and even visiting school. Fall Term offers several opportunities for you to visit colleges without missing classes.  

• You will take the SAT in December. You must sign up for the test on the College Board website. You will receive reminder emails about registering for the test.  

• You could take an ACT in December--discuss this with your college counselor.   

January  

• You will begin one-on-one meetings with your college counselor (one before and one after spring break). At these meetings, you and your counselor will discuss in detail all aspects of the process, from researching colleges to completing applications.  You are welcome to have more individual meetings- you simply need to email the College Counseling Coordinator and request a meeting with your counselor.  

• The College Counseling Office will host a Fifth Form College Seminar for parents in January. We will be joined by speakers from several colleges who will help us give your parents an overview of how the process works and a peek at what to expect as you navigate the next eighteen months.  

February  

• Continue to research colleges and identify schools that you would like to visit during Winter Weekend, Spring Break and over the summer.  

• Consider registering for and taking the April ACT (discuss with your counselor)  

March  

• Register to take the May SAT  (if needed; discuss with your counselor).  

• You are strongly encouraged to take advantage of the time away from school to visit colleges; if you are traveling for a vacation, visit a few schools in the area even if you don’t think you will apply to them. The majority of colleges host prospective student visitation programs most of the year, and a March visit will give you a chance to see the school’s students and perhaps visit a class.  

• If you are planning to take a prep class for the SAT or ACT, you should consider doing so over the break. Prep classes, tutoring, and self-prep (online or books) are much easier to handle – and may be more effective - if you are not also doing work for your classes and participating in an activity.  

• Register for the April ACT  

• Research summer programs, employment, internships, and volunteer opportunities that will ensure you are using your summer vacation in a positive way.  

April 

• Register to take the SAT in June (if needed). Meet with your college counselor to discuss which tests would be best for you to take. 

• Formulate a list of colleges that you would like to explore at the College Fair.  

• Take the ACT (if needed; discuss with your college counselor). 

• Continue to research summer programs, employment, internships and volunteer opportunities that will ensure you are using your summer vacation productively. If taking an Advanced Placement course, work diligently so that you will do well on the Advanced Placement exam in May. 

• Participate in the Fitch College Mock Admission program, led by representatives from a number of colleges popular among our students. 

May 

• Take the SAT and continue to meet with your college counselor to refine your list. 

• Prepare for and do well on AP exams 

• Prepare for your Spring Term exams and do (very) well on them! This is your last chance to strengthen your academic profile before you start applying to colleges. 

• If you haven’t done so already, ask 2 of your current teachers for a recommendation. If the teacher agrees to write your letter, formalize that request through Maia Learning. 

June 

• Take the SAT (if needed) 

• Take the ACT (if needed) 

• Complete Maia Learning surveys before June 30 

May 

• Take the SAT and continue to meet with your college counselor to refine your list. 

• Prepare for and do well on AP exams 

• Prepare for your Spring Term exams and do (very) well on them! This is your last chance to strengthen your academic profile before you start applying to colleges. 

• If you haven’t done so already, ask 2 of your current teachers for a recommendation. If the teacher agrees to write your letter, formalize that request through Maia Learning. 

June 

• Take the SAT (if needed) 

• Take the ACT (if needed) 

• Complete Maia Learning surveys before June 30 

School profile

School profile 2023/24

Fitch College Resources

FITCH COLLEGE PROFILE

FITCH APPLICATION READER SHEETS

Example Applications

Susan Bromley

Emily Diman

Calvin Morris

Tracey Smith

Daniel Tran

There is no national standard for admission, no national university admission test and no standard national curriculum on which to test students. In the United States, colleges and universities employ diverse approaches to admissions, with a common thread being the holistic evaluation process. While academic success remains paramount, admissions offices also consider a range of factors, including: 

• Transcripts, reflecting both grades and course rigor 

• Standardized test scores (SAT/ACT/TOEFL) 

• Student essay(s)  

• Recommendation letters from teachers and counselor(s) 

• Engagement in extracurricular activities 

• Demonstrated excellence in special areas: music, art, athletics, leadership or service 

• Summer work experiences 

• Contribution to diversity within the university community 

• Financial capability to cover tuition expenses 

• Legacy connections to the university (a relative attended and graduated from that university) 

• Demonstrated interest in the institution 

Students are expected to manage their application process independently, as reliance on “agents” or “external counselors” who complete the applications and even write essays for the students is considered cheating and may lead to rejection. 

The United States has over 2,500 four-year colleges and universities, with approximately 500 offering excellent educational opportunities. 

In the U.S., the terms "college" and "university" are used interchangeably, with neither implying superiority over the other. 

The “top” (meaning prestigious institutions) schools receive tens of thousands of applications annually from highly qualified students each year, admitting only a fraction of candidates. 

University rankings often prioritize popularity over academic excellence. 

Understand each college's definition of "international" by reviewing their specific guidelines.  

Provide proof of English proficiency, typically through tests like TOEFL. 

Fulfill financial certification requirements, including bank letters verifying tuition coverage for one year. Consult individual colleges about this requirement. 

Familiarize yourself with visa and I20 documentation requirements, coordinating with relevant school personnel for a smooth transition. Consult individual colleges about this requirement. PLEASE NOTE: Set an appointment with Mrs. Caplin in the Academic Office to coordinate the transfer of your visa to your college. To avoid problems and delays (and possible cancellation of you I20), be sure to follow Mrs. Caplin’s instructions closely and complete all forms before you leave Portsmouth Abbey after graduation.  

Ensure accuracy in address listings, designating home and current addresses appropriately. It’s best to list your home address as you “Permanent Address” and your Portsmouth Abbey address (285 Cory's Lane, Portsmouth, RI 02871) as your “Current Address”.  

You MUST submit official English translations of transcripts from any secondary education institutions attended prior to Portsmouth Abbey. 

Because international students are not eligible for United States federal student aid, very few U.S. schools offer need-based aid for international students, and the competition for that aid is fierce. Your counselor can help you determine which schools do offer aid. But please understand that if you cannot afford the price of a school, and that school does not offer aid, it should not be on your school list.  

Almost all U.S. schools are “need aware” (they will NOT admit your if you need financial aid) for international students.  

Schools that do offer need-based aid will have their own forms for you to fill out, available on that school’s website.  

To supplement the cost of higher education in the U.S., explore potential merit-based scholarships tailored for international students. Check with your counselor to explore these opportunities.