Overview of Thornton's
College Guidance Philosophy

We believe that the process of searching for and applying to college can be a very powerful, transformative experience for a high school senior. For a student who has taken the lead and directed the process, admission to college represents a major personal achievement—perhaps the first truly independent step they have taken to determine the direction of their lives. It helps them graduate feeling proud and confident. For this reason, Thornton approaches the process seeking to be advocates and partners in the process but not directors of it. For example, we do not generate lists of schools for students, but discuss with each student what pedagogical styles and environments will most likely yield success. We then help them learn to use the resources available to find schools that match their preferences. Although the dean is the primary contact for this process, everyone on the faculty takes an interest in a student’s post-graduation plans and is willing to provide thoughts and guidance about the process or the schools that students have come across in their searches.

Many of our students come to us believing that they have to attend a specific college on be on a predetermined timeline. For those students who know themselves well, their instincts may be correct. In all cases, though, we hope that families and students will orient themselves around the goal of finding what is best for them overall at this particular time in their lives. Toward this end, we encourage families to consider additional options that might be equally good or even better fits for their children: colleges that they may be unfamiliar with, unique programs within colleges that they may have overlooked, or a “gap year” or other interim plan that allows the student to develop in ways that will enable them to take better advantage of college a year later. Whatever the decision, we believe that a student’s next step after high school should result in the parents, the student and the school all feeling that the plan sets the student up for success and creates a feeling of excitement for the future.

To your left is a brief, annotated list of links you may find useful.