College Preparation
Role of the Counselor
Counselors meet with students in grades 9-11 during classroom presentations. For students in 12th grade, counselors meet individually to assist in planning high school curriculum and post-secondary options. Course selection is done with college entrance requirements in mind, although students intending to apply to specific selective colleges should be careful to check websites for current information on requirements. The junior credit check will be completed in the spring of their 11th-grade year.
Senior Meetings
Whether a student decides to pursue college admissions, join the military, take a gap year, or go straight into the workforce, it is to the student's advantage to use the counseling services offered at Boulder High School. Please visit the BHS Counseling Website at https://boh.bvsd.org/counseling for current resources, calendars, and contact information.
Every 12th-grade student should meet individually with their counselor for their senior meeting prior to Thanksgiving break. Students are responsible for scheduling their senior meeting; a calendar link will be provided to them to do so early in the fall semester. Senior meetings include:
- Grad check/progress toward graduation
- Post-secondary planning
- Naviance review for transcript requests and letters of recommendation
- Review of BHS process/protocol for submitting all documentation
It is important for all students applying to college to work closely with their high school counselor in order to ensure all documentation is submitted to meet college application deadlines.
College Admission Criteria
Approximately 85 percent of Boulder HS students continue their formal education immediately after graduation. Should your plans include a college education, keep in mind that college admission decisions are based on the following criteria:
1. The high school academic record as reflected in grade point average and the kinds of courses selected. The high school record of achievement still serves as the best predictor of academic success in college. As such, colleges view it with considerable interest. Your GPA is computed at the end of each semester and only semester grades are used in the computation. Grades earned in 9, 10, 11, and 12 are used to determine your grade point average.
2. The quality of your record as seen in your course of study. Colleges closely examine the quality of a student’s record (level of rigor) in competition with thousands of applications for admission. Students are advised to consider the quality of course selection, in both depth and breadth.
3. The results of scholastic aptitude and achievement tests. Colleges may rely on admission tests such as the Scholastic Aptitude Tests (SAT) and the American College Test (ACT). Please verify the test requirements at each college/university to which you plan to apply, as they vary. Some colleges are test optional or test blind.
4. Personal essay. Many applications require an essay or personal statement. This is your opportunity to distinguish yourself from hundreds of applicants with similar grades, activities, and test scores. To achieve this, your entrance essay must not only demonstrate your grasp of grammar and your writing ability, but also capture the essence of your personality and character. Even if the essay is optional, do not miss this chance to highlight your best qualities and achievements.
5. Personal recommendations by teachers and counselor. Some schools place considerable weight on recommendations. Other schools do not require personal recommendations. Please check each school’s website to determine requirements.
6. Activities, both in and out of school. Participation in activities such as clubs, student council, athletics, drama, and community service is important in determining how well you will be able to compete for admission to the colleges you may select. The crucial point is not how many activities, but the quality of participation, including offices held and how fully one carries out one’s responsibilities.
7. For athletes planning to compete at the Division 1 or Division 2 level, please visit the Boulder HS NCAA Info for Student Athletes Website for more information. In your sophomore year, student-athletes will need to register with the NCAA Eligibility Center.
