Upper School
College Counseling
Preparing girls to lead and succeed is in our DNA. And by the time our students graduate, they're ready. As they head to many of the most selective and highly selective colleges and universities in the country and around the globe, they're prepared to succeed in whatever paths they choose.
Class of 2025
55
years of combined experience between 2 college counselors
100%
of the Class of 2025 are attending one of their top college choices
105
visits from college admission officers in 2024-25
20%
of the Class of 2025 are recruited athletes
48
institutions of Higher Education attended across 18 states, DC and Scotland
422
offers of admission made to the Class of 2025
Freshman students and their parents attend our Path to College Night to learn about building a course of study and co-curricular plan at Agnes Irwin with a focus toward college. For athletes, sport-specific recruiting guidance begins and continues through senior year.
Sophomores are matched with a college counselor to review AIS course projections and discuss how to best develop their interests and talents. Parents attend our Sophomore Parent Night to demystify the application and admission process as standardized testing begins.
Junior Parent Night in the fall reviews the search and application process in detail. Starting in the winter, juniors participate in weekly seminars to focus on researching potential college destinations; rehearse mock interviews; and join their family in the spring for an in-depth meeting with a college counselor to strategize the path for the college admission process.
Each senior has a dedicated college counselor who works side-by-side with her through all phases of the application process and actively champions her in the journey. Students participate in weekly seminars focused on college applications, meet with admission representatives, and participate in college readiness and transition courses.
Lee Ann Backlund
Interim Director of College Counseling
Lee Ann Backlund has 40 years of experience in college admissions and counseling. She has led offices at Sewanee, Agnes Scott, and
Rhodes College. She also directed college counseling at Porter- Gaud School. A respected national leader, she holds degrees from the University of Tennessee and Vanderbilt and has served on the Common App Board and as SACAC president.
Sarah Quin
Senior Associate Director of College Counseling
Sarah Quin arrived at AIS in 2019 from an independent day school in NYC, where she worked in college advising. Before that, Sarah gained extensive experience in the field of elite college admissions, having worked at both Columbia University and Vanderbilt University where, among other areas, she acted as the admissions liaison for the mid-Atlantic area.
Quick Links
College Reps: Schedule an in-person or virtual visit via RepVisits or by emailing the College Counseling Office.