College Counseling
Preparing Girls to Succeed and Lead
Divider Wreath
Agnes Irwin students are known for following their own paths and reaching their full potential. The Agnes Irwin College Counseling Department sees the application process as an opportunity for our students to develop agency, increase self-awareness, and exercise reflection in determining their next steps toward young adulthood.
Our Process
9th Grade
9th Grade
- Path to College Night: Parents and students learn about building a course of study and a co-curricular plan focused toward college.
- Sport-Specific Athletic Recruiting: Guidance for both AIS and out-of-school sports begins and continues through 12th grade.
10th Grade
10th Grade
- Sophomore Parent Night: College Counseling hosts a discussion about standardized testing, application methods, and the admission process.
- College Counselor Match: Student and counselor meet to begin building a relationship and to discuss developing interests and talents.
Grade 11
11th Grade
- Junior Parent Night: College Counseling hosts a discussion about the search and application processes.
- Family Meeting: College counselors and families walk through the college admission process step-by-step.
- Standardized Testing Planning: College counselors and students strategize about individualized approaches.
- Spring College Program: Current seniors and visiting college admission professionals share insights.
- Student Work: Students produce a variety of college application-related material (essay drafts, extracurricular activities lists, etc.) and explore a range of topics including major choices, financial aid, and aspects of college life.
12th Grade
12th Grade
- College Representative Visits: Roughly 100 representatives from top universities visit AIS each fall to meet with students.
- College Counseling Work Period: A supervised, dedicated work period in which students are given time to fill out applications, work on essays, and consult with their college counselor.
- Individualized Personal Essay Sessions: College counselors and students reflect on a student’s strengths and interests and review essays.
- Regularly Scheduled 1:1 Meetings: College counselors and students review application strategies and curate a balanced college list.
- “College 101” Series: Week-long college readiness and transition preparation, including personal finance, self-defense, and wellness
College Counseling Seminars
College Counseling Seminars
- College Counseling Seminars Seminar I: Spring of Junior Year Focused on university life, students and their college counselors engage in focused research using various education software platforms to understand fit and build a balanced college list.
- Seminar II: Fall of Senior Year A supervised work period dedicated to college applications in which students are given time to fill out applications, work on essays, and consult with their college counselor.
Divider Wreath
College Counseling Team
Lee Ann Backlund
Interim Director of College Counseling
Lee Ann 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.