College Planning & Counseling
College planning is an integral part of Brownell-Talbot's academic curriculum. The college counseling and guidance curriculum allows each student to take full advantage of the educational, extracurricular and personal opportunities available at Brownell-Talbot. With solid college counseling, each student will be ready at the appropriate time to make informed choices regarding college or university admissions.
Brownell-Talbot's college counseling program begins in Middle School with an Educational Planning course for 8th graders. Two key objectives of the course are to identify the factors colleges consider in granting admission and to assist students in setting challenging goals and making careful plans regarding their academic and extracurricular programs in Upper School.
Throughout Upper School, students are informed of the long-term consequences of early educational decisions and are encouraged to keep all their educational options open until they are ready to make an informed choice.
In Upper School, students meet with the college counselor in regularly scheduled small groups to discuss topics appropriate to the students' needs at each grade level.
Study Skills and Science Methodology: Grade 9 - First Semester
This course helps students develop the learning abilities used to gain knowledge and competence, thus becoming more effective and efficient learners. Topics covered in the first quarter include listening skills, note taking methods, the SQ3R method of reading, the study environment, preparing for and taking tests, and time management skills. The second quarter is an orientation to the research methodology, experimental techniques, and statistical analysis employed in the study of laboratory science.
Career Development: Grade 10 - First and Fourth Quarters Only
This course provides an introduction to career planning in preparation for college. The first quarter is an introduction to self-assessment. Extensive preparation is provided for the College Board PSAT/NMSQT© and the American College Testing Program PLAN© examinations, with explanations of how to use the results of these tests in educational and career planning. Group activities during the fourth quarter include: the role of work in a person's life; goals and the decision-making process; the Holland types and the "People/Ideas/Data/Things" matrix; print and electronic resources and activities for career information and exploration; and investigation of specific careers and related college majors.
College Exploration: Grade 11
Throughout the school year, weekly group activities guide the students through the process of college inquiry, application and choice. Topics include self-assessment, goals and decision making, post-secondary options and institutions, compilation and evaluation of print and online information and resources, college entrance examinations, college applications and essays, visits and interviews, factors in the admission decision, paying for college, and elements of college life.
College Choice: Grade 12
During the final year of Upper School, group activities continue as appropriate, but emphasis shifts to personal contact and personal action. Together, the student, family and college counselor work through the process of application for admission and scholarships, final decisions, and initiating a successful transition from secondary to higher education.
Test Preparation/Testing
All sophomores take the PLAN© test. Sophomores and juniors take the College Board PSAT/NMSQT©. Juniors and seniors take the SAT I©, SAT II© (as appropriate), and the ACT©. Classroom teachers work with the students to prepare them for the content of these tests, while the college counselor helps the students develop effective test-taking strategies.
College Vists
Visits to a student's primary college choices can be an important part of the decision-making process. Students and their parents are encouraged to visit college campuses beginning the summer after their junior year and continuing through the first semester of 12th grade. Seniors will be granted reasonable excused absences from school for scheduled college visits.
College Planning Workshops
Evening workshops for parents and students are scheduled in the second semester of 11th grade on college planning and in the first semester of 12th grade on scholarships and financial aid.
Obtaining a Brownell-Talbot Transcript
All requests for academic transcripts must be in writing and signed by the student. There is no charge for transcripts. Transcripts may take 3-5 days to mail after receipt of the written request. You must utilize the Transcript Request Form in order to receive an official copy of your transcript.
You have three options for requesting a transcript:
You may stop by Brownell-Talbot Monday-Friday between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. to fill out a Transcript Request Form.
You may print the Transcript Request Form and mail the form to:
Director of College Counseling
Brownell-Talbot School
400 North Happy Hollow Boulevard
Omaha, NE 68132-2106
You may print the Transcript Request Form and fax to (402) 553-2994.
