College Counseling

Freshman Year

This is the year that everything starts to count for real. Everything you do from this point on can and will be included in your college applications.

Academics
First and foremost, learn how to “do school” to the best of your ability. Every semester is a new chance to show your best effort. Be aware that you are building a record that will tell a story over time. Your Grade Point Average (GPA) is your college ticket for admissions and scholarships. Admissions officers look at trends in your grades and upward trends will tell a positive story.

Remember to focus on the areas that will challenge you by taking classes outside of your comfort zone and you will learn valuable skills for college. Be sure to take your teachers’ advice on your course progression. Jumping over content levels can delay the growth of your foundation of understanding and impact your performance in other courses.

Get to know your teachers and learn how to talk with them. Please be confident in
asking for help or clarifications. The more comfortable you become with your teachers now, the more successful you will be in high school and in college. Your professors will expect you to collaborate with them and to take control of your own learning process.

Accomplishments
Your high school year freshman year is also a time to begin to track your accomplishments. Along with your grades, sports, and school activities, universities and colleges will expect you to have completed “community service hours.” These hours can be volunteer work in agencies, your church, and your school. College admissions officials will prefer to see a total of 120 hours by the end of your senior year (30 hours per year). Please be sure to document these hours in your college applications.

Sophomore Year

This an important time to give your best effort in your classes and school activities, as each semester contributes to building your GPA. This year is also an opportunity to start exploring your interests and discovering what excites you. Consider what you enjoy doing, the subjects where you excel, and the activities that make you feel fulfilled. Begin researching different careers by exploring resources such as books, career websites, and documentaries. At BCS, you’re never alone in this journey—ask your teachers, Dr. Coleman, or your parents for guidance. They can help connect your passions and skills to potential career paths, ensuring you're building a strong foundation for your future.

Junior Year

This will be your most important year. Your grades at the end of this year will be the final ones you send in with your college applications. Please make this year count. Focus on building your academic record along with developing your leadership and volunteer experiences.

Testing
This will also be the year to register and to take entrance exams. Although some
colleges and universities no longer require the SAT or the ACT for admission, others will require these standardized tests for admission and for you to be eligible to receive
academic scholarships. Our school provides free test preparations for the SAT and the
ACT Examinations. This year will be the time to conduct “deep dive research” on your potential list of colleges. Conference with our college school counselor regularly to create your preferred and prioritized list of schools. You should narrow your list to no more than 3-5 schools. Please plan to visit the colleges on your list and to meet with these admissions counselors.

Recommendations
Finally, this will be the time to be thinking about teachers you want to contact who can write recommendations for you. Recommendations from your instructors will be an important part of your college applications.

Senior Year

Common App
The time is here and now. Start becoming familiar with the Common App which allows you to complete one application for multiple colleges. The Common App opens on August 1 st . Bethany Community School’s goal is for you to have your Common App submitted by November 1 st . You will need to continue to focus on the 3-5 schools that are the best “fit” for you.

FAFSA
You will also need to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Bethany provides a FAFSA workshop to assist parents and students in completing the application. For the 2025-2026 college year, the FAFSA will become available on December 1, 2024.

The cost of attending college continues to increase each year. In 2023/2024, over 100
million dollars of free scholarships received zero applications and were left on the table. Bethany provides a Senior Advising Class each year to assist students in applying for college and for applying for financial aid. All our seniors will receive guidance and support in finding funding for college. Bethany also invites college admissions counselors to our Senior Advising Classes to share information and to answer questions for students. Our seniors also attend the Carolinas Association of Collegiate Registrars and Admissions Officers (CACRAO) Fair each year at the Greensboro Coliseum where 90 college and university admissions officers are available for students. We are committed to providing our students with the information and a process to help them achieve their educational and career goals.